CH17 Flashcards
Gradual, inevitable process of bodily deterioration throughout the life span.
primary aging
Aging processes that result from
disease and bodily abuse and disuse
and are often preventable.
secondary aging
Essential activities that support survival,
such as eating, dressing, bathing, and
getting around the house.
activities of daily living (ADLs)
Measure of a person’s ability to function
effectively in his or her physical and
social environment in comparison with
others of the same chronological age.
functional age
Study of the aged and the process of
aging.
gerontology
Branch of medicine concerned with
processes of aging and medical
conditions associated with old age.
geriatrics
Age to which a person in a particular
cohort is statistically likely to live (given
his or her current age and health
status), on the basis of average
longevity of a population.
life expectancy
Length of an individual’s life.
longevity
The longest period that members of a
species can live.
life span
Period of the life span marked by
declines in physical functioning usually
associated with aging; begins at
different ages for different people
senescence
Theories that explain biological aging
as resulting from a genetically
determined developmental timetable.
genetic-programming theories
Unstable, highly reactive atoms or
molecules, formed during metabolism,
that can cause internal bodily damage.
free radicals
this theory postulates that there is a balance between metabolism, or energy use, and life span. The faster a body’s metabolism, the shorter its life span, and
vice versa
rate-of-living theory
A curve on a graph showing the
percentage of people or animals alive
at various ages.
survival curve
Ability of body organs and systems to
put forth 4 to 10 times as much effort as
usual under acute stress; also called
organ reserve.
reserve capacity
Cloudy or opaque areas in the lens of
the eye, which cause blurred vision.
cataracts
Condition in which the center of the
retina gradually loses its ability to
discern fine details; leading cause of
irreversible visual impairment in
older adults.
age-related macular degeneration
Irreversible damage to the optic nerve
caused by increased pressure in the
eye.
glaucoma
The ability to perform the physical
activities of daily living.
functional fitness
Progressive, irreversible degenerative
neurological disorder, characterized by
tremor, stiffness, slowed movement,
and unstable posture.
Parkinson’s disease
Progressive, irreversible, degenerative
brain disorder characterized by
cognitive deterioration and loss of
control of bodily functions, leading
to death.
Alzheimer’s disease
Deterioration in cognitive and
behavioral functioning due to
physiological causes.
dementia
Twisted masses of protein fibers found
in brains of persons with Alzheimer’s
disease.
neurofibrillary tangles
Waxy chunks of insoluble tissue found
in the brains of persons with Alzheimer’s
disease.
amyloid plaque
