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PSYCH 329: Adult Development and Aging > Ch. 3: Physical Changes Associated with Aging > Flashcards

Ch. 3: Physical Changes Associated with Aging Flashcards

1
Q

Aging theories fall into two main categories:

A
  1. Programmed theories
  2. Error theories
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2
Q

Programmed aging theories

A
  • aging is genetically programmed to occur with the passage of time
  • programmed aging theories propose that aging and death are built into the hard-wiring of all organisms and therefore are part of the genetic code
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3
Q

Error/random aging theories

A
  • aging is the result of random damage that occurs with the process of living
  • aging is caused by environmental damage to systems in our bodies. This damage accumulates over time
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4
Q

Gompertz function
(ex of programmed aging)

A
  • plots the relationship between age and death rates for a given species
  • species live to different maximum ages (life span)
  • ex: relationship between the age in days of mice and rats and the rate of dying per day
  • the fact that different species have different functions supports the notion of genetic contributions to longevity
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5
Q

“Good genes gone bad” theory
(ex of programmed aging)

A
  • evolution has selected for species that are vigorous through the period of optimal sexual reproduction and then are less important once that period is passed
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6
Q

Replicative senescence
(ex of programmed aging)

A
  • the loss of the ability of cells to reproduce
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7
Q

Telomere theory
(ex of programmed aging)

A
  • each cell replication reduces the length of telomeres until the chromosome’s tips are no longer protected
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8
Q

Hayflick limit

A
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9
Q

Autoimmune theory
(programmed aging)

A

proposes that faulty immune system attacks the body’s cells

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10
Q

Cross-linking theory
(error/random aging)

A
  • In cross-linking, the strands of the collagen molecule start to become intertwined, causing the molecules to become increasingly more rigid and smaller
  • results from exposure to certain kinds of sugars which leads to glycation, causing formation of advances end-products (AGE’s)
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11
Q

Free radical Theory
(error/random aging)

A
  • unstable oxygen molecules are produced when cells create energy
  • they seek out and bind to other molecules
  • the attacked molecule then loses its functioning

Antioxidants can fend off free radicals

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12
Q

Error catastrophe
(error/random aging)

A
  • proposes that random mutations in mitochondrial DNA cause irreversible damage that accumulates over time
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13
Q

Wear and Tear Theory
(error/random aging)

A
  • proposes that our bodies wear out due to use over time
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14
Q

Two types of skin aging and their definition

A
  1. Intrinsic aging: gradual irreversible changes in structure and function that occur due to the passage of time
  2. Extrinsic aging: aging due to external factors such as exercise, diet, exposure to sunlight, and smoking
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15
Q

Androgenetic Alopecia

A
  • (Male/Female-Pattern Baldness)
  • 30-50% of men are affected by this by age 50
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16
Q

Greying pf the hair due to reduced _______________, which occurs earlier in Caucasians than those of African and Asian descent

A

melanin/melanocytes

This happens 5-10 years later in African and Asian descent

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17
Q

What causes hair to grow everywhere but the head as we age?

A

Hormonal changes

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18
Q

Presbyphonia

A

refers to age-related voice changes including :
- changes in pitch (lower pitch in women, higher pitch in men)
- reduction in volume and projection
- tremor/shakiness in the voice
- reduced vocal endurance
- often happens around age 60

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19
Q

age related vision changes are due to structural changes like

A
  • older adults need more light than younger adults. They get 1/3 of a light because the max diameter of pupil is smaller in older people
  • increased sensitivity to glare
  • decreased visual acuity
  • dark and light adaptation takes longer
  • poorer color discrimination for short wave lengths
  • focusing near-far and far-near takes longer
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20
Q

Presbyopia

A
  • means old eye
  • not considered a disease
  • primary aging
  • happens to tall people later
  • start early as 35 years old
  • late 40s
  • gonna have difficulty on focusing things that are close up
  • stiffening and thickening of the lens & atrophy of ciliary muscles
  • inability to accommodate
  • normal accommodation is lost in presbyopia
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21
Q

Cataracts

A
  • abnormal vision change
  • cause scattering of light rays
  • can interfere with color vision
  • cause limitations in daily activities
  • possible causes: heredity, prior injury, disease, sunlight, smoking
  • surgery is a highly effective treatment
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22
Q

Glaucoma

A
  • abnormal vision change
  • build up of pressure inside the eye
  • often involves gradual onset
  • treatment not always possible, but many can be treated with eye drops
  • group of conditions involving damage of optic nerve
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23
Q

What are the other 2 vision changes that are not normal part of aging

A
  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Diabetic retinopathy: possible long term complication of diabetes
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24
Q

Presbycusis

A
  • inability to hear high-pitched tones due to changes in the cochlea
  • by age 70, half of older people have presbycusis
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25
Q

Audiogram

A
  • hearing test
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26
Q

Presbycusis impact for speech understanding

A
  • some speech sounds will be harder to distinguish
  • some populations will be harder to understand: women & children because they have high-pitched voices
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27
Q

Hearing threshold is worse for men than women. Why?

