Chapter 16 - Aging and Mental Health Flashcards
baby boomers
people who were born within 20 years following the end of WWII in 1945
what are some causes of reduction in mortality among younger and oder adults
advances in public health, workplace safety, newly developed and more effective medications and surgical procedures
proportions of older adults increasing means what
more older adults with mental disorders
what personality characteristics are associated with positive health and increase over a person’s lifespan
careful, vigilant, agreeableness and emotional stability
paradox of aging
positive mental health among older adults who would normal be considered vulnerable
period effect
influence of particular historical periods or events on people ex. 9/11
cohort effect
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
gerentologists
professionals from a wide variety of disciplines with expertise in aging
normal aging
normal process of body systems slowing down that cause some systems to stop functioning - person dies of old age instead of disease
what factors can complicate diagnosis
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
polypharmacy
use of multiple medications
selective optimization with compensation
in context of normal aging and absence of pathology, old age brings losses of abilities and skills
what are three things successful aging holds according to SOC
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
socio-emotional selectivity theory
when we perceive time as unlimited our goals will be future-oriented and we will focus our energy on expanding our knowledge and horizons
strength and vulnerability integration theory
aging is associated with an increased ability to regulate emotions
are older women or men more likely to commit suicide
men - 5x more likely
are older or younger individuals more successful in committing suicide?
older adults
older clinically depressed individuals are more likely to report what
weight loss, other somatic symptoms
older clinically depressed individuals are less likely to report what
sadness, worthlessness, guilt
neurocognitive disorders
most common mental disorder in older adults in which sufferers lose their memory, judgement, reason, personal dignity and sense of self
five major diagnostic issues faced by physicians
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
drug interaction
interactive effects of multiple medications
insomnia disorder
difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, shortened sleep, and non-restorative sleep
restless legs syndrome
urge to move one’s legs, unpleasant sensations, sensations worsen during periods of inactivity, movement relieving urge and unpleasantness, sensations worsen during night
sleep apnea
episodes of loss of breathing for up to 10 minutes
how many episodes of sleep apnea must occur in an hour for diagnosis
5 times
what does sleep apnea result in
hypoxemia and wakenings from sleep
late onset schizophrenia
first appears after age of 45, less likely to have disorganized speech, lack of logical thought, and flattened affect
more common in late onset schizophrenia
hallucinations and delusions will be more bizarre
delirium
acute onset of disturbances in attention, orientation memory, thinking, perception and behaviour
what can delirium result in if left untreated
rapid deterioration and premature death
risk factors of delirium - what causes it
metabolic, infectious, structural, drug overdose/withdrawal, acute strokes, exposure to toxic substances
causes of neurocognitive diseases
Alzheimer’s disease, vascular disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Lewy body disease etc.
pseudo-dementia
disorders that produce cognitive impairment that can be reversed
mild cognitive impairment
boundary zone between normal cognition functioning and dementia, deficits in one cognitive domain (usually memory)but are still able to function independently
MCI diagnostic criteria
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
individuals with MCI are at high risk for what
NCD
Alzheimer’s disease
most common cause of NCD, most common mental disorders among older adults
early stage of AD
exhibit memory difficulties, problems with concentration, unclear thinking, and mild difficulty finding words
middle stage of AD
existing symptoms become more severe and more may occur - short term memory problems worsen, language difficulties become more noticeable, difficult with purposeful motor movements
treatment for AD NCD
drugs that will reverse, stop, slow down process, psychotherapy
Vascular NCD
arteries that supply the brain are partly blocked - causing a stroke
brain lesion
area of damaged cortex due to vascular damage
gender differences in vascular NCD
higher in men than women - increases with age
treatment for vascular NCD
managing the risk factors of future cerebrovascular events - lifestyle changes and medication
NCD with lewy bodies
type of dementia characterized by Parkinsonism, visual hallucination, fluctuating alertness or cognition
Frontotemporal NCD
changes in personality or social conduct as well as deficits in higher-order cognitive abilities
as people get older they become more vulnerable in
physically, psychologically, independence
as people get older they become more resilient in
mental health problems, life satisfaction, emotional stability
successful aging
longevity is necessary but not sufficient
factors affecting successful aging
biological factors - biological reserve, cognitive reserve, mild stress
psychological factors - adaptability, positive attitudes, optimism, resilience, purpose in life
social factors - social interaction, social support
biological reserve
amount of damage to brain tissue that can be withstood while preserving functioning
cognitive reserve
brain’s ability to adapt to damage
treatment in older adults for mood/anxiety disorders
psychotherapy and medication
presentation of delirium
hypoactive more than hyperactive
delirium risk factors
male, 65+ years old, multiple medications, dementia, fracture, dehydration, drug use
etiology of AD
plaques/neurofibrillary tangles, atrophy of the cortex, APOE gene (especially in women)
etiology of frontotemporal NCD
damage to frontal and/or temporal lobes - often affects younger adults
treatment for frontotemporal NCD
no cure or medications to slow progression
lewy body NCD etiology
lewy bodies in the brain - interrupt the brain’s messages
treatment for NCD etiology
medication to manage symptoms
