Strategies for Maintaining Health in Later Adulthood Report

This report addresses the critical aspects of physical and cognitive health in aging, tailored for a psychology assignment. It begins with an overview of major health concerns that arise with age, including arthritis, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the importance of lifestyle changes. The report then delves into cognitive changes, differentiating between skills that decline and those that remain stable or improve with age, while also examining the structural and activity changes in the brain. Major indicators of aging, such as wrinkles and skin changes, are discussed. The report concludes by outlining strategies for maintaining health, including regular exercise, dietary adjustments, cognitive engagement, and preventive health measures. The report uses information from the textbook 'Human development a cultural approach' by Arnett, J. J. (2012).

Physical and Cognitive health
Healthcare
4/10/20
Running Head: REPORT 0

REPORT 1
Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Health Concerns.........................................................................................................................2
Cognitive Changes.....................................................................................................................2
Indicators of Age........................................................................................................................2
Strategies to maintain health......................................................................................................2
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4

REPORT 2
Introduction
The three main symptoms of aging involve visibility of wrinkles, loosening of skin,
reduction in strength and lack of elasticity in body. A comprehensive and balanced approach
to keep body healthy and juvenile helps in avoiding premature ageing and the disorders
related to it (Cavanaugh). This report discusses about the major health concerns associated
with aging and how these can be prevented by maintaining the healthy life style in adulthood.
Health Concerns
With increasing age there are several problems ad concerns that makes the people
worried. As the time passes, the health of the elderly people starts to wear off that results in
risk of getting several diseases. The most commonly prevalent disorders and health issues
that the people are concerned about includes arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer, osteoporosis,
diabetes, kidney failure and cardio vascular diseases such as high blood pressures, cholesterol
and stroke. It has been studied that the people in America have become alarmed to stay fit
and healthy and to reduce the age health issues (Roberts). According to CDC, basic lifestyle
changes such as quitting alcohol and cigarettes, regular exercise and healthy eating can
reduce the risk to great extent. It has been noticed that the heart diseases and diabetes
accounts for almost two third of death globally every year with the maximum cases are
recorded to fall in the elderly age group (Wayne).
Cognitive Changes
Cognitive and mental changes are considered to be normal aging process that has
been well observed in researches. Several cognitive and mental abilities, including
vocabulary and sentence forming skills, are not vulnerable to aging of the brain but improve
with age. Many skills, such as logical thinking, memory, and speed of computation, slowly
deteriorates over years. It has been researched and established that the accumulated

REPORT 3
awareness and conceptual experience are quite well preserved in older age (Salthouse).
However here are some alteration in the structure and activity of the brain which
is associated with ageing issues in cognitive behavior, involving changes in the development
of neurons, significant loss of neurotransmitters and synapses, and malfunctioning of network
which helps in transmission of signals. When age increases the effective working of memory
decreases. This has significant impact on thinking, as it makes things more challenging
including activities like making decisions and solving issues and problems. However, no
major variation was identified in emotional functioning and increasing age (Wayne).
Indicators of Age
The major indicators that points towards the aging of the person involves some
physical and some cognitive changes. Appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around face and
body are the first sign that are looked upon. Moreover, skin dullness, pigmentation and
dryness of the skin, spots and rough texture also become quite noticeable. Apart form these
there are scientific findings that supports these signs as the cells reduces their dividing
capacity, accumulation of waste products increases and connective tissues lose their
flexibility (Petery).
Strategies to maintain health
Person cannot change the gene and the inherited characteristic that they possess which
may result in disorders and diseases. But by managing the healthy and effective lifestyle they
can be prevented and the level of discomfort can be reduced. People in their middle
adulthood must start indulging themselves into regular exercises such as walking, stretching
and meditation (Arnett). Apart form that they must cut down on the calorie intake which
usually derived from the sugary and processed fatty foods. They must eliminate the unhealthy
habits of smoking and overeating which increases the risk. Apart from that to maintain the

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cognitive abilities they must indulge in reading books and learning music and new languages
which expands the thinking and processing skills. Moreover, additional immunization and
vaccinations are to be given at proper age to improve the immune system against the diseases.
Full body check to screen the functioning of body and to look for any required medication
must be made quite frequent and regular (Barlow).
Conclusion
This report highlights the points of aging issues and different aspects involved with it.
Making people aware about marinating their health and lifestyle in adulthood gives additional
benefits in old age as well. To reduce the risk factors of arthritis, osteoporosis and other
disorders in old age, people must change their habits and lifestyle in their prime time. Genes
cannot be altered but lifestyle and habits can, which alone gives satisfactory results.

REPORT 5
References
Arnett, J. J. Human development a cultural approach. New York: Pearson, 2012.
Barlow, Meaghan. "Control Strategies for Managing Physical Health Problems in Old Age."
Perceived control: Theory, research, and practice in the first 50 years (2016): 281.
Cavanaugh, John C., and Fredda Blanchard-Fields. Adult development and aging. Cengage
Learning, 2018.
Petery, Gigi. "Age stereotypes and subjective age: Influences and indicators of successful
aging?" Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology
(2019).
Roberts, S. "SUCCESSFUL AGING AS PREPARATION FOR SUCCESSFUL DYING."
Innovation in Aging (2018): 49. 1.
Salthouse, Timothy A. Theoretical perspectives on cognitive aging. Psychology Press, 2016.
Wayne, Peter M., Gloria Yeh, and Darshan H. Mehta. "Minding the Mind–Body Literature:
Aging and Cognitive Decline." 2018. liebertpub.com.