Exam 4, Chapter 15 Flashcards
the upper boundary of life, which is the max number of years an individual can live
life span
the number of years that will probably be lived by the average person born in a particular year
life expectancy
the view that natural selection has not eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults
evolutionary theory of aging
Leonard Hayflick’s theory that the max number of times that human cells can divide is about 50
cellular clock theory
a theory of aging proposing that people age because normal cell metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals
free-radical theory
the theory that aging in the body’s hormonal system can lower resilience under stress and increase the likelihood of disease
hormonal stress theory
involve a thickening of the lens of the eye that causes vision to become cloudy and distorted
cataracts
damage to the optic nerve because of the pressure created by a buildup of fluid in the eye
glaucoma
a disease that involves deterioration of the macula of the retina, which corresponds to the focal center of the visual
macular degeneration
inflammation of the joints that is accompanied by pain, stiffness, and movement problems; especially common in older adults
arthritis
a chronic condition that involves an extensive loss of bone tissue and is the main reason many older adults walk with a marked stoop
osteoporosis
the retention of information about the where and when of life’s happenings
episodic memory
a person’s knowledge about the world- including a person’s fields of expertise, general academic knowledge of the sort learned in school, and “everyday knowledge”
semantic memory
memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state
explicit memory
memory without conscious recollection; involves skills and routine procedures that are automatically performed
implicit memory
