PSY 230 Main Page

Chapter 19:

 Cognitive  Development in Late Adulthood

Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults

•         Cognitive changes in adulthood are multidimensional

–        Cognitive mechanics tends to decline with aging

•         Includes speed and accuracy of processes

•         Strongly influenced by biology and heredity

–        Cognitive pragmatics may improve with aging

•         Reading, writing, and educational qualifications

•         Professional skills and language comprehension

•         Knowledge of self and life skills

•         Influences of the culture

•         Declines in older adults’ processing speed often results from decline in CNS & brain function 

•         Selective attention is affected by competing stimuli; older adults have less ability to focus 

•         Divided attention – older adults’ ability decreases when competing tasks become more complex 

•         Older adults sustain attention, however, as well as younger and middle-aged adults

•         Memory changes with age, but areas tend to be multidirectional

•         Not all aspects of memory decline with age

•         Decline occurs mainly in older adults’ episodic and working memory, not in semantic or implicit memory

•         Decline in perceptual speed is linked to memory decline

•         Successful aging does not mean eliminating memory decline, but reducing or adapting to it

•         Cognitive functioning in older adults is greatly influenced by

•         Education: older adults today were more likely to have attended college

•         Work: as industrial societies evolve into information societies – older adults’ jobs will emphasize intellectual abilities

•         Health: advances in medical technology and awareness of links between lifestyle and health help older adults live healthier and longer lives

•         Use it or lose it

•         Changes in cognitive activity patterns can cause increase or atrophy of skills

•         Certain mental activities can maintain current levels of cognitive skills – a critical factor may be amount of time spent in that activity

•         One longitudinal study linked lack of mental exercise and risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Work  and Retirement 

•         Work patterns have changed, but people over 65 still find work a very important part of their lives

•         Men over age 65

–        From 1900 to 2000, the number who still work full-time decreased by about 70%

–        Probability of employment is positively correlated with education level and being married to a working wife

•         The number of older adults who continue working part-time past age 65 has increased since the 1960s – about 35% now plan to work part-time, for interest or enjoyment

•         It is estimated that 78 million “baby boomers” will reach retirement age by2010, but federal laws will allow many to continue working 

•         Cognitive ability is the best predictor of job performance in older adults 

•         Work provides older workers with opportunities for

–        Productive activity

–        Social interactions

–        A positive identity

•         The U.S. Social Security system was established in 1935. On average, today’s workers will spend 10% to 15% of their lives in retirement 

•         The 1967 Age Discrimination Act prohibits firing workers due to age before mandatory retirement  

•         In 1986, the U.S. Congress banned mandatory retirement for all but a few occupations

•         Comparing the U.S. and other countries on the number of males working full-time past age 60:

•         Japan had 57% in the labor force

•         U.S. had 33%

•         England had 13%

•         France had 8%

•         Older U.S. and Japanese adult males favored relying on savings during retirement

•         Older French and English adult males favored relying on social security during retirement

•         Retirement is a process, not an event – flexibility is a key factor in whether one adjusts well

•         Most research studies on adjustment to retirement have focused on men rather than women

•         Older adults who adjust best to retirement

•         Have an adequate income

•         Are better educated

•         Are healthy and active

•         Have extended social networks and family

•         Were satisfied with their lives before retiring

Mental Health

•         The risk of having a mental health disorder is not higher in older adults, but the associated costs are over $40 billion a year 

•         Females show higher rates of depression than males from childhood to early adulthood and between ages 50 and 60 

•         Men show increases in depression between ages 60 and 80, but not women 

•         Common predictors of depression in older adults are poor health, loss events, and low social support

•         Dementias are among the most debilitating mental disorders in older adults – more than 70 types exist

•         Alzheimer’s disease: the most common dementia

•         Rates could triple within the next 50 years

•         Onset varies – generally between ages 30 and 60

•         Brain shrinks as memory ability decreases

•         There is no known cure yet, and it may be genetic

•         Healthy lifestyle factors may lower the risk

•         Antioxidant vitamins may protect brain cells

•         Facts about Alzheimer’s disease:

•         Special brain scans like MRI can detect brain changes before Alzheimer’s disease symptoms develop

•         Spinal fluids can also be tested for early signs of disease

•         Most patients with Alzheimer’s live about 8 years after being diagnosed

•         Decline is predictable and progressive, and affects physical, cognitive, and social functioning

•         A patient’s important support system is family

•         10% to 20% of dementias stem from vascular disease

•         Multi-infarct dementia is more common in men with a history of high blood pressure 

•         Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movements, and facial paralysis 

•         Drugs have been developed to treat Parkinson’s disease in the early stages, but there is no cure yet – too much drug treatment can lead to schizophrenia

•         Older adults can be victimized in many ways as their vulnerability increases with age 

•         Fear of crime can prevent older adults from

–        Traveling

–        Attending social events

–        Pursing an active lifestyle 

•         Older adult crime victimization rates may be higher than reported by victims due to

–        Fear of retribution from criminals

–        Belief the criminal justice system can’t help

•         Elder maltreatment is primarily committed by family members 

•         Elder maltreatment

–        Includes neglect and physical abuse

–        Includes spousal abuse

–        Is most often suffered by women 

•         Older women were more likely than men to be victims of property damage and robbery – most perpetrators being unrelated young males aged 18 to 29 years

•         Older adults receive disproportionately fewer mental health services

•         Persons age 65 or older make up 11% of the population but receive only 2.7% of all clinical services provided by psychologists

•         Psychologists prefer to work with YAVIS clients rather than QUOIDs, perceiving a poor therapy success for older adults – stereotypical views?

•         Many different types of mental health treatment are available to older adults

Religion

•         Older adults are spiritual leaders in many societies around the world

•         Religious patterns of older adults are of interest

•         Religion is

–        More significant in older adults’ lives

–        Related to a sense of meaning in life

–        Related to higher levels of life satisfaction, optimism, and self-esteem

–        Associated with better health

–        Perhaps associated with living longer