"The handbook is an impressive collection of research studies and theories provided by knowledgeable contributors on life-span development from conception to old age."--Anthropology and Aging Quarterly

The doubling of our average life span since the turn of the 20th century is considered by many scholars to be one of the most important changes in human existence. This definitive text is the only volume to fully address, through a multidisciplinary perspective, the biological, cognitive, and psychological development that occurs from infancy through old age, and how the sociocultural and institutional factors interface with these changes.

Edited by leading research scholars in the field of life-span development, the volume also includes contributions of specialists in behavioral genetics, socioemotional selectivity theory, neuroscience, ecological models, and more. It examines the dynamics of close relationships and informal ties among the elderly population, child-parent attachment relationships as a life-span phenomenon, developmental tasks across the lifespan, continuity and discontinuity in temperament and personality, the sociocultural context of cognition across the life span, and variability in approaches to social problem solving from early to later life. Given the number of recent demographic shifts, it also explores issues related to fertility, life expectancy, environmental contexts, technology, immigration, and public policy. Key Features:

Integrates the full life span from infancy through old age in each chapter Considers multidisciplinary perspectives that address personal relationships, cognitive development, and social, emotional, and physical health across the life span Situates life-span development in ecological contexts (e.g., socioeconomic, neighborhood, and immigration status) Provides a concise but thorough resource for graduate seminars in life-span-related studies Highlights future issues in all areas of life-span study

It is increasingly recognized that an individual's experience of old age is fundamentally influenced by their earlier life experiences. This volume of the Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics begins with an overview of the theoretical underpinnings of both the Life Span and the Life Course perspectives on health disparities in aging populations, examining them in the context of a changing structure of society.

This volume focuses on morbidities in general as well as specific morbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, giving special attention to life-time influences on cognition and functional abilities. Finally, this new volume addresses broader policy issues with relation to Life Span and Life Course perspectives on aging.
Key Features:
Addresses an important topic of increasing relevance. Addresses the issue of disparities from genes to geography Presents traditional and emerging scientific perspectives