Physical and Cognitive In Middle Adulthood Flashcards
White matter volume _____ in middle adulthood and Grey matter _______ as in childhood
Peaks, declines
How does synapse development change in middle adulthood
While new ones continue to form, more synapses are lost than gained
What is the general rule of brain formation?
Those that develop last decline first, namely the frontal and partial lobes
Compare middle adult and young adult brains
-Cognitive tasks activate larger parts of brain tissue compared to young adults
-Both brains respond differently to sensory stimuli
How does brain development impact middle adults in everyday situations?
In situations requiring intense concentration and rapid judgments, mid adults perform similar/better than young adults
Define climacteric
Stages in middle adulthood among men and women where reproductive capacity decline or ends
What does climacteric look like in men?
Very slow, low decline of testosterone starts in young adulthood, but maintains itself into old age. Lifestyle changes and medicine can restore lost sexual function
What is menopause?
The cessation of monthly menstrual cycles that typically occurs in ones late 40s-Early 50s
Menopausal symptoms can be drastically improved by taking…
Estrogen and progesterone
Why take both estrogen and progesterone during menopause?
Low dosages have the benefits of estrogen without the increased risks of endometrial cancer and other diseases.
What occurs during the premenopausal phase?
Estrogen levels fall somewhat, menstrual periods become less regular, and anovulatory cycles (menstrual cycles in which ovulation does not occur) begins
What characterizes the perimenopausal phase?
Estrogen and progesterone levels are erratic, menstrual cycles may be very irregular, and women begin to experience symptoms such as hot flashes.
What defines the postmenopausal phase and what does it indicate?
A woman is postmenopausal when she has had no menstrual periods for a year or more, which indicates that a woman has completed her transition through menopause.
What is the connection between menopause and psychological states?
Experts find no connection between menopause and major depressive disorder, and the negativity attributed to menopause may be from overall negativity and life stressors
Women with significant symptoms, and whose symptoms last the longest, experience the ____ depression and negative moods
Most
How does sexual activity change in middle age?
While middle adults remain sexually active, 4 main factors contribute to the decline of sexual desire and frequency. Chronic illness, partner expectation, mental illness, and sexual expectations
No variable affects ones quality of life in middle and late adulthood as much as…
Health
How does a middle aged person in good health compare to a young adult?
They function as well and have as much energy as much younger adults
When does osteoporosis start?
30s, accelerated in menopause due to estrogen and progesterone decreasing
How can osteoporosis be prevented?
Getting enough calcium in early, regular strength training, and getting a bone density test to detect any calcium deficiency early on
What is Presbyopia and when does it occur?
The natural loss of visual acuity especially when focusing on near objects, declines in 40s and early 50s
What is Presbycusis?
Natural loss of hearing especially very high or very low frequency sounds. Slower decline than presbyopia, but accelerates at 55
Most 40-year-old Canadians’ health-related quality of life remains relatively high and stable through to roughly age__, when it begins to decline
70
During middle adulthood there is an increase in (4)….
Frequency of of annoying aches and pains, number of people who are unhappy with their bodies, death due to disease, and chronic illness/disability
