Adult development
The theory considers the lifelong accumulation of developmental additions and subtractions, with the relative proportion of gains to losses diminishing over an individual's lifetime.
[14] According to this theory, life span development has multiple trajectories (positive, negative, stable) and causes (biological, psychological, social, and cultural).
[18] The concept of emerging adulthood is new, and likely developed due to growing numbers of college attendance and other social, economic, and cultural changes that have delayed typical markers of being an "adult"[2].
Maladaptation – sensory distortion (e.g. unrealistic, spoilt, deluded) Malignancy – withdrawal (e.g. neurotic, depressive, afraid) After gaining trust in their caregivers, infants learn that they are responsible for their actions.
Maladaptation – impulsivity (e.g. reckless, inconsiderate, thoughtless) Malignancy – compulsion (e.g. anal, constrained, self-limiting) During preschool years children start to use their power and control over the world through playing and other social interactions.
Maladaptation – ruthlessness (e.g. exploitative, uncaring, dispassionate) Malignancy – inhibition (e.g. risk-averse, unadventurous) When children interact with others they start to develop a sense of pride in their abilities and accomplishments.
Maladaptation – narrow virtuosity (e.g. workaholic, obsessive, specialist) Malignancy – inertia (e.g. lazy, apathetic, purposeless) During adolescent years, children begin to find out who they are.
Maladaptation – promiscuity (e.g. sexually needy, vulnerable) Malignancy – exclusivity (e.g. loner, cold, self-contained) This stage usually begins when an individual has established a career and has a family.
In this stage, an individual must either contribute significantly to their careers, families and communities in order to ensure success in the next generation or they stagnate, creating a threat to their well-being which can be referred to as a "mid-life crisis."
[28] Maladaptation – overextension (e.g. do-gooder, busy-body, meddling) Malignancy – rejectivity (e.g. disinterested, cynical) This stage often occurs when an older individual is in retirement and expecting the end of their life.
Stages are created by the challenges of building or maintaining a life structure and by the social norms that apply to particular age groups, particularly concerning relationships and career.
The key stages that he discerned in early adulthood and midlife were as follows: Levinson's work includes research on differences in the lives of men and women.
[64] Dementia is characterized by persistent, multiple cognitive deficits in the domains including, but not limited to, memory, language, and visuospatial skills and can result from central nervous system dysfunction.
[71] The impact of Alzheimer's disease on individuals and their families is profound, making ongoing research and promising developments in treatments like lecanemab incredibly important.
The strides being made in understanding the physiological aspects of the disease, as well as the potential treatments, provide hope for millions of people worldwide who are affected by Alzheimer's.
[80] Common symptoms experienced by people with PD include trembling of the hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head; rigidity (stiffness in limbs and the midsection); bradykinesia; and postural instability, leading to impaired balance and/or coordination.
[94] Research indicates that higher levels of exercise can decrease the likelihood of depression in older adults even after taking into consideration factors such as chronic conditions, body mass index, and social relationships.
[98] However, in the Epidemiological Catchment Area Project, researchers found that 6-month prevalence rates for anxiety disorders were lowest for the 65 years of age and older cohort.
[105] However, ADHD in adults results in lower household incomes, less educational achievement as well as a higher risk of marital issues and substance abuse.
[108] Differences in how these environments treat mental illness and provide social support could help explain disparities and lead to a better knowledge of how these disorders are manifested in adulthood.
Exercising four to six times a week for thirty to sixty minutes has physical and cognitive effects such as lowering blood sugar and increasing neural plasticity.
This group of neural diseases tend to inhibit the nervous system’s ability to properly send signals for everyday activities, sometimes even killing neurons.
Due to nervous tissue’s limited regenerative ability, people with cognitive decline are often left with lifelong issues remembering information, judging situations, communicating with others, or thinking in general.
They found that physically active mice had higher circulating irisin, a peptide made in contacting muscles that has a role in neurogenesis and other cognition factors.
[119] Most studies and literature reviews similarly conclude that moderate-intensity exercise with long-term adherence will yield the best results for retaining cognitive function in older adults.
[121][122] A large collection of clinical trial results showed that many studies didn’t follow participants after 10 years and there was less of a dose-response relationship between reducing cognitive decline symptoms with the use of consistent exercise.
While there is a certain level of individualism at play, there are three articles that show how aging in a healthy way, physically and mentally, can be achieved by focusing on cognitive health, muscle retention, and curbing the effects of neurodegenerative disease.
[129] Additionally, researchers have found that optimism, community engagement, physical activity, and emotional support can help older adults maintain their resiliency as they continue through their life span.
[144] Primary mental abilities are independent groups of factors that contribute to intelligent behavior and include word fluency, verbal comprehension, spatial visualization, number facility, associative memory, reasoning, and perceptual speed.
These facilities provide older adults with a home-like environment and personal control while helping to meet residents' daily routines and special needs.