A
  • type of jobs they have
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28
Q

Communication strategies for talking to older adults

A
  • look directly at the person
  • make sure you and the other person are in enough light
  • turn down background noises
  • don’t chew gum or food
  • keep the voice low
  • enunciate carefully
  • do not talk to the person as of he or she were a child
  • provide context so the listener knows what you’re talking about
  • note whether the other person is responding to you
  • maintain positive and patient attitude
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29
Q

Anosmia

A
  • changes in smell
  • has been described as the “canary in the coalmine” with regards to overall physiological declines and death
  • also an indicator of Alzheimer’s disease & memory impairment
  • usually happens by age 80
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30
Q

Changes in taste with old age

A
  • the research on changes in taste perception with age is contradictory
  • some studies indicate no decline, and other studies indicate declines but not for all types of taste
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31
Q

Changes in touch with old age

A
  • hands & feet are more affected than the lips & tongue
  • research that has been done indicates that tactile thresholds increase significantly with age, as do thresholds for pain and temperature
32
Q

Myth or Fact
Pain is a normal part of aging

A

Myth. Pain is not a normal part of aging

How to manage pain:

  1. Pharmacological- non narcotic and narcotic medications
  2. Non-pharmacological
    -therapeutic touch, massage, vibration, heat, cold
    -electrical stimulation to spine or pain site
    -acupuncture and acupressure
    -biofeedback
    -distraction techniques
    -relaxation, meditation, and imagery
    -hypnosis, self-induced or by another person
33
Q

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

A
  • an umbrella term for conditions including arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke
34
Q

Risk of death form cardiovascular diseases is ___% for 25-34 year olds and ___% for 85 years +

A

7.4%, 42.4%

35
Q

Examples of modifiable CVD risk factors

A
  • obesity
  • high cholesterol
  • tobacco use
  • physical inactivity
  • hypertension
  • high triglycerides
  • diabetes
  • being poor
  • high low-density lipoprotein
  • high saturated fat diet
  • excessive use of alcohol
36
Q

Examples of un-modifiable CVD risk factors

A
  • age
  • gender
  • family history of CVD
  • ethnicity
37
Q

Innate immune system

A
  • present at birth
  • includes physical barriers, chemical barriers, and white blood cells that activate in response to infectious and non-infectious agents
38
Q

Adaptive immune system

A
  • develops over time through exposure to certain pathogens
  • B or T cells that are activated create immunological memory, building up resistance to attack over time -this is the basis for vaccination
39
Q

TRUE or FALSE
Both innate and adaptive immune systems decline with age

A

TRUE

40
Q

Infectious diseases account for roughly ____(fraction) of all deaths in persons 65 years and older

A

1/3

41
Q

This can increase the risk for exposure to infections, such as MRSA

A

hospital/long-term care stays

42
Q

Diabetes Mellitus

A
  • is a disease in which your body either can’t produce insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it produces resulting in difficulty regulating blood sugars
43
Q

This type of diabetes is insulin-dependent diabetes that usually develops earlier in life

A

Type I

44
Q

This type of diabetes typically develops in adulthood and is often managed through diet

A

Type II

45
Q

Type I and II diabetes lead to chronic elevated glucose and this results into: (7)

A
  • nerve damage
  • kidney disorder
  • cardiovascular disease
  • diabetic retinopathy
  • glaucoma
  • gangrene
  • atherosclerosis
46
Q

Diabetes is best understood in terms of the ____________ model

A

Biopsychosocial

Biological= changes in glucose metabolism, changes in insulin production, obesity (more likely to become type I diabetic)

Psychological= sedentary lifestyle; also associated with depression and stress

Sociocultural= habitual eating patterns, lack of education, low economic resources

47
Q

This hormones control the basal metabolic rate (BMR)

A

Thyroid hormones

BMR slows in middle age partly due to decreases in thyroid hormones

48
Q

Subclinical hypothyroidism

A
  • may affect 15-18% of 60+
  • your numbers are just beneath that level but you’re still experiencing the symptoms
49
Q

Changes in height during aging

A
  • height decreases across adulthood, particularly for women
  • due to loss of bone mineral content in the vertebrate
50
Q

Changes in weight during aging

A
  • fat-free mass (FFM) decreases- bone, muscle
  • body mass index (BMI) increases from the 20s to the 50s
  • in later years, weight declines due to loss of bone and muscle though some still grow obese
51
Q

Osteoporosis

A
  • a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. Over time, it weakens bones, making them less dense, more brittle and more likely to break
  • bones are becoming more thin and more porous
52
Q

What are good for your bones?

