INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES ON PERSPECTIVES ON

AGINGAGING

Aging and Cognitive ChangeAging and Cognitive Change

Creativity and WisdomCreativity and Wisdom

Creativity—a measure of divergent thinking, meaning the Creativity—a measure of divergent thinking, meaning the production of alternative solutions to a problem or situationproduction of alternative solutions to a problem or situation

Wisdom—an expert knowledge that people acquire in the Wisdom—an expert knowledge that people acquire in the fundamental pragmatics of lifefundamental pragmatics of life

IntelligenceIntelligence Fluid intelligence—the capacity to process novel information Fluid intelligence—the capacity to process novel information Ex) being able to figure out the rules governing a number Ex) being able to figure out the rules governing a number

seriesseries Classic aging pattern—age-related declines in verbal and Classic aging pattern—age-related declines in verbal and

performance intelligence among people older than 60performance intelligence among people older than 60 The Seattle Longitudinal Study conducted by psychologist K. The Seattle Longitudinal Study conducted by psychologist K.

Warner Schaie has proven faultiness of classic aging patternWarner Schaie has proven faultiness of classic aging pattern A Swedish Study of the Heritability of Intelligence—genetic A Swedish Study of the Heritability of Intelligence—genetic

factors accounted for 55% of individual differencesfactors accounted for 55% of individual differences Crystallized intelligence—based on the information, skills, Crystallized intelligence—based on the information, skills,

and strategies that people have learned through experienceand strategies that people have learned through experience

Learning and MemoryLearning and Memory

Aged-related changes: Aged-related changes: Learning—the process of acquiring knowledge Learning—the process of acquiring knowledge

and skillsand skills Memory—the retention of storage of that Memory—the retention of storage of that

knowledgeknowledge Eye Blink Classical Conditioning (EBC)Eye Blink Classical Conditioning (EBC) Short-term and long-term memory:Short-term and long-term memory: Short-term memory—a “limited capacity system Short-term memory—a “limited capacity system

that keeps memory in consciousness”that keeps memory in consciousness” Long-term memory—the permanent storage site Long-term memory—the permanent storage site

for past experiencesfor past experiences

Learning and Information TechnologyLearning and Information Technology

-only 17% of people over 50 use the internet-only 17% of people over 50 use the internet

-less exposure to the new technology-less exposure to the new technology

-make more errors, learn slower-make more errors, learn slower

-not a lot of research done in this area as to why-not a lot of research done in this area as to why

older people have a hard time with computers or older people have a hard time with computers or otherother

Technological devicesTechnological devices

Mental DisordersMental Disorders

DementiaDementia

Parkinson’s DiseaseParkinson’s Disease

DepressionDepression

DementiaDementia-severe organic -severe organic deterioration of the brain. deterioration of the brain. Effects Effects

memory, cognitive functions, and memory, cognitive functions, and personality. personality.

Two common ones: Alzheimer’s Two common ones: Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.and vascular dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease-Alzheimer’s Disease-affects short term memory, affects short term memory, forgetforget

permanently, repetition and permanently, repetition and confusion. (cognex, aricept)confusion. (cognex, aricept)

RO-Reality OrientationRO-Reality Orientation-staff in -staff in nursing homes constantlynursing homes constantly

Remind the elders of the date, Remind the elders of the date, their names, events,etc.their names, events,etc.

Vascular DementiaVascular Dementia-blackouts, -blackouts, heart problems, kidney heart problems, kidney

Failure, hypertension. Also, Failure, hypertension. Also, strokes, aphasia which isstrokes, aphasia which is

damage to the speech and damage to the speech and language centers in the brain.language centers in the brain.

53% of stroke patients eventually 53% of stroke patients eventually deveop this disease.deveop this disease.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASEALZHEIMER’S DISEASECurrent Events of InterestCurrent Events of Interest

More than 1 billion spent a year on More than 1 billion spent a year on prescription drugsprescription drugs

Only marginal effectsOnly marginal effects

4.5 million have the disease4.5 million have the disease

1 in 10 over 65 and nearly half of those over 1 in 10 over 65 and nearly half of those over 8585

Taking care-100 billion/yrTaking care-100 billion/yr

By 2050-11-16 millionBy 2050-11-16 million

Positive note: drug companies trying to find Positive note: drug companies trying to find effective drugs through research.effective drugs through research.

