Human Aging

By David William Jedell November 5, 2024

Whether you are 20 or 90, each moment of life presents an opportunity to focus on what really matters to you

With an increasingly older population, I believe it is about time that our collective mindset on ageing catches up with reality. Luckily, the negative picture you’ve probably formed about ageing is simply not true. For instance, research into the so-called happiness curve indicates that our level of happiness increases from around midlife and up until the age of 70. Yes, it might take you a little longer to learn new things late in life, and you might perform some activities more slowly than you used to, but there are also many ways in which older age is a strength. With increasing age, you can expect to accumulate better knowledge of the world and become better at retrieving and applying it, and for your emotional intelligence to increase. https://psyche.co/ideas/rather-than-fearing-getting-old-heres-how-to-embrace-it

Book: "Seasons in a Man's Life"

Within the framework of his theory, Levinson described the sequence of stages and transitions for men from 17 to 65 years of age with an emphasis on early and middle adulthood. Adult male development, according to Levinson, starts with the Early Adult Transition (17-22) during which the main tasks are separation from pre-adult world (parents, school, peers, etc.), ending or changing existing relationships, formation of adult identity, making initial decisions regarding their adult way of living and putting them to the test. Entering the Adult World (22 - 28) is the time of exploration, experimentation and adventure, yet laden with two major conflicting tasks: (a) exploring alternatives that adult life has to offer, and at the same time (b) building a stable life structure which implies more responsible decisions and behavior. The next stage, The Age Thirty Transition, is the time for young men to re-evaluate the quality of their life, re-align them with their goals and make crucial choices in regard to marriage, family and occupation. The three stages described above comprise the “novice” phase of adulthood (17-33), as Levinson calls it (Levinson, 1978).

The culminating period of Early Adulthood is Settling Down (33-40) which is characterized by self-investment in the most significant aspects of the life structure: family, career, friendships, and leisure (Levinson, 1978, 1986; Aktu & İlhan, 2017). Toward the end of Settling Down period, Levinson distinguishes a period that he refers to as Becoming One’s Own Man (36-40), during which an adult male acquires more independence, confidence and selfsufficiency (Levinson, 1978).

According to Levinson, the next period, the Mid-Life Transition (40-45), which marks the beginning of Middle Adulthood Era, is the time of psychological turmoil, and represents a developmental crisis. Although for some the transition can be quite smooth, 80% of the participants in Levinson’s research reported personal and social difficulties during this period. Mid-Life Transition Period often results in changes in external and internal aspects of life, such as divorce, change of occupation, moving or changing lifestyle, as well as change in values, goals, and attitudes. Levinson views the resolution of the mid-life transition crisis in the integration of four polarities: Young/Old; Destruction/Creation; Masculine/Feminine; and Attachment/Separateness. According to Levinson, an adult person has better chances of adjusting to middle adulthood through finding new ways of reconciling and incorporating polarities into their developing self. The successful transition to the next stage of building Entering Middle Adulthood (45-50) largely depends on the resolution of the previous stage. The adults who build new life structure based on stronger individuation and deeper attachments will pass through the phase with most satisfaction from life (Levinson, 1978). In his book “Seasons of Woman’s Life” Levinson came to the conclusion that women follow the same sequence of periods in early and middle adulthood as men (Levinson, 1996). He also published in the areas of personality theory and organizational behavior. https://www.assessmentpsychologyboard.org/edp/pdf/Daniel_Levinson.pdf

Women can get pregnant and bear children from puberty when they start getting their menstrual period to menopause when they stop getting it. The average woman’s reproductive years are between ages 12 and 51. Your fertility naturally declines as you get older, which could make it harder for you to conceive. https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/childbearing-age#:~:text=Technically%2C%20women%20can%20get%20pregnant%20and%20bear%20children,could%20make%20it%20harder%20for%20you%20to%20conceive.

Menopause is when periods stop for good. It's diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period, vaginal bleeding or spotting. Menopause can happen in the 40s or 50s. But the average age is 51 in the United States. Menopause is natural. But the physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, and emotional symptoms of menopause may disrupt sleep, lower energy or affect mood. Most often, menopause happens over time. The months or years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause or the menopausal transition.

