Middle Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development Flashcards
Characteristics of middle adulthood:
- span years from 40-65
- transition to late at 65
_________ _________: the fact that people do not age in the same way or at the same rate
interindividual variability
Physical development of Middle Adulthood:
- hair begins to gray
- loss of elasticity in the skin
- fat replaces lean body mass
- diminishing lung capacity
- metabolism slows down
The top 3 leading cause of death are:
- CANCER
- HEART DISEASE
- ACCIDENTS
__________ is a chronic noncommunicable disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells forming masses of excess tissue called tumors
Cancer
__________: the movement of malignant or cancerous cells into parts of the body other than where they originated
metastasis
Internal factors of cancer:
heredity, immune system complication,hormonal factors
External factors of cancer:
carcinogens, viruses, chemical compounds, and UV radiation
One reason for late diagnosis
many minority groups lack health insurance or access to health care facilities
Hardening of the arteries
Arteriosclerosis
The buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) on the lining of the arteries
atherosclerosis
Prolonged __________ supress the functioning of the immune system
Stress
The cessation of menstruation
menopause
The beggining of menopause, usually characterized by 3 to 11 months of amenorrhea or irregular periods
perimenopause
the gradual decline in reproductive capacity of the ovaries generally lasting about 15 years
climacteric
In the context of cognitive development the fact that some aspects of intellectual functioning may improve while others remain stable or decline
Multidirectionality
The fact that intellectual abilities are not absolutely fixed but can be modified
Plasticity
A cluster of knowledge and skills that depends on accumulated information and experience, awareness of social conventions and good judgement
crystallized intelligence
A person’s skills at processing information. Skills at processing information
Fluid intelligence
MEMORY CHARACTERISTICS:
Less able to keep information in working memory long enough to memorize it as we age
Less capable of screening out distractions as we try to focus on material as we age
Elaborative rehearsal suffers as well because we are less capable of classifying or categorizing quickly
