Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood 

Middle adulthood is difficult to define in terms of generalities, since there are so many variations in attitudes and behaviors leading up to this point. Most individuals who reach Middle Adulthood have made consistent lifestyle choices in their early adult years that have dictated their current state of being and if negative (smoking, drinking, over-eating, lack of exercise, etc…) often feel as if they don’t have much freedom to significantly change their lives. It usually takes a major health issue to make the decision for them to change.

Similarly, most individuals at this stage of development are also settled in their chosen careers and are thinking about their retirement, or working in a different field and at a slower pace.

Your assignment: Look over the list of sub-categories in Physical and Cognitive Development (below) that are impacted during Middle Adulthood. Pick one and provide me with an overview of what usually happens in this category to the majority of individuals during Middle Adulthood.  In your overview please describe what happens and what are some of the early lifestyle choices that people can make to prevent negative issues from taking place. 

Here's an example with respect to SKIN. Skin in Middle Adulthood starts to lose its elasticity, resulting in wrinkles, and saggy areas on the body. One option is Plastic Surgery. If this were my topic I would describe in more detail what happens to a middle-aged person's skin and the options that they have to remedy it, including just accepting this change. I'd also add what could be done in Young Adulthood to minimize problems later in life. 

Physical changes

• Vision
• Hearing
• Skin
• Muscle-fat makeup
• Anti-aging effects of dietary restriction
• Skeleton
• Reproductive system
• Health and Fitness
• Sexuality
• Illness and disability
• Stress management

Cognitive changes

• Cognitive Development
• Vocational Life and Cognitive Development