The Psychology of AgingThe Psychology of Aging

Sydney Metrick, PhDSydney Metrick, PhD

A History LessonA History Lesson

Up to the sixteen hundreds only about Up to the sixteen hundreds only about 1% of the population was over 65.1% of the population was over 65.

Three hundred years later, the average Three hundred years later, the average life expectancy of a baby born in an life expectancy of a baby born in an industrialized country was 47-55 industrialized country was 47-55 years. 4% of the population was years. 4% of the population was over 65.over 65.

AndAnd we keep living longerwe keep living longer

By 2030 one-fifth of the By 2030 one-fifth of the U.S. population will be U.S. population will be 65 or older. 65 or older. Worldwide, one million Worldwide, one million people turn 60 each people turn 60 each month. In 2001, 10% month. In 2001, 10% of the world’s of the world’s population was population was already 60; by 2050, already 60; by 2050, this number will reach this number will reach 20%. 20%.

20002000 2020 2020 2040 2040

The Graying of AmericaThe Graying of AmericaPercent of Total U.S. Population over 65 in Percent of Total U.S. Population over 65 in 20002000

Source of data: U.S. Census Bureau, State Interim Projections by Age and Sex: 2004-2030, 2005.

The Graying of AmericaThe Graying of AmericaPercent of Total U.S. Population over 65 in Percent of Total U.S. Population over 65 in 20302030

Source of data: U.S. Census Bureau, State Interim Projections by Age and Sex: 2004-2030, 2005.

But at what age are we But at what age are we old old ??

• There is no single There is no single point at which a point at which a person becomes person becomes “old.”“old.”

• Chronological age Chronological age is an arbitrary and is an arbitrary and inaccurate inaccurate measure.measure.

But we obviously ageBut we obviously age

Aging is affected by:Aging is affected by:

• intrinsic factors such as intrinsic factors such as heredity, and heredity, and

•extrinsic factors such as extrinsic factors such as environment, disease, and environment, disease, and lifestyle.lifestyle.

Cambridge researcher, Aubrey de Grey Cambridge researcher, Aubrey de Grey argues that aging is a curable disease. His argues that aging is a curable disease. His plan, calls for identifying all the components plan, calls for identifying all the components that cause human tissue to age, and that cause human tissue to age, and designing remedies for each of them — designing remedies for each of them — forestalling disease and eventually pushing forestalling disease and eventually pushing back death. He calls the approachback death. He calls the approach Strategies for Engineered Negligible SenesceStrategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS)nce (SENS). . • http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/

dean_ornish_says_your_genes_are_not_yodean_ornish_says_your_genes_are_not_your_fate.htmlur_fate.html

Yes, we slow down as we get older, Yes, we slow down as we get older, butbut our ability to function isn’t our ability to function isn’t necessarily affected. necessarily affected.

And each of us ages at a different rate. And each of us ages at a different rate. In the absence of disease, many In the absence of disease, many limiting effects of normal aging often limiting effects of normal aging often aren’t felt until after age 75. aren’t felt until after age 75.

Even then, an older adult can adapt his Even then, an older adult can adapt his or her normal routine to or her normal routine to accommodate these accommodate these physical-biologicalphysical-biological and and social-emotionalsocial-emotional changes. changes.

Aging is a process of gradual Aging is a process of gradual maturation. The capacity for cell maturation. The capacity for cell division and the capacity for growth division and the capacity for growth and function are lost over time, and function are lost over time, ultimately leading to death. This ultimately leading to death. This decline process, called senescence, decline process, called senescence, refers to changes that are deleterious.refers to changes that are deleterious.

It’s recognized that aging also has It’s recognized that aging also has positive developmental components positive developmental components (e.g., increased wisdom, experience, (e.g., increased wisdom, experience, and expertise)and expertise)

Gene Cohen MD, PhD, Gene Cohen MD, PhD, renowned psychiatrist and renowned psychiatrist and gerontologist, has come up gerontologist, has come up with four phases of growth with four phases of growth and development that apply and development that apply to the second half of life.to the second half of life.

Phase I: Re-evaluation, exploration,Phase I: Re-evaluation, exploration, and transition and transition

(mid-thirties to mid-sixties, but more commonly (mid-thirties to mid-sixties, but more commonly early forties to late fifties)early forties to late fifties)

• People serious confront their People serious confront their mortality for the first time.mortality for the first time.