A
  • Vitamin D
  • Calcium
  • Resistance training
53
Q

Sarcopenia

A
  • progressive declines in muscle mass and strength
  • begins in one’s 30s and 40s
  • can be prevented with exercise
54
Q

______________ and _______________ are both common age-related degenerative diseases in the musculoskeletal system that can affect physical activity as well as everyday functional capacity (ex: sitting & getting up form the toilet)

A

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

55
Q

Osteoarthritis

A
  • due to wear and tear of joints
  • cartilage is worn away
  • bone is rubbing on bone
  • can only see in one knee or one finger on one hand
56
Q

Rheumatoid arthritis

A
  • can see on both sides of the body because it’s not due to wear and tear
57
Q

Changes in the ________________ impact balance

A

vestibular system

58
Q

This is one of the main factors responsible for falls which, in turn, can lead to institutionalization and death

A

Loss of balance

59
Q

These are the leading cause of injury in older adults

A

Falls

  • previous falls also increase risk of later falls
  • falls can create a fear of falling which in turn increases the risk even more
60
Q

Causes of Falls can be ____________, _____________, and ____________

A
  • Situational= e.g., rushing to the bathroom or to answer the phone
  • Intrinsic= e.g., impaired balance and gait, visual impairment, cardiovascular problems, medication
  • Environmental= e.g., slippery surfaces, unsafe footwear, rugs
61
Q

Fall Prevention

A
  • wear proper eyeglasses
  • wear sturdy footwear
  • use prosthesis while walking
  • install balance aids in the home
  • become trained in taking care while walking
  • get shower chair or bath bench
  • install hand-held shower head
  • sit while grooming
  • have sturdy stepstools if needed in kitchen
  • keep the cell phone handy
62
Q

These can reduce risk of falls

A
  • exercise
  • tai chi
  • balance training
63
Q

Age-related changes in neurons

A
  • number of neurons declines
  • number and size of dendrites
  • tangles develop in axon fibers
  • increases in deposits of proteins
  • number of synapses decreases
64
Q

Age-related changes in neurotransmitters

A
  • dopamine is associated with higher-level cognitive functioning, so age related declines are related to poorer:
    -episodic memory
    -tasks that require fast processing
  • serotonin and acetylcholine also decline with age
65
Q

Age-related changes in brain structures

A
  • more white matter hyperintensities= worse cognitive functions
    -indicates myelin loss or neural atrophy
    -correlated with decreased cognitive functions
  • considerable shrinkage occurs in the brain especially in prefrontal cortex (responsible for executive functions), hippocampus (responsible for long term memory) and cerebellum (responsible for coordinating motor movements)
66
Q

Menopause occurs in the mid-to-late 40s in women, with a reduction in ____________ and onset of infertility

A

estrogen/progesterone

67
Q

Menopause symptoms

A
  • hot flashes
  • mood swings
  • insomnia
  • depression
  • night sweats
  • weight gain
  • bone loss
  • vaginal dryness
68
Q

Treatments for menopause have evolved over time, and come with secondary risks of ______ and ____________

A

cancer and cardiovascular disease

69
Q

Andropause symptoms

A

not all men experience andropause

  • changes in sexual function
  • changes in sleep patterns
  • physical changes
  • emotional changes (decrease in motivation, self confidence)
  • cognitive changes (having trouble remembering things)
70
Q

Changes in the urinary system

A

With increasing age:
- kidneys get smaller and blood flow to the kidneys decreases
- volume of fluid through the kidneys decreases
- kidneys lose the ability to balance the amount of salt and acid in the body
- bladder tissue declines in capacity to hold urine
- urinary frequency/urgency increases

71
Q

TRUE or FALSE

Older people can overdose more quickly than younger people

A

TRUE

72
Q

Sever incontinence ________(increases/decreases) with age and it is more common in _________ than _________

A

increases
women than men

people with incontinence are lonelier than people without incontinence

73
Q

How to improve sleep

A
  • limit caffeine intake late in the day
  • avoid alcohol intake before bedtime
  • avoid big meals or spicy foods just before bedtime
  • minimize liquid intake before sleep
  • engage in regular exercise
  • ensure your bedroom is conductive to sleep
  • eliminate distractions
  • keep a regular bed-time routine
  • avoid or limit the use of sleeping pills
74
Q

Our current health status is determined by many factors such as

A
  • individual characteristics
  • physical environment
  • social and economic environment (having more money, more education)
  • individual behaviors (exercise, smoking, using sunscreen)
75
Q

TRUE or FALSE

Physical health is not just a matter of biological influences

A

TRUE

There’s social and psychological too

76
Q

TRUE or FALSE

Bladder dysfunction is a normal part of aging

A

False

77
Q

TRUE or FALSE

Older adults poop their pants regularly

A

False, only 4% of seniors suffer from fecal incontinence

PSYCH 329: Adult Development and Aging (12 decks)

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