During the transition, the amount of hormones your ovaries make varies. Perimenopause can last 2 to 8 years. The average is about four years.

The hormone changes can cause symptoms such as:

Irregular periods.

Vaginal dryness.

Hot flashes.

Night sweats.

Sleep problems.

Mood changes.

Trouble finding words and remembering, often called brain fog.

Different people have different menopause symptoms. Most often, periods are not regular before they end.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397

Fertility starts to decline for men when they’re in their late 40s, with up to a 23% annual decline in fertility beginning at age 39[1]. One study suggested that conceiving during a 12-month period was 30% less likely for men who were over the age of 40 compared to men who were under 30 years old https://www.forbes.com/health/mens-health/male-fertility-by-age/

Negatives Encountered by Some Older People

Your Heart Works Harder

Your Skin Feels Different

You Find It Harder to See and Hear

Your Teeth and Gums Change

Your Bones Become More Brittle

Going to the Bathroom

It’s Harder Getting Around or Staying Strong

Your Sex Life Changes, Too

https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/normal-aging

Here are some common signs and symptoms of fatigue in older adults:

11 Causes of Fatigue in Older Adults

Complaints of tiredness or sleepiness

Sleeping an excessive amount at night

Napping frequently during the day

Muscle weakness

Weight loss

Loss of motivation

Agitation or anxiety

Mood swings

Difficulty concentrating

Memory problems

https://bluemoonseniorcounseling.com/10-causes-of-fatigue-in-older-adults/

Depression is a mental health condition that can affect people of all ages including older people. While it is normal to feel down sometimes, if you feel this way for 2 weeks or more, or your mood is affecting your ability to cope with everyday life, you may be experiencing depression. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/depression-in-older-people

Getting enough sleep helps you stay healthy and alert. Even though older adults need the same seven to nine hours of sleep as all adults, they often don’t get enough. Feeling sick or being in pain can make it harder to sleep, and some medicines can keep you awake. Not getting enough quality sleep can make a person irritable, depressed, forgetful, and more likely to have falls or other accidents. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/what-do-we-know-about-healthy-aging

If you’re looking for a job at age 65 or older, think about these career options. These fields have large numbers of older employees, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Here are 15 in-demand jobs for seniors:

Health services

Wholesale and retail trade

Professional and business services

Education

Manufacturing

Construction

Transportation

Finance and insurance

Real estate

Hospitality

Leisure

Land-related work

Information

Animal care

Utilities

https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/in-demand-jobs-for-seniors

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by a persistent difficulty to fall or remain asleep despite the opportunity to do so. People with insomnia also experience excessive daytime sleepiness and other cognitive impairments while they are awake that directly stem from sleep loss. People may have sleep-onset insomnia, which causes difficulty falling asleep, or sleep maintenance insomnia, which causes difficulty staying asleep. Some people with insomnia experience sleep onset and sleep maintenance issues. According to current estimates, 10-30% of adults. It is a common sleep disorder characterized by a persistent difficulty to fall or remain asleep despite the opportunity to do so. People with insomnia also experience excessive daytime sleepiness and other cognitive impairments while they are awake that directly stem from sleep loss. People may have sleep-onset insomnia, which causes difficulty falling asleep, or sleep maintenance insomnia, which causes difficulty staying asleep. Some people with insomnia experience sleep onset and sleep maintenance issues. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/older-adults

Erectile Dysfunction in the Elderly: An Old Widespread Issue with Novel Treatment Perspectives. All epidemiologic studies clearly show an increasing age-related prevalence and severity of ED. Data from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study documented a tripling of the overall probability of complete ED from 5% in men aged 40 years to 15% in men aged 70 years https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3976909/#:~:text=All%20epidemiologic%20studies%20clearly%20show,aged%2070%20years%20%5B6%5D

Women may show signs of aging sooner and at a faster rate than men:

Facial aging

Women's faces age faster than men's, especially between the ages of 50 and 60. Signs of aging include a flatter face, deeper nasolabial folds, and sagging soft tissue.

Cellular aging

A study of 33 million biopsy reports found that women's cells show signs of aging as early as age 19, while men's cells don't show signs until age 40.

