#12 Physiology and Psychology of Aging

Tuesday.-. 1:00 p.m.                                                          Winter Term 2009 (14 weeks)
Coordinator:  Marianne Weil                                           Co-coordinator:  Sue Allen

Course Description
It is called aging and each of us participates in the process willingly or not.  Thirty-five million persons or 13 % of the population are 65.   By 2030 there will be 70 million persons over 65 and the population greater than age 85 will increase five fold.  Isn’t it time we learn more about how we view ourselves as we experience physical and cognitive changes?  In this S/DG we will study how sensory systems absorb information from our environment and how the brain utilizes this information to carry out its function.  In addition we will learn how the normal aging process impacts the sensitivity and acuity of these systems.

We will look at individual, social and legal coping skills as the systems of vision, hearing, skin, taste, smell, pain, body orientation and memory are altered by aging.  We will study the immune response, inflammation and how genetics affect aging.  Emphasis will be on current research and interventions that promote health and longevity.  Within each topic we will review psychological and social as well as physiological implications.

Topics
1.         Stages of Life, Theories of Aging, Demographics and Normal Cell Senescence        versus Disease.

2.         Coping with Aging – Social, Psychological and Physical Implications

3.         Vision and Hearing Systems

4.         Cutaneous System

5.         Vestibular System-Body Orientation

6.         Immune System, Endocrine System

7.         Taste and Smell

8.         Inflammation

9.         Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

10.       Perception of Language

11.       Brain Mechanisms including Memory and Sleep

12.       Pain, Acupuncture, Endorphins, Placebo Effect

13.       Kinesthetic Sense, Motor Memory

14.       Quality of life Issues

Bibliography
Colavita, F.B.  Sensation, Perception and the Aging Process.  Teaching Company, 2006.

Corso, J.F.  Aging Sensory Systems and Perception.  Praeger, 1981.

Timiras, P.S.  Physiological Basis of Aging and Geriatrics.  CRC Press, 2002.

Whalley, L.J.  The Aging Brain.  Columbia University Press, 2001.

Whitbourne, S.K.  The Aging Individual:  Physical and Psychological Perspectives.  2nd    Edition, Springer, 2002

Web Sites    National Institute of Health, and the National Institute on Aging

Pre-Meeting:  Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 1:00p.m.