Natural Pattern Of Aging Development

Aging is a fundamental part of life, and there is no way around it. From the moment we are born, until the day we die, these changes will come, whether they be for better or for worse. Due to natural developmental patterns, aging leads to major changes in one’s overall body composition throughout their lifetime. The human body works very hard to build its own organ systems and to get us to our peak performance, only to slowly erode once we are “over the hill.

” Within one’s lifetime, there are three major stages during which the body will experience drastic modifications. These three transitional stages occur from early childhood to adolescence, adolescence to early adulthood, and adulthood to old age; all providing their own unique changes.

In the following paragraphs there will be an in depth look into how and why the human body changes in certain ways. The major transition from child to adolescent, otherwise known as puberty, is one that a majority of the population is all too familiar with.

Puberty introduces shifts in the physical, emotional, and social aspects of life. Although it impacts males and females, with no mercy, might I add, their experiences are quite different. The female body begins to feel these changes between the ages of eight and thirteen. The transformation begins with the introduction to body hair, menstrual periods, breast development, and acne.

For the male population, the changes typically emerge between the ages of nine and fourteen. Examples of such changes include the development of body hair, testicle enlargement, voice change, and acne.

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The changes that occur during this time are what lay down the necessary foundations for the body to reach its peak physical condition. Additional factors that will affect nearly every developing teenager are social and emotional shifts. In an article written by Angela Oswalt Morelli from the Rhode Island Student Assistance Services (RISAS), she states that, “Adolescent emotional development is often characterized by rapidly fluctuating emotions,” (Morelli). Because of these “fluctuating emotions” many teenagers will often feel the struggle of trying to fit in and finding one’s identity.

It is during these times that teenagers begin to feel the impact of depression and anxiety in their daily lives as they try their best to maneuver through such trying times. They also begin to expect more independence and responsibility. However, when these expectations not met, teenagers may begin to lash out and develop a temperament. These developing attitudes often lead to increased frustration and anger towards other people that they feel the need to blame. The characteristics that these growing youth develop as they go through puberty will eventually carry over to their adult lives.

The second, slightly less considerable change that humans experience is the transition from adolescence to adulthood. These experiences occur in those about thirty to sixty years old and it is during this time that the human body is at its most vulnerable and experiencing its most drastic decline. In the later stages of adulthood, the body begins to erode in various ways such as vision weakening, decrease in sound sensitivity, thinning hair, elasticity loss in skin, wrinkle development, less effective immune system, and menopause for women. In an article written by Becky Ready, Ph.D., from Psychology Today, she states,

“Changes in emotions with age are complex. Older adulthood is not simply a time of emotional well-being and tranquility. Strong emotions exist and reactions to important life events may increase with age, rather than diminish,” (Ready). The most noticeable changes come emotionally and psychologically because this is when certain aspects of our character shape who we are. Along with character building, this is the time that people are making important lifestyle choices. Examples of such choices include relationships and choosing a potential career path. Ultimately, this mid-life transition is the one that is setting someone up for who they are going to be most of their lives.

The final transition the body goes through is from adulthood to old age which occurs from sixty years old to the end of one’s life. This stage, although it may come with senior discounts and always having close parking, for some, is when the body will begin to experience the most severe version of deterioration possible. It is at this point in life that people will begin to experience a major loss in strength, not only physically, but in their senses as well. Examples of certain senses declining include reduced hearing and vision, limited sensitivity to smell and touch, and a slight alteration in taste. Along with reduced senses, one’s immune system will also begin to fail, leaving the elderly weak and susceptible to all kinds of illnesses and diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Muscle and bone deterioration are also very common, although not necessarily caused by age, have still proven to have a major affect on their way of living. In an article written by Mark E. Williams, M.D., from Psychology Today, he states, “Most people lose a substantial amount of muscle as they age. Broadly speaking, muscles decrease in strength, endurance, size, and weight relative to total body weight. However, the late onset of these changes and their unpredictable rate of appearance suggest that they may not be due to aging but rather one due to inactivity, nutritional deficiency, disease, or other long-standing conditions,” (Williams).

At some point in the lives of the elderly, simply walking from ones’ couch to their room can cause excruciating pain and prove to be incredibly difficult. Another substantial change the body will encounter between these ages is a lowering in brain functionality. This switch can lead to memory loss, a decrease in cognitive function, and leaving the elderly highly susceptible to degenerative brain diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease. A major observation that has been made about the elderly and their cognitive abilities shows that they seem to have aged backwards as they become highly dependent on others for basic needs. These final changes will then eventually lead the elderly to their time of expiration.

We change because we age. From birth to death, our bodies are continuously being revised, both physically and mentally. It begins with the biggest shift, going from a child to an adolescent and struggling with self-identity and what the human body is turning into. This struggle continues to the teenage years that then lead into adulthood, where we choose who and what we want to be while we are, physically, the best we will ever be. And finally, adulthood into old age, when we have lived our lives and are starting to feel the end of it all nearing. It is the human body’s natural development that allows us to take this course through life. As we age, our body’s build themselves up to their physical and mental peak, just for them to slowly decline until we are barely able feed ourselves anymore. The aging process is so essential to how the human body composition changes during life, but many people fail to realize this simply because it has proven to cause such difficult times while it is happening, If more people took time to understand how and why these changes occur, they might learn realize the importance of it all.

Works Cited

1. “Adolescent Emotional Development.” Rhode Island Student Assistance Services, www.risas.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41159&cn=1310.
2. “Aging and Emotions.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-quality-life/201208/aging-and-emotions.
3. Boundless. “Boundless Psychology.” Lumen, courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/aging-late-adulthood/.
4. “How Does Our Body Change as We Age? (Part 1).” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-art-and-science-aging-well/201705/how-does-our-body-change-we-age-part-1.