12.1 Basic Concepts

Question 1

Graying

Answer 1

À term used to indicate that an increasing proportion of a society’s population is older than

Question 2

Graying Reasons

Answer 2

Graying is the result of 2 long term trends in industrial societies:

1. The tendency of families to have fewer children
2. The fact that people are living longer

Question 3

Older Adults

Answer 3

Adults ages 65 and older

Question 4

Reasons for the Decline in Mortality

Answer 4

• Modern Agriculture
• Sanitation System
• Epidemic Control
• Imported Nutrition
• Medicine

Today, fewer children die in infancy and more adults survive until their seventies, eighties,and even older

Question 5

Social Gerontology

Answer 5

The study of aging and older adults

Question 6

Aging

Answer 6

The combination of biological, psychological, and social processes that affect people as they grow older

Question 7

Biological Aging

Answer 7

The aging of the physical body.

Biological aging depends on one’s genes, lifestyle, and luck.

Senescence is inevitable, but today’s older adults have access to many assistive technologies that enable them to live full and active lives

Question 8

Psychological Aging

Answer 8

The aging of the mind, including one’s mental, emotional, and cognitive capabilities

Question 9

Social Aging

Answer 9

The norms, values, and roles that are culturally associated with a particular chronological age

Question 10

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 10

À degenerative disease of the brain resulting in progressive loss of mental capacity.

It affects about 1/3 of all people over 85.

It’s fairly uncommon un noninstitutionalized persons under 75