Late adulthood - issues affecting the aged

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One approach to help you with an assignment like this one is to address each question from various sources, which you can then draw on for your final copy. This is the approach this response takes.

The questions can act as a tentative outline for your paper. I also attached a sample APA paper to refer to for your final copy and one research paper, some of which this response is drawn.

RESPONSE:

1. Describe the biological changes that occur in late adulthood and how health and fitness affect the aging process

The science that deals with the aging process is called gerontology. Many biological changes occur in later adulthood, which includes the following:

? "Cardiovascular function changes are observed in the decrement of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) with advancing age (10% decreases per decade after 30 years old)" (Hurley & Roth, 2000; Robergs & Roberts, 1997, as cited in http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/olderadult.html).

? "Musculoskeletal changes in strength, power and endurance occur in late adulthood. Losses in muscular strength occur at an approximate rate of 12-14% per decade after the age 50 years old" (Hurley & Roth, 2000 as cited in http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/olderadult.html).

? With advance aging, moderate to large decreases in muscular power and endurance. To add to this, "muscular flexibility is also inversely related to age, and is most likely attributable to losses in muscular elasticity and changes in the structure of collagen fibers within joints". http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/olderadult.html).

? "Another very prominent change that occurs with aging is loss in bone mineral mass and density. On average, 10-20% of our total bone mass is lost by the time we reach an age of 65 years old" (Robergs & Roberts, 1997 as cited in http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/olderadult.html).

? Pulmonary changes also occur. "The majority of age-related pulmonary function changes affect the ability to move air in and out of the lungs per minute (minute ventilation) and in one maximal breath (vital capacity), as well as the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide across the alveolar-blood vessel spaces. The observed changes in the ability to adequately ventilate can be traced to losses in respiratory muscle strength" (Robergs & Roberts, 1997 as cited in http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/olderadult.html).

? Vision and hearing can show impairment as people age. "Loss of accommodation of the lens is one of the most striking changes in vision. Most people by the age of 65 are farsighted due to the eye lenses becoming hardened and losing elasticity. A cataract may form when the lenses become cloudy and vision is significantly impaired. Glaucoma is another serious age-related eye disorders associated with age. This disease will cause pressure to increase within the eyeball and, unless treated, it will result in blindness". http://www.essortment.com/all/agingprocessge_roqp.htm.

? Hearing often decreases with age. For example, "the hair cells in the organ of Corti (inner ear) can cause a decline in hearing frequencies. The eardrum and ossicles are less able to transmit mechanical sound waves. Many elderly people have hearing impairment because of aging. There can be a loss of appetite connective tissue cells replace taste buds. The sense organs all will most likely become impaired as the person ages". http://www.essortment.com/all/agingprocessge_roqp.htm

? As adults age, the ...