"Biological Changes and Physical and Mental Health in Middle Adulthood"
Adapted from Dimensions of Human Behavior: The Changing Life Course Fourth Edition
by Elizabeth D. Hutchinson and Contributors
Overview:
*Despite dramatic increase in numbers of adults in the last few decades, between the ages of
45-60 some physical and mental decline begins to occur.
*Biologically, peak performance occurs in the mid-20's, over next 20 to 30 years changes occur
gradually at different rates in different body systems.
*Changes aka "the aging process" stem from interactions of biology with the following factors:
-psychological
-sociocultural
-spiritual
*Accumulation of biological change is visibly apparent in most individuals by age 50.
*Biggest changes for biology, physical/mental health:
-physical appearance
-changes in mobility
-reproductive system
-beginnings of chronic disease
*Enormous discrepancies between individual timing/intensity of these changes, yet some
changes affect everyone.
Changes in Physical Appearance:
*Skin: wrinkles, loss of firmness/elasticity, dryness, spotty localized pigmentation.
*Hair: thins/grays on head, appears in unwanted areas-ears, eyebrow clumps, facial hair on
women.
*"Presbyopia"-loss of ability to focus on near objects, necessitates wearing of glasses for most
adults 45-55 years old.
*Build results in a loss of height, gains in weight:
-starting in 40's, half inch height loss per decade-loss of bone material in vertebrae
-starting age 20 until mid-50s: body fat gains in torso for increase weight % vs.
adolescence/early adulthood
*Late 50s results in loss of weight due to loss of lean body mass (bone/muscle)
*Factors that minimize effects of this aging process:
-sunscreen, skin emollients, vitamin E, facial massages, smoking cessation
-affluent demographic use plastic surgery and Botox
-30 to 60 min 3 to 4 times per week- aerobic exercise/resistance training = improved
muscle tone/reduce fat bone loss
Changes in Mobility:
*By 40s losses in muscle, bones, joints = mobility loss, by 45 = strength loss.
-12%-15% decline per decade thereafter
-most apparent in legs and back
-strength training 3 to 4 times/week minimize these losses
*Max bone density reached early adulthood, loss of bone material occurs following max period.
-50s rate of bone loss +, 2X > in women due to loss in estrogens post menopause
-bone loss correlates with fairer skin pigment, i.e. Black women = higher bone material
-accelerated by smoking, alcohol, poor diet
-minimized by increased calcium intake in young adulthood + vitamin D
*Joints/cartilage- obvious changes start in 40s.
-joints do not benefit from constant use like muscle
-proper footwear during exercise/avoid repetitive wrist movement minimizes damage
-Flexibility/strengthening exercises that support joints minimize losses
Changes in the Reproductive System and Sexuality:
*Middle adulthood: women's ability to conceive/bear children declines until cessation…
-Menopause: permanent end to menstruation, medically defined as 12 consecutive
months. Median age = 50, 51. 90% of U.S women experience between 45 and 55.
-Although perceived as a less gradual loss than in men, loss does more gradual…
-Premenopause: begins in 30s- occasional menstrual cycles w/o ovulation or eggs.
-This change is not obvious.
-Perimenopause: period immediately prior to menopause, indicates reproductive
capacity is reaching exhaustion- extends through 1st year of last menstrual cycle.
Symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, headaches, insomnia, fatigue,
anxiety, depression, irritability, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, weight gain
*Cross-Cultural studies indicate different conceptions of menopause:
-Non-western culture sees it as positive, freedom to move beyond family realm
-Euro-American conceives it as a "deficiency disease", this view is losing dominance
*Menopause did not receive much attention until 1980s…
-Baby boom women asserted control over reproductive lives and sexuality taboos
-potential risk factors: estrogen loss could lead to osteoporosis/cardiovascular disease
*Existing Research: (See Supplemental Resources for Existing Research on Menopause)
*For Men: lowered sperm counts starting in 40s and 50s, testes shrink due reduction in volume
of seminal fluid after age 60.
-gradual decline of testosterone begins in early adulthood and continues throughout life, yet
many men stay in the "normal" range for younger men throughout middle adulthood?
-speculative: lowered testosterone is associated with low energy, decreased sexual desire/
performance, muscle and bone loss, sleep disturbance, hot flashes, decreased cognitive
functioning, depression…
-This process is known as male menopause, climacteric, or andropause.
* "Reversible State of Testerone Deficiency"- testerone supplement prescriptions have increased
by 400% between 1997-2002. Risks: prostate cancer, sleep apnea, heart disease.
