Aging & Dying Flashcards
aging
normal changes in body functions that begin after sexual maturity and continue until death
average life span
the age at which half the members of a population have died
life expectancy
average number of years a person can expect to live
maximum life span
the theoretical maximum number of years that individuals of a species can live
gerontology
science that studies the causes and mechanisms of aging
specific metabolic rate
the amount of energy per gram of body weight consumed per day
Alzheimers disease
a common cause of senile dementia and other symptoms eventually leading to death
amyloid protein
an abnormal protein in the brain of patients with Alzheimers disease
senile dementia
loss of cognitive function in elderly people
tau tangles
aggregates of a brain protein called tau; a diagnostic indicator for Alzheimers disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD)
a neurodegenerative disease in which brain functions that control movements of the body are gradually lost
age-related macular degeneration (AMD
loss of vision as a result of death of cells in a region of the eye called the macula; loss of vision progresses slowly over several years
hormone replacement therapy
administration of estrogen to menopausal and postmenopausal women to help prevent symptoms of menopause, osteoporosis, and heart disease
osteoporosis
a condition in older people, particularly women, in which bones lose density and become porous and brittle
age-related hearing loss
loss of hearing with advancing age; some loss of hearing may be caused by exposure to loud noise earlier in life
telomeres
DNA at the ends of chromosomes that protect the integrity of genetic information during cellular replication
advanced directive
legal documents that express your desires regarding treatments should you be unable to communicate. A living will and a healthcare power of attorney contribute to this.
healthcare power of attorney
designates someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to communicate
living will
a legal document that expresses your wishes regarding treatment if you become unable to make your own medical decisions
hospice
a place for terminally ill patients to spend the time before death in an environment that attends to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs but does not administer ay further treatments; hospice care also can be given in a patient’s home
