Adult Cognitive Development Flashcards
What can be defined as the mechanisms used to prepare to process stimuli, focus on what to process, and determine how much to process the stimuli?
attention
What can be defined as focusing on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring others that are irrelevant?
selective attention
Describe the generational differences in terms of divided attention
When tasks are easy, age differences are minimal. However the more difficult the tasks, the less effectively older adults divide attention.
What can be defined as the ability to direct and focus cognitive activity on specific stimuli; readiness to detect and respond to small changes occurring at random times in the environment?
sustained attention
Perceptual speed accounts for greater than __% of age-related variance in performance on memory tasks
80%
What are 3 times of memory?
- explicit
- implicit
- source
Describe explicit memory
memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state
Describe implicit memory
memory without conscious recollection; skills and routines that are automatically performed
Describe source memory
ability to remember where learned something
Which type of memory is the most affected by age?
explicit
What are 4 sources of age differences in memory?
- encoding and retrieval problems
- failure to use encoding strategies, such as organizing information
- less blood flow/brain activity during encoding for older adults
- older adults more susceptible to false memories
What can be defined as the score derived from performance on an intelligence test; it is an indicator of the “amount” of intelligence possessed by the individual?
IQ or intelligence quotient
What are 6 factors that reduce the risk of intellectual decline in older adulthood?
- Absence of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases
- Favorable environment mediated by high socioeconomic status
- Involvement in complex and intellectually stimulating environment
- Flexible personality style
- High cognitive status of spouse
- Maintain high levels of perceptual processing speed
What can be defined as the development of advanced skills and knowledge in a particularly well-practiced activity?
Expertise
True or False
Expertise is immune to aging effects
True
What can be defined as an expert knowledge system applied to the fundamental pragmatics of life that permits exceptional insight, judgment, and advice involving the conduct and meaning of life?
Wisdom
True or False
There is a positive relationship between wisdom and age
False
Are personality or cognitive factors better predictors of wisdom?
personality
What is the condition that lies between normal aging and dementia called?
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment increases as a function of age so that:
_% at age 60 _% at age 65 \_\_% at age 75 \_\_% at age 80 \_\_% at age 85
1
6
12
30
42
What ethnicity is MCI most prevalent in?
African Americans
What can be defined as sudden and sometimes rapid change in mental function?
Delirium
When is delirium the most common in the elderly?
post-op
Agitation is associated with delirium __% of the time
25
Hypoactive or quiet delirium is often confused with what?
dementia
What are the risk factors for delirium?
- Old age (> 65)
- Admission to hospital with infection or dehydration
- Physical frailty
- Visual Impairment
- Severe illness
- Deafness
- Multiple diseases
- Polypharmacy
- Dementia
- Renal Impairment
- Alcohol excess
- Malnutrition
A hematocrit below __% leads to increased risk of delirium
30
What can be defined as a group of disorders that affect the brain and present as symptoms that commonly affect memory and language?
Dementia
What is the essential feature of dementia?
The development of multiple cognitive deficits that include memory impairment and at least of the of the following cognitive disturbances: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, or a disturbance of executive functioning.
What is the most common type of dementia?
Alzheimer’s Disease
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception
Alzheimer’s Disease is characterized by 3 pathologic changes in the brain, what are they?
- Amyloid plaques
- Formation of neurofibrillary tangles within the neurons
- Loss of connections between neurons that are responsible for memory and learning
How many stages of AD are there?
3
Describe early stage AD
They display frequent recent memory loss, particularly of recent conversations and events. Questions are frequently repeated. They may have some problems expressing and understanding language. Writing and using objects become difficult and depression and apathy can occur.
What is the typical duration of early stage AD?
2-4 years
Describe second stage AD
They can no longer cover up heir cognitive problems. Pervasive and persistent memory loss impacts life across many settings. Rambling speech, unusual reasoning, confusion about current events, time, and place. Potential to become lost in familiar settings, sleep disturbances, and mood or behavioral symptoms accelerate. Slowness, rigidity, tremors, and gait problems impact mobility and coordination.
What is the typical duration of second stage AD?
2-10
Nearly __% of patients in the second stage of AD exhibit emotional and behavioral problems which are aggravated by stress and change.
80
Describe last stage AD
Confused about past and present. Loss of recognition of familiar people and places. Generally incapacitated with severe to total loss of verbal skills. Unable to care for self. Falls possible and immobility likely. Problems with swallowing, incontinence, and illness. Extreme problems with mood, behavioral problems, hallucinations, and delirium.
What is the typical duration of last stage AD?
1-3 years
What do patients with AD often die from?
infection or pneumonia
