Late Adulthood & End of Life Flashcards
when does late adulthood begin?
in the 60s, and it can potentially be the longest age group
How many people have neurocognitive disorders? (Under 60, 65-75, 85+)
under 60 - extremely rare
65-75 - small percentage
85+ - 50%
why do women outlive men?
genetics
men are more likely to engage in risky behavior
men are more likely to abuse drugs/alcohol
men are less likely to be vigilant about overall health
do most elders live in nursing homes?
no, most live at home and can take care of themselves
what is primary aging?
genetically influenced, and thought to be unavoidable
what is secondary aging?
influenced by lifestyle and environment, not inevitable
what is the wear and tear theory?
the idea that time and exertion simply wear us out over time
what are some problems with the wear and tear theory?
it doesn’t address the root cause of primary aging
the body does a great job repairing itself throughout life - why can’t it keep up anymore?
people who exercise regularly generally live longer, which runs counter to this theory
what do gene theories say about aging?
Specific genes seem to be responsible for longevity and noticeable physical changes that come with aging
what are 2 cellular theories of aging?
Hayflick Limit: human adult cells have a limit to the number of times they can divide
Free Radical Theory: free radicals triggered by environmental contaminants are linked to certain diseases. Accumulating free radicals over time might be associated with cataracts and arthritis
what is programmed cell death theory?
cells appear to be designed to self-destruct. Many diseases associated with aging (osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s) seem to be at least partly caused by this process
how can dementia be diagnosed?
psychiatrist/psychologist screening
nurse screening
functional MRI
social worker assessment
what are some physiological signs common in people with ADRD?
acetylcholine deficiency
neurofibrillary tangles
amyloid plaques
atrophy in the brain
what are symptoms of neurocognitive disorder caused by Parkinson’s?
anxiety
depression
hallucinations
personality changes
what are risk factors for neurocognitive disorder caused by vascular disease?
hypertension
smoking
obesity
what are some other neurocognitive disorders?
traumatic brain injury - difficulty concentrating, slower processing
substance abuse - concentration and motor problems
Prion disease - ex. mad cow disease, a Creutzfeldt-Jakob disorder
HIV - at least 25% of people with HIV have a neurocognitive disorder
what is the most common type of dementia?
alzheimer’s, which makes up 60% of cases. it is thought that there is more than one type
how long can one live with alzheimer’s?
a few years up to 15 years
which sex lives longer with alzheimer’s?
women
describe the 3 stages of alzheimer’s
beginning: memory decline, forgetting words and replacing them with unusual ones, social withdrawal, depression
middle: loss of some independence, shouldn’t cook or drive, forgetting names of close family, unaware of current events or year, personality changes, problems walking due to reduced ability to interpret visual stimuli
end: cannot speak, eat, walk, use a toilet.
According to alzheimer’s association, what are 10 early signs of alzheimer’s?
memory loss that disrupts daily life challenges planning or solving problems difficulty completing familiar tasks confusion with time or place trouble understanding visual images or spatial relationships new problems with speaking or writing misplacing things and an inability to retrace steps decreased/poor judgment withdrawal from social activities changes in mood or personality
what are some myths about alzheimer’s, according to alzheimer’s association?
memory loss is just a part of aging
alzheimer’s is not fatal
only older people can get alzheimer’s
using aluminum drinkware or cookware can cause alzheimer’s
aspartame causes alzheimer’s
flu shots increase the risk of alzheimer’s
silver dental fillings cause alzheimer’s
there are treatments available to cure alzheimer’s
what is unique about early-onset alzheimer’s?
it’s very rare, and caused by gene changes from parents
what is disengagement theory?
the idea that older adults should withdraw from society, they would be happier not being concerned with society.
not a good idea - use it or lose it