* At this stage both men and women begin to experience decreased sexual functioning: Many
couples manage to maintain healthy sex lives though.
by Elizabeth D. Hutchinson and Contributors
Overview:
*Despite dramatic increase in numbers of adults in the last few decades, between the ages of
45-60 some physical and mental decline begins to occur.
*Biologically, peak performance occurs in the mid-20's, over next 20 to 30 years changes occur
gradually at different rates in different body systems.
*Changes aka "the aging process" stem from interactions of biology with the following factors:
-psychological
-sociocultural
-spiritual
*Accumulation of biological change is visibly apparent in most individuals by age 50.
*Biggest changes for biology, physical/mental health:
-physical appearance
-changes in mobility
-reproductive system
-beginnings of chronic disease
*Enormous discrepancies between individual timing/intensity of these changes, yet some
changes affect everyone.
Changes in Physical Appearance:
*Skin: wrinkles, loss of firmness/elasticity, dryness, spotty localized pigmentation.
*Hair: thins/grays on head, appears in unwanted areas-ears, eyebrow clumps, facial hair on
women.
*"Presbyopia"-loss of ability to focus on near objects, necessitates wearing of glasses for most
adults 45-55 years old.
*Build results in a loss of height, gains in weight:
-starting in 40's, half inch height loss per decade-loss of bone material in vertebrae
-starting age 20 until mid-50s: body fat gains in torso for increase weight % vs.
adolescence/early adulthood
*Late 50s results in loss of weight due to loss of lean body mass (bone/muscle)
*Factors that minimize effects of this aging process:
-sunscreen, skin emollients, vitamin E, facial massages, smoking cessation
-affluent demographic use plastic surgery and Botox
-30 to 60 min 3 to 4 times per week- aerobic exercise/resistance training = improved
muscle tone/reduce fat bone loss
Changes in Mobility:
*By 40s losses in muscle, bones, joints = mobility loss, by 45 = strength loss.
-12%-15% decline per decade thereafter
-most apparent in legs and back
-strength training 3 to 4 times/week minimize these losses
*Max bone density reached early adulthood, loss of bone material occurs following max period.
-50s rate of bone loss +, 2X > in women due to loss in estrogens post menopause
-bone loss correlates with fairer skin pigment, i.e. Black women = higher bone material
-accelerated by smoking, alcohol, poor diet
-minimized by increased calcium intake in young adulthood + vitamin D
*Joints/cartilage- obvious changes start in 40s.
-joints do not benefit from constant use like muscle
-proper footwear during exercise/avoid repetitive wrist movement minimizes damage
-Flexibility/strengthening exercises that support joints minimize losses
Changes in the Reproductive System and Sexuality:
*Middle adulthood: women's ability to conceive/bear children declines until cessation…
-Menopause: permanent end to menstruation, medically defined as 12 consecutive
months. Median age = 50, 51. 90% of U.S women experience between 45 and 55.
-Although perceived as a less gradual loss than in men, loss does more gradual…
-Premenopause: begins in 30s- occasional menstrual cycles w/o ovulation or eggs.
-This change is not obvious.
-Perimenopause: period immediately prior to menopause, indicates reproductive
capacity is reaching exhaustion- extends through 1st year of last menstrual cycle.
Symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, headaches, insomnia, fatigue,
anxiety, depression, irritability, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, weight gain
*Cross-Cultural studies indicate different conceptions of menopause:
-Non-western culture sees it as positive, freedom to move beyond family realm
-Euro-American conceives it as a "deficiency disease", this view is losing dominance
*Menopause did not receive much attention until 1980s…
-Baby boom women asserted control over reproductive lives and sexuality taboos
-potential risk factors: estrogen loss could lead to osteoporosis/cardiovascular disease
*Existing Research: (See Supplemental Resources for Existing Research on Menopause)
*For Men: lowered sperm counts starting in 40s and 50s, testes shrink due reduction in volume
of seminal fluid after age 60.
-gradual decline of testosterone begins in early adulthood and continues throughout life, yet
many men stay in the "normal" range for younger men throughout middle adulthood?
-speculative: lowered testosterone is associated with low energy, decreased sexual desire/
performance, muscle and bone loss, sleep disturbance, hot flashes, decreased cognitive
functioning, depression…
-This process is known as male menopause, climacteric, or andropause.
* "Reversible State of Testerone Deficiency"- testerone supplement prescriptions have increased
by 400% between 1997-2002. Risks: prostate cancer, sleep apnea, heart disease.
* At this stage both men and women begin to experience decreased sexual functioning: Many
couples manage to maintain healthy sex lives though.