The GovernmentThe GovernmentThe more we study Alzheimer’s, it leads us toThe more we study Alzheimer’s, it leads us to

developments of many new drugs and treatmentdevelopments of many new drugs and treatment

strategies.strategies.

The Story of My FatherThe Story of My Father-Sue Miller-Sue Miller

Just describing some of the effects of the diseaseJust describing some of the effects of the disease

That her father had. It shows that you mayThat her father had. It shows that you may

posses a certain personality trait, but the diseaseposses a certain personality trait, but the disease

changes that and you become another person.changes that and you become another person.

Parkinson’s DiseaseParkinson’s DiseaseWhat is Parkinson’s What is Parkinson’s

disease?disease? Parkinson’s disease is Parkinson’s disease is

a chronic brain a chronic brain disorder of central disorder of central nervous system, which nervous system, which is the result of the loss is the result of the loss of dopamine-of dopamine-producing brain cells.producing brain cells.

Parkinson’s disease is Parkinson’s disease is both chronic, meaning both chronic, meaning it persists over a long it persists over a long period of time, and period of time, and progressive, meaning progressive, meaning its symptoms grow its symptoms grow worse over time.worse over time.

The primary symptoms The primary symptoms are;are;

slowing of movement slowing of movement stooped posture with the stooped posture with the

head forwardhead forward elbows flexed elbows flexed a shuffling gait (walking a shuffling gait (walking

style) style) slurred speechslurred speech noticeable tremornoticeable tremor Statistics on Parkinson’s Statistics on Parkinson’s

disease:disease: Parkinson’s disease may Parkinson’s disease may

occur as early as age 30 but occur as early as age 30 but is more commonly diagnosed is more commonly diagnosed among people aged 60 or among people aged 60 or older.older.

40% to 60% of people with 40% to 60% of people with Parkinson’s disease also Parkinson’s disease also show mental impairment show mental impairment involving a loss of memory, involving a loss of memory, an inability to concentrate, an inability to concentrate, and a deep depression and a deep depression (Bootzin and Acocella, 1988).(Bootzin and Acocella, 1988).

Is there any Is there any treatment?treatment?

There is no diagnostic There is no diagnostic test for Parkinson’s test for Parkinson’s disease.disease.

But the key to making But the key to making accurate diagnosis is accurate diagnosis is clinical knowledge and clinical knowledge and skill.skill.

A combination of A combination of medication and medication and rehabilitative therapy rehabilitative therapy can often help patients can often help patients achieve adequate control achieve adequate control of motor symptoms and of motor symptoms and maintain a high quality maintain a high quality of independent living of independent living (Marjama-Lyons and (Marjama-Lyons and Koller, 2001).Koller, 2001).

DepressionDepression What is depression? Is it depressing to grow What is depression? Is it depressing to grow

old?old? The answer partly depends on how depression is The answer partly depends on how depression is

defined. defined. According to current psychiatric philosophy, According to current psychiatric philosophy,

depression is more than a fleeting (brief) sense of depression is more than a fleeting (brief) sense of sorrow or despondency (hopelessness) that we all feel sorrow or despondency (hopelessness) that we all feel on occasion (Perlmutter and Hall, 1992).on occasion (Perlmutter and Hall, 1992).

Symptoms of DepressionSymptoms of Depression To be diagnosed with major clinical depression, an To be diagnosed with major clinical depression, an

individual must report five of the symptoms, and the individual must report five of the symptoms, and the five must include the first two symptoms listed;five must include the first two symptoms listed;

Depressed moodDepressed mood Loss of interest in pleasurable activitiesLoss of interest in pleasurable activities Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite Sleep disturbanceSleep disturbance FatigueFatigue

Feelings of worthlessness and guiltFeelings of worthlessness and guilt Difficulties in thinking and concentrationDifficulties in thinking and concentration psychomotor disturbancepsychomotor disturbance Suicidal notions for at least a two-week Suicidal notions for at least a two-week periodperiod What accounts for the rise in What accounts for the rise in depression among old age?depression among old age? Around age 60, income begins to decline Around age 60, income begins to decline as people retire from the labor force and as people retire from the labor force and the likelihood of being widowed increases. the likelihood of being widowed increases. Thus, much of the depression that occurs among Thus, much of the depression that occurs among

the aged may not be due to aging per se; rather, it the aged may not be due to aging per se; rather, it may be a consequence of having low income, may be a consequence of having low income, being single, and being detached from social being single, and being detached from social networks and stable employment (Mirowsky and networks and stable employment (Mirowsky and Ross, 1992).Ross, 1992).

