Chapter 16 - Aging and Mental Health

Question 1

baby boomers

Answer 1

people who were born within 20 years following the end of WWII in 1945

Question 2

what are some causes of reduction in mortality among younger and oder adults

Answer 2

advances in public health, workplace safety, newly developed and more effective medications and surgical procedures

Question 3

proportions of older adults increasing means what

Answer 3

more older adults with mental disorders

Question 4

what personality characteristics are associated with positive health and increase over a person’s lifespan

Answer 4

careful, vigilant, agreeableness and emotional stability

Question 5

paradox of aging

Answer 5

positive mental health among older adults who would normal be considered vulnerable

Question 6

period effect

Answer 6

influence of particular historical periods or events on people ex. 9/11

Question 7

cohort effect

Answer 7

people born at roughly the same time is a cohort, so cohort effect is differences in age cohort. results in unique social and historical events they have experienced

Question 8

gerentologists

Answer 8

professionals from a wide variety of disciplines with expertise in aging

Question 9

normal aging

Answer 9

normal process of body systems slowing down that cause some systems to stop functioning - person dies of old age instead of disease

Question 10

what factors can complicate diagnosis

Answer 10

1) symptoms of mental disorders can be due to age rather than psychological factors
2) more likely to have comorbid chronic physical illnesses
3) older adults are especially likely to be taking multiple medications for such illnesses

Question 11

polypharmacy

Answer 11

use of multiple medications

Question 12

selective optimization with compensation

Answer 12

in context of normal aging and absence of pathology, old age brings losses of abilities and skills

Question 13

what are three things successful aging holds according to SOC

Answer 13

1) selecting goals and goal priorities
2) optimizing resources that facilitate these goals
3) using alternative means to achieving one’s goals despite limited capacities

Question 14

socio-emotional selectivity theory

Answer 14

when we perceive time as unlimited our goals will be future-oriented and we will focus our energy on expanding our knowledge and horizons

Question 15

strength and vulnerability integration theory

Answer 15

aging is associated with an increased ability to regulate emotions

Question 16

are older women or men more likely to commit suicide

Answer 16

men - 5x more likely

Question 17

are older or younger individuals more successful in committing suicide?

Answer 17

older adults

Question 18

older clinically depressed individuals are more likely to report what

Answer 18

weight loss, other somatic symptoms

Question 19

older clinically depressed individuals are less likely to report what

Answer 19

sadness, worthlessness, guilt

Question 20

neurocognitive disorders

Answer 20

most common mental disorder in older adults in which sufferers lose their memory, judgement, reason, personal dignity and sense of self

Question 21

five major diagnostic issues faced by physicians

Answer 21

1) time constraint
2) complexity of late-life depression
3) lack of specific diagnostic criteria for older adults
4) physical comorbidity masking depressive symptoms
5) lack of knowledge about available and effective treatment options for older adults

Question 22

drug interaction

Answer 22

interactive effects of multiple medications

Question 23

insomnia disorder

Answer 23

difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, shortened sleep, and non-restorative sleep

Question 24

restless legs syndrome

Answer 24

urge to move one’s legs, unpleasant sensations, sensations worsen during periods of inactivity, movement relieving urge and unpleasantness, sensations worsen during night

Question 25

sleep apnea

Answer 25

episodes of loss of breathing for up to 10 minutes

Question 26

how many episodes of sleep apnea must occur in an hour for diagnosis

Answer 26

5 times

Question 27

what does sleep apnea result in

Answer 27

hypoxemia and wakenings from sleep

Question 28

late onset schizophrenia

Answer 28

first appears after age of 45, less likely to have disorganized speech, lack of logical thought, and flattened affect

Question 29

more common in late onset schizophrenia

Answer 29

hallucinations and delusions will be more bizarre

Question 30

delirium

Answer 30

acute onset of disturbances in attention, orientation memory, thinking, perception and behaviour

Question 31

what can delirium result in if left untreated

Answer 31

rapid deterioration and premature death

Question 32

risk factors of delirium - what causes it

Answer 32

metabolic, infectious, structural, drug overdose/withdrawal, acute strokes, exposure to toxic substances

Question 33

causes of neurocognitive diseases

Answer 33

Alzheimer's disease, vascular disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Lewy body disease etc.

Question 34

pseudo-dementia

Answer 34

disorders that produce cognitive impairment that can be reversed

Question 35

mild cognitive impairment

Answer 35

boundary zone between normal cognition functioning and dementia, deficits in one cognitive domain (usually memory)but are still able to function independently

Question 36

MCI diagnostic criteria

Answer 36

1) memory complaints mentioned by family members or other people 2) objective evidence of impaired short-term memory 3) normal cognitive functioning 4) unimpaired social/occupational functioning 5) no major NCD

Question 37

individuals with MCI are at high risk for what

Answer 37

NCD

Question 38

Alzheimer's disease

Answer 38

most common cause of NCD, most common mental disorders among older adults

Question 39

early stage of AD

Answer 39

exhibit memory difficulties, problems with concentration, unclear thinking, and mild difficulty finding words

Question 40

middle stage of AD

Answer 40

existing symptoms become more severe and more may occur - short term memory problems worsen, language difficulties become more noticeable, difficult with purposeful motor movements

Question 41

treatment for AD NCD

Answer 41

drugs that will reverse, stop, slow down process, psychotherapy

Question 42

Vascular NCD

Answer 42

arteries that supply the brain are partly blocked - causing a stroke

Question 43

brain lesion

Answer 43

area of damaged cortex due to vascular damage

Question 44

gender differences in vascular NCD

Answer 44

higher in men than women - increases with age

Question 45

treatment for vascular NCD

Answer 45

managing the risk factors of future cerebrovascular events - lifestyle changes and medication

Question 46

NCD with lewy bodies

Answer 46

type of dementia characterized by Parkinsonism, visual hallucination, fluctuating alertness or cognition

Question 47

Frontotemporal NCD

Answer 47

changes in personality or social conduct as well as deficits in higher-order cognitive abilities

Question 48

as people get older they become more vulnerable in

Answer 48

physically, psychologically, independence

Question 49

as people get older they become more resilient in

Answer 49

mental health problems, life satisfaction, emotional stability

Question 50

successful aging

Answer 50

longevity is necessary but not sufficient

Question 51

factors affecting successful aging

Answer 51

biological factors - biological reserve, cognitive reserve, mild stress psychological factors - adaptability, positive attitudes, optimism, resilience, purpose in life social factors - social interaction, social support

Question 52

biological reserve

Answer 52

amount of damage to brain tissue that can be withstood while preserving functioning

Question 53

cognitive reserve

Answer 53

brain's ability to adapt to damage

Question 54

treatment in older adults for mood/anxiety disorders

Answer 54

psychotherapy and medication

Question 55

presentation of delirium

Answer 55

hypoactive more than hyperactive

Question 56

delirium risk factors

Answer 56

male, 65+ years old, multiple medications, dementia, fracture, dehydration, drug use

Question 57

etiology of AD

Answer 57

plaques/neurofibrillary tangles, atrophy of the cortex, APOE gene (especially in women)

Question 58

etiology of frontotemporal NCD

Answer 58

damage to frontal and/or temporal lobes - often affects younger adults

Question 59

treatment for frontotemporal NCD

Answer 59

no cure or medications to slow progression

Question 60

lewy body NCD etiology

Answer 60

lewy bodies in the brain - interrupt the brain's messages

Question 61

treatment for NCD etiology

Answer 61

medication to manage symptoms