• Plans and actions are shaped by a Plans and actions are shaped by a sense of personal discovery or a sense of personal discovery or a quest.quest.

• Increasing bi-lateral brain Increasing bi-lateral brain involvement supports a more involvement supports a more balanced perspective on life.balanced perspective on life.

Phase II: Liberation, experimentation,Phase II: Liberation, experimentation,and innovationand innovation

(mid-fifties to mid-seventies but usually late fifties to (mid-fifties to mid-seventies but usually late fifties to early seventies)early seventies)

• An “if not now, when?” feeling that An “if not now, when?” feeling that brings a sense of liberation to plans and brings a sense of liberation to plans and actions.actions.

• Feeling free to speak one’s mind and Feeling free to speak one’s mind and act according to needs.act according to needs.

• New neuron formation in the brain New neuron formation in the brain associated with a desire for novelty.associated with a desire for novelty.

• Retirement in part or total gives time for Retirement in part or total gives time for trying new things.trying new things.

Phase III: Recapitulation, resolution,Phase III: Recapitulation, resolution,and contributionand contribution

(late sixties to nineties, usually late sixties through (late sixties to nineties, usually late sixties through eighties)eighties)

• Motivated to share acquired wisdom.Motivated to share acquired wisdom.

• Plans and actions shaped by desire to Plans and actions shaped by desire to find meaning in life, a summing up.find meaning in life, a summing up.

• Often feeling compelled to attend to Often feeling compelled to attend to unfinished business or unresolved unfinished business or unresolved conflicts.conflicts.

Phase IV: Continuation, reflection,Phase IV: Continuation, reflection,and celebrationand celebration

(late seventies to end of life)(late seventies to end of life)

• Plans and actions shaped by desire Plans and actions shaped by desire to restate and reaffirm major life to restate and reaffirm major life themes and also explore variations themes and also explore variations on those themes.on those themes.

• Further brain changes promote Further brain changes promote positive emotions and morale.positive emotions and morale.

• Desire to live well to the end positive Desire to live well to the end positive impacts family and community.impacts family and community.

You canteachan old dog new tricks

The first multi-site longitudinal study on the impact of professionally conducted, participatory cultural programs on older adults was initiated by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in fall 2001. Dr. Gene Cohen (author of The Mature Mind) led a multi-year study to evaluate the effects of participating in cultural programs on older adults’ mental health, general health, overall functioning, and sense of well-being.

The programs involved a range of art disciplines, including painting, pottery, dance, music, poetry, and drama, and oral histories.

Questionnaires assessed the subjects’ general and mental health, while a detailed inventory of their activities assessed their social functioning.

The indicators measured were social engagement and mastery.

In findings that were statistically significant, the study demonstrated that arts participants had: better health, fewer doctor visits, less medication usage, and increased activities and social engagement.

Creativity Matters: Arts and Aging in Americaby Gay Hanna and Susan Perlstein

www.AmericansfortheArts.org

Quality of life goalsQuality of life goals

• MasteryMastery

• Social Social engagementengagement

• HealthHealth

• AttitudeAttitude

• ExerciseExercise

What are some of What are some of the myths you’ve the myths you’ve heard or even heard or even believe about believe about aging or “older aging or “older people”?people”?

In a 2006 study of 205 adults In a 2006 study of 205 adults over age 60 and living in the over age 60 and living in the community, 92 percent rated community, 92 percent rated themselves as aging themselves as aging productively despite having productively despite having chronic illnesses and some chronic illnesses and some disability. Findings showed disability. Findings showed that productive aging is not that productive aging is not related to age, ethnicity, related to age, ethnicity, level of education, marital level of education, marital status, or income, but rather status, or income, but rather to:to:

•greater greater participation participation in activitiesin activities

•having more having more close friendsclose friends

•visiting with visiting with familyfamily

•spending time spending time reading and reading and listening to the listening to the radioradio

The percentage of community-dwelling The percentage of community-dwelling people > 65 who report needing people > 65 who report needing assistance with activities of daily assistance with activities of daily living has decreased over the last 2 living has decreased over the last 2 decades, as has the percentage of decades, as has the percentage of people with debilitating disease. One people with debilitating disease. One viable explanation for these changes viable explanation for these changes is an increase in the percentage of is an increase in the percentage of people who are aging successfully, people who are aging successfully, although there may be other although there may be other explanations.explanations.