Menopause

Menopause is a major factor in accelerated aging for women. The hormonal changes that occur during menopause directly affect skin composition

Collagen density

Men have a higher density of collagen in their skin than women, which can make women appear older.

Mitochondrial aging

Estrogens may protect against mitochondrial aging, which can explain why women have delayed mitochondrial aging compared to men

https://www.google.com/search?q=women+show+signs+of+ageing+sooner+than+men&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS1014US1014&oq=women+show+signs+of+ageing+sooner+than+men&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCTIxMjIzajBqNKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Men do have the advantage when it comes to skin. The male hormone testosterone makes men’s skin about 25 percent thicker than women’s skin, which means they are less susceptible to early signs of aging. They also have more collagen – so it takes longer for wrinkles to appear! Men also have more moisture on their skin as they typically sweat more – this gives them a “natural” protection that women do not have. All these factors add up to fewer signs of aging on men’s skin than women’s. https://www.askinclinic.co.uk/2017/06/05/men-vs-women-ages-quicker/

Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults

Urinary incontinence means a person leaks urine by accident. While it can happen to anyone, urinary incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, is more common in older people, especially women. Bladder control issues can be embarrassing and cause people to avoid their normal activities. But incontinence can often be stopped or controlled.

What happens in the body to cause bladder control problems? Located in the lower abdomen, the bladder is a hollow organ that is part of the urinary system, which also includes the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. During urination, muscles in the bladder tighten to move urine into the tube-shaped urethra. At the same time, the muscles around the urethra relax and let the urine pass out of the body. When the muscles in and around the bladder don’t work the way they should, urine can leak, resulting in urinary incontinence. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/bladder-health-and-incontinence/urinary-incontinence-older-adults

Urinary incontinence (involuntary loss of urine) is twice as common in women as in men and affects at least 1 in 3 older women. Urinary incontinence is not a normal result of aging; it is a medical problem that is often curable and should be treated. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied via a tube called the urethra. During urination, muscles of the bladder wall contract, forcing urine from the bladder into the urethra. Sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra relax, releasing urine from the body. Incontinence occurs if bladder muscles suddenly contract or sphincter muscles are not strong enough to contain urine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/185997

What are the Biggest Challenges and Problems for Elderly People in Our Society?

Ageism and a lost sense of purpose

There are lots of outdated stereotypes about elderly people, which can lead to isolation and marginalization in a lot of communities. By coming up with innovative ways to involve older people in the community through social events, we can not only help them to maintain a sense of identity and self-esteem but also tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience they have, which is so vital for the development of society.

Financial insecurity

While we are living longer, unfortunately, the world of employment and retirement has not evolved at the same pace. Many elderly people are able and more than willing to work past the standard retirement age, but the opportunities are not there. In addition, managing day to day finances and planning for later life can be challenging for older generations as much is now done online or remotely. This can also leave them more vulnerable to fraud and scams.

Difficulty with everyday tasks and mobility

A person’s mobility and dexterity will naturally decline as they age, which makes completing everyday tasks more difficult. This can gradually cause people to care for themselves and prevents them from being social, pursuing interests, or taking part in activities they enjoy. More support is needed to enable elderly people not only to live independently through products and programs which focus on safety, balance, fitness, and mobility but also to ensure they can continue to thrive as an individual. https://www.smithlifehomecare.com/blog/what-are-the-biggest-challenges-for-elderly-people-in-our-society/

9 Reasons Why Reminiscing Can Benefit Seniors

1. Preserves Family History

2. Helps Improve Coping Skills

3. Reduces Symptoms of Depression

4. Promotes Physical Health

5. Works Through Unresolved Conflicts

6. Eliminates Boredom

7. Improves Communication Skills

8. Reduces Stress

9. Enhances Self-Esteem

https://caringseniorservice.com/blog/9-reasons-why-reminiscing-can-benefit-seniors/

Looking Back Subjective Time Seems to Go Faster

“As we get older, each year is a smaller proportion of our lives. For example, a year is 1/10 of the life of a 10 year old, but 1/70th of the life of a 70 year old. Therefore each year feels shorter relative to all the time we've lived and thus seems to be going by faster.” https://thejedellreport.blogspot.com/2017/02/space-now-and-time.html