GENDER DIFFERNCES IN DEPRESSIONGENDER DIFFERNCES IN DEPRESSION Why do women have higher rates of Why do women have higher rates of

depression than men?depression than men? Women of all ages report higher levels of Women of all ages report higher levels of

depression than men.depression than men. Women may report feeling more depressed Women may report feeling more depressed

because of tensions arising from combining work because of tensions arising from combining work and family responsibilities.and family responsibilities.

On average, even women who work full-time do On average, even women who work full-time do more housework than their husbands, and they more housework than their husbands, and they carry primary responsibility for child care and carry primary responsibility for child care and parent care.parent care.

These losses have less effect on men because These losses have less effect on men because they are more likely than women to remarry after they are more likely than women to remarry after becoming widowed and they have lower rated of becoming widowed and they have lower rated of disability.disability.

Personality and AdaptationPersonality and AdaptationPersonality TraitsPersonality Traits:: enduring dispositions enduring dispositions towards thoughts, feelings, and behavior, both towards thoughts, feelings, and behavior, both inherited and learned.inherited and learned.

Trait TheoryTrait Theory:: everyone has most personality everyone has most personality traits to some degree, but everyone also has a traits to some degree, but everyone also has a core group of traits that define his of her core group of traits that define his of her personality; defining traits can be organized into personality; defining traits can be organized into five major factors: neuroticism, extroversion, five major factors: neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

Self-concept:Self-concept: the organized and integrated the organized and integrated perception of self; consists of such aspects as perception of self; consists of such aspects as self-esteem, self-image, beliefs, and personality self-esteem, self-image, beliefs, and personality traitstraits

Personality and AgingPersonality and Aging Growing old is mandatory; growing up is Growing old is mandatory; growing up is

optional.optional.  ~Chili Davis  ~Chili Davis Belief systems and values change over time, Belief systems and values change over time,

butbut our basic temperament is relatively our basic temperament is relatively enduring. enduring. Longitudinal data from the Baltimore Longitudinal data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging suggest that Longitudinal Study of Aging suggest that personality is stable after age 30.personality is stable after age 30.

Personality and HealthPersonality and Health Is there a health benefit to being Is there a health benefit to being

optimistic?optimistic? A study consisting of four interviews with A study consisting of four interviews with

887 men, aged 64-84 years, over 15 years 887 men, aged 64-84 years, over 15 years showed that men classified as optimists had showed that men classified as optimists had a reduced risk of death from heart disease a reduced risk of death from heart disease 15 years later.15 years later.

Personality and CopingPersonality and Coping Coping: a state of compatibility between the Coping: a state of compatibility between the

individual and the environment that allows a individual and the environment that allows a person to maintain a sense of well-being or person to maintain a sense of well-being or satisfaction with quality of lifesatisfaction with quality of life

Adaptation: a range of behaviors an individual Adaptation: a range of behaviors an individual uses to meet demands, such as developing habits uses to meet demands, such as developing habits to confront problems and to manage frustration to confront problems and to manage frustration and anxietyand anxiety

Stage Theories of Adult of Identify Stage Theories of Adult of Identify Development Development

Erickson’s Theory of Identity DevelopmentErickson’s Theory of Identity Development

Eight StagesEight Stages Basic trust vs. mistrustBasic trust vs. mistrust Autonomy vs .shameAutonomy vs .shame Initiative vs .guiltInitiative vs .guilt Industry vs .inferiorityIndustry vs .inferiority Identity vs. identity confusionIdentity vs. identity confusion Intimacy vs. isolationIntimacy vs. isolation Generativity vs. stagnationGenerativity vs. stagnation Integrity vs. despairIntegrity vs. despair