• Older people use both sides of the Older people use both sides of the brain for tasks that younger people brain for tasks that younger people use only one side to accomplish.use only one side to accomplish.

• The mind grows stronger from use The mind grows stronger from use and from being challenged.and from being challenged.

• Our personalities, creativity and Our personalities, creativity and psychological concept continues to psychological concept continues to develop throughout life.develop throughout life.

• Developmental intelligence is Developmental intelligence is expressed in deepening wisdom, expressed in deepening wisdom, judgment, perspective and vision.judgment, perspective and vision.

As aging researchers As aging researchers have begun looking have begun looking at the aging mind, at the aging mind, they’ve learned they’ve learned that the brain is that the brain is more flexible and more flexible and adaptable than adaptable than once thought.once thought.

Our brains our vastly different from the brains of our Our brains our vastly different from the brains of our ancestors.ancestors.

Everything we do Everything we do modifies our brain. modifies our brain. Reading, studying Reading, studying music, learning new music, learning new languages. languages.

What complex new skills What complex new skills have you learned in have you learned in the last five years?the last five years?

LossLoss

GainGain

LoveLove

AcceptanceAcceptance

So what’s important when it So what’s important when it comes to aging and mental comes to aging and mental health?health?

Dealing with difficult issuesDealing with difficult issues

Many older people are Many older people are hesitant to discuss hesitant to discuss sensitive subjects, such as sensitive subjects, such as urinary incontinence or urinary incontinence or sexuality with family or sexuality with family or health care providers. health care providers. Physical and mental Physical and mental problems might be problems might be covered up for fear of covered up for fear of losing one’s independence. losing one’s independence. Not many wish to give up Not many wish to give up one’s driver’s license or one’s driver’s license or move to assisted living.move to assisted living.

What may work:What may work:

Take a universal, non-threatening Take a universal, non-threatening approach. You might say, approach. You might say,

• ““Many people your age Many people your age experience…” experience…”

• ““Some people taking this Some people taking this medication have trouble with…” medication have trouble with…”

• ““Feel, felt, found”Feel, felt, found”• ““I have to ask you a lot of I have to ask you a lot of

questions, some that might questions, some that might seem silly. Please don’t be seem silly. Please don’t be offended…” offended…”

ReferencesReferences• The Psychology of AgingThe Psychology of Aging. Ian Stuart Hamilton. Ian Stuart Hamilton

• U.S. Census BureauU.S. Census Bureau

• The Mature MindThe Mature Mind. Gene D. Cohen, MD, PhD. Gene D. Cohen, MD, PhD

• The Brain that Changes Itself. The Brain that Changes Itself. Norman Doidge, MDNorman Doidge, MD

• ““Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit”Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit”

• ““Creativity Matters: Arts and Aging in America” Creativity Matters: Arts and Aging in America” www.AmericansfortheArts.orgwww.AmericansfortheArts.org

• The Merck Manual: The Merck Manual: www.merck.comwww.merck.com/mkgr/mmg/sec1/ch1/ch1a.jsp#ind/mkgr/mmg/sec1/ch1/ch1a.jsp#ind01-001-000101-001-0001

ResourcesResources• Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology: Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology:

www.wayne.edu/research.phpwww.wayne.edu/research.php

• engengage age The Active Art of Aging: The Active Art of Aging: www.engagedaging.orf/index.htmlwww.engagedaging.orf/index.html

• National Center for Creative Aging: National Center for Creative Aging: www.creativeaging.orgwww.creativeaging.org

• California Commission on Aging: California Commission on Aging: www.ccoa.ca.govwww.ccoa.ca.gov

• National Institutes on Aging: National Institutes on Aging: www.nia.nih.govwww.nia.nih.gov

• American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry: American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry: www.aagpgpa.orgwww.aagpgpa.org

• National Council on Aging, Center for Healthy Aging: National Council on Aging, Center for Healthy Aging: www.healthyagingprograms.orgwww.healthyagingprograms.org

• The Methuselah Foundation: The Methuselah Foundation: www.mfoundation.org/index.php?pagename=mj_sens_senswww.mfoundation.org/index.php?pagename=mj_sens_sens