Cognitive and Biological Changes in Adulthood
Cognitive and biological challenges must be addressed promptly to prepare for their consequences. In early adulthood, one’s analytical abilities expand rapidly through experience, prompting people to pursue higher education and other training opportunities (Berk, 2017). It is possible to lose momentum in life due to a lack of learning, which makes it challenging to find a job that suits one’s qualifications. At the same time, it is essential to understand that one’s fluid intelligence begins to decline toward middle adulthood, while crystallized intelligence remains relatively intact (Berk, 2017). This notion causes people to rely more on accumulated knowledge rather than acquiring new skills, which harms their work opportunities.
In turn, one of the biological challenges of early adulthood is avoiding an early regression of systems. In contrast, in middle adulthood, one is troubled by maintaining one’s body’s health due to accumulated damage (Berk, 2017). Both shifts can lead to similarly reduced prospects in life, encompassing both professional and social aspects; however, one’s social status in early adulthood may be more significantly impacted by the lack of attention to this challenge.
Interventions Addressing Developmental Changes
The interventions that address these changes incorporate evidence that helps workers with plans to alleviate their impact. For example, unhealthy diets contribute to the initial decline in fluid intelligence, making it possible for individuals to prevent early decreases through proper eating habits (Ghisletta et al., 2019). The same strategy also affects one’s biological challenges through better well-being. The risk of cardiovascular diseases increases in middle adulthood, although it can be mitigated through calorie restriction (Berk, 2017).
As a future social worker, I will need to understand others’ developmental changes to adapt to them. One’s changes in fluid intelligence may require them to seek another job position, and a social worker must help a person at that stage to comprehend the need for this adjustment. In conclusion, it is crucial to be prepared for the challenges that arise from biological and cognitive changes during various stages of adulthood.
References
Berk, L. E. (2017). Development through the lifespan (7th ed.). Pearson.
Ghisletta, P., Mason, F., Dahle, C. L., & Raz, N. (2019). Metabolic risk affects fluid intelligence changes in healthy adults. Psychology and Aging, 34(7), 912-920.