Late Adulthood Flashcards
Lifespan (Longevity)
the maximum amount of time a person can live under optimal conditions
Life Expectancy
the amount of time a person can actually be expected to live in a given setting
Ageism
prejudice against people because of their age
Cataract
a condition characterized by clouding of the lens of the eye
Glaucoma
a condition involving abnormally high fluid pressure in the eye
Presbycusis
loss of acuteness if hearing due to age-related degenerative changes in the ear
Osteoporosis
a disorder in which bones become more porous, brittle, and subject to fracture, due to loss of calcium and other minerals
Sleep Apnea
temporary suspension of breathing while asleep
Cellular Clock Theory
a theory of aging focusing on the limits of cell division
Telomeres
protective segments of DNA located at the tips of chromosomes
Hormonal Stress Theory
a theory of aging that suggests stress hormones, left at elevated levels, make the body more vulnerable to chronic conditions
Immunological Theory
a theory of aging that holds that the immune system is pre-set to decline by an internal biological clock
Wear-and-Tear Theory
a theory of aging that suggests that over time, our bodies becomes less capable of repairing themselves
Free-Radical Theory
a theory of aging that attributes aging to damage caused by accumulation of unstable molecules called free radicals
Cross-Linking Theory
a theory of aging that holds that the stiffening of body proteins eventually breaks down bodily processes, leading to aging
Arthritis
inflammation of joints
Osteoporosis
a painful, degenerative disease characterized by wear and tear on joints
Rheumatoid Arthritis
a painful, degenerative disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the membranes that line the joints
Dementia
a condition characterized by deterioration of cognitive functioning
Alzheimer’s Disease
a severe form of dementia characterized by memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, and progressive loss of cognitive functioning
Implicit Memory
automatic memories based on repetition and apparently not requiring any conscious effort to retrieve
Prospective Memory
memory of things one has planned for the future
Ego Integrity
maintenance of the belief that life is meaningful and worthwhile despite physical decline and the inevitability of death
Disengagement Theory
the view that older adults and society withdraw from one another as older adults approach death