The Art of Grandparenting: Building Strong Relationships with Your Grandchildren

By embracing your role, respecting parental boundaries, and offering your wisdom and support, you can leave an indelible mark on the lives of your grandchildren. The relationships you build will not only enrich their lives but yours as well, creating a legacy of love and connection that will span generations. Becoming a grandparent is one of life's greatest joys, and for the baby boomer generation, it often signifies a new chapter filled with love, wisdom, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of their grandchildren. Building strong and meaningful relationships with your grandchildren is a journey that's not only deeply rewarding but also vital for the well-being and development of the younger generation. Embrace Your Role as a Grandparent. The first step in building a strong relationship with your grandchildren is to embrace your role. Recognize that you're not a parent, but rather a unique and cherished presence in their lives. Your wisdom, life experiences, and unconditional love are your greatest assets in this role. Listen and Communicate. Open and effective communication is key to any successful relationship. Take the time to listen to your grandchildren, show genuine interest in their thoughts, dreams, and concerns, and be a supportive, non-judgmental presence in their lives. https://www.babyboomers.com/the-art-of-grandparenting-building-strong-relationships-with-your-grandchildren

Ageism

A lot of the stereotypes that adults associate with older people have been internalized from childhood. We have all read children’s stories where the wicked witch is portrayed as a mean older woman, such as “Hansel and Gretel”, and stories which show grandmothers as being sickly or frail such as “LittleRed Riding Hood.” Research has shown that children start to identify age stereotypes from their culture by age six years old. Media and advertisements have increased the ageist belief in girls, that as they age, they will have to prevent wrinkles or color their hair to be more beautiful and accepted. By the time we reach an older age, we have grown up constantly hearing and internalizing negative stereotypes about older people and then we realize that we are now at the same age associated with those stereotypes. We start to think that the stereotypes pertain to us too since we are also “old.” https://publichealth.wustl.edu/internalized-ageism-discriminating-against-ourselves-as-we-age/

Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development: Stage 8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Ego integrity versus despair is the eighth and final stage of Erik Erikson’s stage theory of psychosocial development. This stage begins at approximately age 65 and ends at death. It is during this time that we contemplate our accomplishments and can develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life. As we grow older (65+ yrs) and become senior citizens, we tend to slow down our productivity and explore life as retired people. Thus, late life is characterized by integrity and despair as alternating states that must be balanced. https://www.simplypsychology.org/erik-erikson.html

Memories, Regrets and Wisdom

Although our memories seem to be a solid, straightforward sum of who we are, strong evidence suggests that memories are actually quite complex, subject to change. We reconstruct memories as we age and also as our worldview changes. We falsely recall childhood events, and through effective suggestion, can even create new false memories. We can be tricked into remembering events that never happened, or change the details of things that really did happen. You can actually modify your memories and just see them in the most positive light. Even changing them entrely, and selectively forgetting as well. https://thejedellreport.blogspot.com/2022/05/soy-insulating-car-wires-why-is-there.html

Profound Brain Changes and Non Linear Thinking. The brain is actually soft-wired, meaning it is plastic and malleable, undergoing significant changes as we learn and age. When neuronal circuits are fine-tuned for whatever reason, gray matter tends to be pruned back while white matter connections increase, allowing information to travel around the brain more efficiently (and for a higher IQ). https://www.sciencealert.com/profound-brain-changes-of-pregnancy-revealed-in-scientific-first

Beginning as a young child and throughout your young adulthood, you aspire to be great, and you deal with things as they come up on the path, and you lived your life the only way you could have, making decisions that had to be made along the way the best you could, so be happy you lived all that, good and bad, and have no regrets. The quality of your wisdom, when it sufficiently develops, will be based on all your experiences, good and bad. Remember, today is the first day of the rest of your life. https://thejedellreport.blogspot.com/2018/09/no-regrets.html

Facing the Prosect of Death (and Beyond?)

Video: Renown Psychiatrist Carl Jung about facing the prosect of death (Face to Face Interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWAicIovVzU

Copyright © 2024 by David William Jedell

Email: d.w.jedell@gmail.com