Adulthood Health Concerns Quiz

Adulthood: Body and Mind

• Adulthood encompasses four decades, from age 25 to 65.
• It is the longest stage of development for most individuals.

Health Concerns During Adulthood

• Exercise: Can slow or delay senescence (aging). Recommended is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week.
• Medication: Prescription medications have reduced the adult death rate significantly.
• Illegal Drug Use: Still an issue, but rates have been declining during adulthood. Prescription drug abuse is on the rise.
• Opioids: Prescription opioid abuse has increased dramatically in recent decades.
• Tobacco: Tobacco use results in more deaths than any other drug, and it's a primary preventable cause of death during adulthood.
• Alcohol: Moderate alcohol consumption may offer some health benefits (although this is contested by some sources), but heavy/excessive drinking leads to several health problems, including diseases of the liver and brain.
• Obesity: Adults often gain significant weight (about 20 pounds on average) between ages 20 and 60 which directly correlates and increases the risk for almost all chronic diseases. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise are crucial.

Physiological Changes: Appearance

• Skin: Production of collagen decreases resulting in less flexibility. Wrinkles appear. Sun protection can slow this process.
• Hair: Hair follicles lose efficiency, result in loss of pigment (grey hair), and overall thinning.
• Body: People tend to become shorter and wider, with weakened back muscles and a compressed spine.

Growing Older: Fertility

• Women: Egg viability decreases starting in the early 30's. By age 45, 87% are infertile. Miscarriages are associated with decreased fertility.
• Men: Sperm quality and motility begin declining in their 20s. Still fertile, but rates decline.

Growing Older: Senescence and Aging

• Senescence: A gradual decline in physical capabilities. This phase is marked by the body's strength and physical efficiency declining.
• Allostasis: The body's tendency to adapt to stressful situations. Chronic stress accelerates the aging process.
• Aging Related factors Factors such as obesity, pollution, and psychological stress all contribute to faster aging.

The Aging Brain

• Brain functions slow down with age.
• Neuron firing slows down and myelination reduces.
• Most noticeable changes typically occur after 65, but some changes can occur earlier.

The Aging Brain: Theories of Intelligence

• Intelligence: The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
• Two-Cluster Theory: Separates intelligence into fluid and crystallized intelligence.
• Fluid Intelligence: Ability to think logically and solve problems, often declines with age.
• Crystallized Intelligence: Knowledge and skills gained through experience and education. It typically increases or remains stable with age.
• Sternberg's Three Forms of Intelligence: Analytical, creative, and practical, which applies to all aspects of intelligence.

Explore the various health issues that arise during adulthood, from exercise recommendations to the effects of drug use. This quiz covers critical aspects of maintaining health from ages 25 to 65, including the impact of prescription medications and substance abuse trends. Test your knowledge on how lifestyle choices influence well-being in adulthood.