Daniel LevinsonDaniel Levinson In 1978 he published a book based on in-depth In 1978 he published a book based on in-depth

interviews he conducted with interviews he conducted with 40 men between the ages of 35-45.40 men between the ages of 35-45. Twenty years later he conducted the same study Twenty years later he conducted the same study

with 45 women.with 45 women. He concluded that men and women shared a He concluded that men and women shared a

developmental pattern that could bedevelopmental pattern that could be divided into a sequence of eras.divided into a sequence of eras. The cross-era transitionThe cross-era transition an era is terminatedan era is terminated and followed by anotherand followed by another

Men’s Transition though AdulthoodMen’s Transition though Adulthood * early adult transition* early adult transition * age 30 transition* age 30 transition * midlife transition* midlife transition * middle adulthood * middle adulthood

Women in the midlife transitionWomen in the midlife transition Traditional Marriage EnterpriceTraditional Marriage Enterprice Terry ApterTerry Apter traditional womentraditional women innovative womeninnovative women expansive womenexpansive women protestorsprotestors

Theory ConclusionsTheory Conclusions identify predicable patters between both men and identify predicable patters between both men and

womenwomen created controversy due to the social class status created controversy due to the social class status

the men and women belong tothe men and women belong to overall it did not demonstrated a clear overall it did not demonstrated a clear

developmental path but rather a cohort effect.developmental path but rather a cohort effect.

WERE YOU PAYING WERE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?ATTENTION?

1. --------------- is the study of mental processes.1. --------------- is the study of mental processes.A. Industrial psychologyA. Industrial psychologyB. ArchitectureB. ArchitectureC. Cognitive psychologyC. Cognitive psychologyD. Creative psychologyD. Creative psychology

2. ---------------refers to the capacity to process novel information.2. ---------------refers to the capacity to process novel information.A. Fluid intelligenceA. Fluid intelligenceB. Passive-dependentB. Passive-dependentC. Integrative intelligenceC. Integrative intelligenceD. Classic aging patternD. Classic aging pattern

3. Which of the following is not a symptom of clinical depression?3. Which of the following is not a symptom of clinical depression?A. loss of appetiteA. loss of appetiteB. fatigueB. fatigueC. sleep disturbanceC. sleep disturbanceD. being a maleD. being a male

4. Wisdom consists of all of the following traits except the4. Wisdom consists of all of the following traits except theA. ability to reasonA. ability to reasonB. ability to learnB. ability to learnC. ability to thinkC. ability to thinkD. ability to use informationD. ability to use information

5. Loss of short-term memory, confusion, and repetition can all be signs of which 5. Loss of short-term memory, confusion, and repetition can all be signs of which disease?disease?

A. HypertensionA. HypertensionB. Alzheimer'sB. Alzheimer'sC. Parkinson'sC. Parkinson'sD. clinical depressionD. clinical depression

6. 6. According to trait theory, everyone has a core group of traits that define his or her personality. These traits can be organized into five major factors. Which of the following is not one of these factors?

A. OpennessA. OpennessB. NeuroticismB. NeuroticismC. ConscientiousnessC. ConscientiousnessD. EroticismD. Eroticism

7. One of the first individuals to analyze adult development systematically 7. One of the first individuals to analyze adult development systematically was Erik Erikson. He referred to his theory as a theory ofwas Erik Erikson. He referred to his theory as a theory of

A. Ego development.A. Ego development.B. Life course transitions.B. Life course transitions.C. Transitions through adulthood.C. Transitions through adulthood.D. Personality traits.D. Personality traits.

8. _____________ is a limited-capacity system that keeps memory in 8. _____________ is a limited-capacity system that keeps memory in consciousness.consciousness.

A. Cognitive processA. Cognitive processB. Personality functionB. Personality functionC. Short-term memoryC. Short-term memoryD. Long-term memoryD. Long-term memory

9. _____ of stroke patients eventually develop vascular dementia.9. _____ of stroke patients eventually develop vascular dementia.A. 50%A. 50%B. 53%B. 53%C. 63%C. 63%D. 23%D. 23%

10. A person with _____ may be unable to produce 10. A person with _____ may be unable to produce meaningful speech and unable to understand written or meaningful speech and unable to understand written or spoken language.spoken language.

A. AphasiaA. Aphasia

B. Parkinson's diseaseB. Parkinson's disease

C. Alzheimer's diseaseC. Alzheimer's disease

D. HypertensionD. Hypertension