Ch 17 Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood Flashcards
What is gerontology?
The scientific study of aging.
What is the Hayflick limit?
The theoretical proposal that each species is subject to a genetically programmed time limit after which cells no longer have any capacity to replicate themselves accurately.
What is a telomere?
A string of repetitive DNA at the tip of each chromosome in the body that appears to serve as a kind of timekeeping mechanism.
What is cross-linking?
The formation of undesirable bonds between proteins or fats.
What are free radicals?
Molecules or atoms that possess an unpaired electron.
What is functional status?
A measure of an individual’s ability to perform certain roles and tasks, particularly self-help tasks and other chores of daily living.
What are basic activities of daily living (BADLs)?
Self-help tasks such as bathing, dressing, and using the toilet.
What are instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)?
More complex daily living tasks such as doing housework, cooking, and managing money.
Who are the frail elderly?
Seniors whose physical and/or mental impairments are so extensive that they cannot care for themselves.
What are years lived with disability (YLDs)?
A component of DALY (disability-adjusted life years) that measures the short- or long-term loss of health associated with disease or disability.
What is synaptic plasticity?
The redundancy in the nervous system that ensures that it is nearly always possible for a nerve impulse to move from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another type of cell.
What is tinnitus?
A persistent ringing in the ears.
What is satiety?
The feeling of fullness that follows a meal.
What are dementias?
A neurological disorder involving problems with memory and thinking that affect an individual’s emotional, social, and physical functioning.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
A very severe form of dementia, the cause of which is unknown.
