Chapter 17 Flashcards
what is lifespan or longevity?
Is the length of time a person can live under the best
circumstances.
life expectancy
number of years a person in a given population can expect to live
Ageism
Prejudice against people because of their age; stereotypes that paint
older people in a certain way affects how one responds to them
Cataracts
clouding of the lenses, usually requiring surgery to correct
Glaucoma
buildup of fluid pressure inside the eyeball, which can lead to tunnel vision and
no peripheral vision or blindness
Presbycusis
Age-related hearing loss that affects about one person in three
over the age of 65
Osteoporosis
Disorder where bones lose so much calcium that they become
prone to breakage; most serious are hip fractures
Sleep apnea
Person stops breathing repeatedly during the night, causing
awakenings; linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes
programmed theories
aging as the result of genetic instructions
Cellular damage theories
propose that aging results from damages to cells
what are aging and longevity based on
a biological clock governed by genes
Cellular Clock Theory
focuses on built-in limits of cell division; after dividing about
50 times, human cells cease dividing and eventually die
telomeres
(the protective segments of DNA
at the tips of chromosomes); telomeres shrink each time a cell divides
what happens when loss of telomeres reach a critical point
then they are no longer able to function; because the length of telomeres for a species determines the number of times a cell can divide and survive
Hormonal Stress theory
Hormonal stress theory focuses on the endocrine system, which releases
hormones into the bloodstream.
what kind of changes do hormonal changes foster
puberty an menopause; diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease
Immunological Theory
the immune system is preset to decline by an internal biological clock. antibodies decline with age
Wear and Tear Theory
Over the years, our bodies — as machines that wear out through use —
become less capable of repairing themselves.
Free-Radical Theory
attributes aging to damage caused by the accumulation
of unstable molecules called free radicals, produced during metabolism by
oxidation, possibly damaging cell proteins, membranes, and DNA
Cross Linking Theory
-cell proteins bind to one another in a process called cross-linking,
thereby toughening tissues.
-Cross-linking stiffens collagen — the connective tissue supporting tendons,
ligaments, cartilage, and bone; this results in coarse, dry skin.
Normal Aging
Physiological processes decline slowly with age, enabling the
person to enjoy life into late adulthood
Pathological aging
Chronic diseases or degenerative processes, such as
heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, lead to disability and death
three major causes of death
cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease
elder bais
discrimination against older people by some health professionals
what are a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes
hypertension
Arthritis
is joint inflammation that results from conditions affecting the structures inside and surrounding the joints
Osteoarthritis
is a painful, degenerative disease involving wear and tear
on joints.
osteoarthritis is common with who
obese people
Rheumatoid Arthritis
is characterized by chronic inflammation of the
membranes that line the joints because the body’s immune system attacks its
own tissues
Dementia
Condition characterized by dramatic deterioration of mental abilities
involving thinking, memory, judgment, and reasoning;
Alzheimer’s disease
-is the most common cause of dementia
-is progressive and irreversible
-
vascular dementia
is when the blood flow to a particular part of the brain is
compromised or blocked
lewy body
is caused by abnormal protein deposits in different parts of the brain
Frontotemporal dementia
is caused by protein tangles, which cause cells to die
in the frontal and temp
Parkinson’s dementia
occurs in only 2–5 percent of people with dementia,
occurring within a year or so of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
does crystallized intelligence continue to improve throughout late adulthood
yes
do cognitive skills decline or incline in advanced age?
decline
Retrospective and prospective memories
Memories of the past (“retro”)
and memories of the things we plan to do in the future
Explicit memories
specific information, such as things we did or things that happened to us and general knowledge
Implicit memories
More automatic; recall the performance of tasks such
as reciting the alphabet or multiplication tables, riding a bicycle, and using a
doorknob
prospective memory
remember things we have planned
to do in the future, despite the passage of time, and despite the occurrence of
interfering events
who suggests that wise people tend to possess an unselfish love for others and be less afraid of death
Ardelt
