Unit 3: Lesson 5: Middle Adulthood

Lesson 5: Middle Adulthood

Lesson 5: Middle Adulthood

Although 'middle adulthood' is an ambiguous term, mainly when we begin using it across cultural groups, it is generally considered to start around age 40 in the United States and continue to about age 60 or 65. This period is often marked by declining physical ability and increasing responsibility in families and careers. Some scholars suggest that in middle adulthood, individuals begin to confront mortality and what they wish their legacy to be. Individuals may also experience their first serious health issues during this time frame.

Middle adults continue to experience a decline in their overall physical condition, although this can vary significantly from individual to individual. Visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and skin sagging, develop. Hair tends to become thinner and greyer/whiter, and aging spots may appear on the skin, especially in areas exposed to sunlight. People experiencing these signs of aging may try to make themselves look younger through cosmetic procedures such as dying their hair. It is common for individuals to lose height due to bone loss in the back's vertebrae. Men typically lose less than one inch through middle and late adulthood, but women can lose up to two inches by age 75.

Some of the body's physical changes can increase health concerns. In middle adulthood, the cartilage and other connective tissues around joints become less effective, creating pain and more movement difficulties, which also decreases, increasing a person's risk of fractures and broken bones. Scar tissue and fat deposits may begin to line the blood vessels, limiting blood flow. More cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. A single illness or disease, such as cancer or heart disease, causes many deaths in middle adulthood.

Late Adulthood

Although late adulthood brings decreasing physical abilities and, ultimately, death, the period can still be rewarding for individuals. In recent decades, health scientists, doctors, and others have questioned whether the aging process can be delayed and what activities and behaviors may help people live longer. What can people do to experience fewer health issues in late adulthood?

The concept of 'late adulthood' is relatively recent. It wasn't until the last century that most individuals lived past 60 or 65. Today, the average life expectancy is 77 years in the United States, and the world average is 67 years. Women tend to live longer than men, with a life expectancy of over 80 years in the United States. While the life expectancy of individuals has increased, the maximum life span that a person can reach remains at around 120 to 125, although most people will not get this age.

During adulthood, the brain slowly loses weight. By the time a person is 90, about 5-10% of brain weight will be lost compared to the brain in early adulthood, and some areas of the brain will shrink more than others. The prefrontal cortex, for example, experiences shrinking, which decreases a person's capacity for memory and other cognitive processes. The human brain continues to develop and adapt, however. Even in late adulthood, most individuals have brains that function with most of their earlier abilities. Some studies indicate that older adults may use both hemispheres of their brain rather than only one hemisphere when performing tasks like recognizing words.

Physical decline also occurs in late adulthood—physical signs of aging, like wrinkles, increase. Individuals may also lose weight from muscle loss and other reasons. Older people may move more slowly or have more difficulties with movement. Vision and the other senses also decline in late adulthood. Lung capacity continues to fall, with an overall decline of about 40% from what it was between the ages of 20 and 80. However, scientists have found that regular physical activity, even walking, can help individuals in late adulthood combat some of the physical decline often seen in people during this stage.

Health concerns increase as a person ages. Individuals who live to age 80 or greater are likely to have at least one impairment or significant health issue, and chronic diseases are common. Arthritis is one of the most common concerns for older adults. About three-fourths of older people will die from heart disease, stroke, or cancer. Other common causes of death include influenza, lung diseases, respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, and diabetes.

As you can see, changes and development occur throughout our life spans. In this unit, we learned more about some changes that occur at different stages of our lives, from prenatal development in the womb to late adulthood. In doing so, we discussed some health issues that may affect people at different stages and examined how individuals develop from stage to stage.

Think About

1. What is development? What are the characteristics of development?
2. What are the different stages of the human life span?
3. What are some of the physical changes that take place at each stage of the lifespan?
4. What are some of the cognitive developments that take place during each stage of the lifespan?
5. What are some health concerns at each stage of the lifespan?