Final answer:
Late adulthood is marked by a continuation of physical decline from middle age, including significant declines in the senses and muscle strength, decreased immune system efficiency, and increased vulnerability to diseases. These changes can impact the well-being of elderly adults more negatively than other age groups. Acceptance and a healthy lifestyle can help mitigate some ageing effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
During late adulthood, typically beginning in the mid-60s, individuals experience a continuation of physical decline that most often starts in middle age. This stage of life sees the skin losing further elasticity, a further reduction in reaction times, and a decline in muscle strength. Crucially, senses like smell, taste, hearing, and vision, which were most acute in our twenties, experience a significant decline as well. The immune system's efficacy decreases, and the body becomes more vulnerable to diseases such as flu, cancer, and heart disease. Conditions like arthritis become more common, and cognitive impairments, including memory loss and more serious conditions like Alzheimer's disease, also become more frequent. The response to physical ageing is subjective and can be influenced significantly by an individual's socialization and acceptance of the ageing process. Indeed, for some elderly adults, these physical changes, and in particular the decline in the senses, can have a greater negative impact on their sense of well-being compared to other age groups. Difficulties with mobility, reacting to environmental changes, and coping with physiological and psychological transitions are common experiences in late adulthood. Understanding and acceptance of these natural ageing processes, along with a healthy lifestyle, can help mitigate some of the negative effects of ageing, allowing some elderly individuals to remain fit and active. Nevertheless, the broad spectrum of age-related changes, including cognitive impairment, remains an important concern in geriatric health and wellness