Psychology of Ageing
Psychology of Ageing
Why is there sex differences in life
expectancy between males and females?
Women outlive men in all western countries.
Example for difference:
10 years in Russia
 4 years in Greece
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What is ageing?
Why do we age?
What are the consequences?
What Is Ageing?
 Chronological age
How long have you lived
 Biological age
How old is your body
How Do We Age?
Microscopic theories of ageing
 Cellular theories
Genetic theories
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“They flick limit”
DNA mutation theories
Stochastic error theories
Programmed ageing theories
How Do We Age?
Non genetic theories of ageing
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Free radical theories
Cross-link theories
Wear & tear theories
Waste product theories
What Are The Consequences of
Ageing?
Loss of functions, visual, auditory, etc…
Normal & pathological ageing
Normal aging: senescence
 Natural decline in bodily function
 Some cognitive decline
What Are The Consequences of
Ageing?
Pathological aging: senility
 Organic brain disorder (e.g.
Alzheimer’s disease)
 Severe irreversible cognitive decline
Biological Age Changes
Why Do We Age?
Neuronal changes.
 Fewer neurons in older adult brain.
5-10% loss in 65 compared to 20 year old
 Neuro-fibrillary tangles: increase with age
Axonal fibers tangle to form filaments
Biological Age Changes
Why Do We Age?
 Dendritic changes: shrink with age
Recent evidence continued dendritic growth
 Neurotic plaques: increase with age
Lamps of dying neurons (hippocampus/LTM/ they don’t
learn new things)
 Psychological effects of neuronal changes
Biological Age Changes
Why Do We Age?
 Communication amongst neurons
Not yet change in number of synapses
 Neurotransmitter change with age
Less dopamine, less ACH, less cholinergic binding
Psychological consequences?
Microscopic Brain Changes With
Age
 Scientist Bromely
Frontal lobe, personality
Hippocampus  memory
Types of Intelligence
 The big “G” IQ
 Fluid vs. crystallized intelligence (biological
foundations)
 Everyday intelligence
 Wisdom & expertise
 Multiple intelligence (skills, mathematics,
language)
Fluid Intelligence
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Abilities used in new learning
Memorization, inductive reasoning
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Include abstraction, calculation, common sense,
breadth of knowledge
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Believed to peak in late adolescence
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Begins to decline in early adulthood
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Depend on person’s inherent abilities such as memory,
pattern recognition and CNS
 Implication:
Slower processing time
Older person need more time to process and
react to information
Crystallized Intelligence
 Include vocabulary, general information,
understanding social interactions, ability to
evaluate experiences.
 Include the cognitive skills that are acquired
through culture, education, information
learning, and other life experiences.
 Associated with wisdom, judgment and life
experiences.
 Continues to develop throughout adulthood,
does not change with age.
Note!
We can not have crystallized
intelligence without fluid
intelligence
 Good Luck To U All 