Aging is a gradual functional decline or evolved regress of physiological function as an individual becomes older. In simple terms, aging is the advancement of growing old. Until recently, research on human development concentrated on childhood and adolescence. The upgrade in medicine, nutrition, and physical exercise has increased the lifespan of humans. With the life expectancy increased, researchers have discovered the significance of adulthood and aging just as childhood and adolescence. This study examines the developmental changes during the aging process.
Physical and Health changes
Changes occur in the body as an individual starts to change, for instance, wrinkles, gray hair, visible blood vessels, and deposits of fat on the chin and abdomen affect old people. Many old people also lose their smell and taste senses. Respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary and renal major organs also start slowing down. Throughout adulthood, the body's performance becomes difference, for example, according to research older adults have a feeble pinch and handgrip force. Despite the small physical ability decrease, research also shows that, “adults can grow new brain cells throughout life and neurons may continue to grow when in enriching environments” (Kinsella " Phillips, 2008).
Older people become vulnerable to chronic disorders that have characteristics such as sluggish onset and take longer durations. Chronic disorders uncover themselves at around the age of 40-60 years of age and are distinct for men and women. The chronic disorders that are common include hearing impairment, hypertension, arthritis, and heart disease. Mental illness such as Alzheimer disease also affects older people, it occurs in smaller rates to young people. “Even though this is a time when good health prevails for many persons, the onset of mental illness reaches its peak during adulthood” (Kinsella " Phillips, 2008). Alzheimer disease leads to the highest degree of forgetfulness that meddles with day-to-day functioning.
The kind of memory that mostly to reduce is the short-term memory. This is because as one becomes old, the ability to assimilate various data all at once. Their long-term memory is less affected, and researchers refer to it as the “stored knowledge base” they include individual's field of expertise, vocabulary and happy experiences memories remain strong. For example, novelists and professional musicians can still work alright into their 80s and 90s as well.
Sexuality
Sexuality is a normal part of a human's life. As people age, their sex interest does not reduce but as they get older, they undergo some changes in their bodies that makes their sexual capability limited. Men, for example, undergo reduction of hormone levels during adulthood midpoint and late adulthood. They start experiencing hardships attaining erections. “Both men and women begin having trouble achieving orgasm. Still, research indicates that although sexual functioning decreases, the sexual desire remains” (Mueller et al, 2011).
Eating Behaviors and Sleep
Research shows that weight gain associated with age happens even among individuals who are most active. The research results show that to some point, weight gain is certain as one undergoes the aging process. “Adults can try to reduce weight gain by measures such as healthful eating habits, restricted diet, and exercise” (Williams " Wood, 2012). Dietary changes happen from adolescence to adulthood and the major contributors to these changes include children, partners, parents, employment, nutritional awareness and insufficient time. Exercise is important throughout all the stages of life because, “exercise benefits not only physical health but also mental health, including improved self-concept and reduced anxiety and depression” (Williams " Wood, 2012)
There are changes in sleep patterns as people become older. Adults mainly experience challenges with sleep, for example, insomnia, which is the most common sleeping disorder of being unable to initiate or maintain sleep. These challenges include poor functioning during the daytime, hardships in concentrating.
Emotional changes
Happiness is more evident with older people than in the young and middle-aged adults. This could be because of the fact that older people do not share similar stress as individuals who are younger. Research shows that all ranks of worry, anger, and stress lower with age. Studies say that older individuals although happy, can have mixed emotions as well. However, their processing of emotions whether positive or negative is better. Ziegler et al add that, “One of the biggest differences with older people is their perspective of time. Older people may not ‘have time’ and their time horizons are shorter. This makes them appreciate their life more and prioritize things more effectively” (2010). They appreciate every moment they are living at that point.
Conclusion
Developmental psychology for long has concentrated on child and adolescent development. Researchers started conducting examinations on adult and aging and it has generated large amounts of findings as discussed in this essay. Development does not stop at adolescence. Adults mature and develop continuously in cognitive, physical and social ways such as the diseases that affect them, sexuality, eating habits, exercise, and emotional changes. With the attention that adult education is receiving, the future's research abides to be promising. Elderly population continues to grow, therefore opportunities for studying development throughout the complete lifespan.
Works Cited
Kinsella, K., " Phillips, D. R. (2008). Global aging: The challenge of success. Population Bulletin.
Mueller, L. D., Rauser, C. L., and Rose, M. R. (2011). Does Aging Stop? New York: Oxford University Press.
Williams, P. T., " Wood, P. D. (2012). The effects of changing exercise levels on weight and age-related weight gain. International Journal of Obesity, 30(3), 543.
Ziegler, D. A., Piguet, O., Salat, D. H., Prince, K., Connally, E., " Corkin, S. (2010). Cognition in healthy aging is related to regional white matter integrity, but not cortical thickness. Neurobiology of aging, 31(11).
