Psychology and physiology of ageing Flashcards
This type of intelligence is the ability to solve unfamiliar problems; biology based. Gradually and steadily declines from 30’s-40’s and onwards.
Fluid intelligence
This is the ability to use existing knowledge and skills, more knowledge based rather than biology based
Crystalised intelligence
Which type of intelligence tends to decline more with age?
Fluid intelligence
This concept refers to the overall reduction of time spent in poor health
compression of morbidity
Healthcare expenditure is principally determined by proximity to death rather than _____.
age
Why is “the demographic time bomb” a myth?
Healthcare expenditure is principally determined by proximity to death rather than age, so this explains why living longer does not necessarily mean a longer period in ill health- related to the conept of COMPRESSION OF MORBIDITY.
Describe the age-related gradient in depression rates in older people
Depression symptoms are more common amongst those aged 85+ than those aged 65-85. (So more depression in the “old old.”
Anxiety related disorders are more common in what settings (affecting older people?)
care home setting
Alcohol misuse is becoming increasingly common in which demographic?
Older women
What factor contributes to increased risk of mental and physical health problems, as well as depression and risk of suicide in older people?
Lonliness
What is the difference in years of age of death when comparing wealthy people with more disadvantaged cohorts?
Disadvanted people tend to die about 10 years younger than their wealthier counterparts
Patients with negative views about ageing had a correlation of increased rates of _______ loss.
hearing
Effect of ageing on the skeletal muscles?
Decreased force and elasticity of the skeltal muscular system
Effect of ageing on the kidneys?
Lower filtration rate
Effect of ageing on the lungs?
Lower pulmonary ventilation
Effect of ageing on the heart?
Lower maximal blood flow through the heart
Effect of ageing on blood sugar regulation
Glucose intolerance
Physiological effect of ageing includes the _______ or degeneration of most organs
atrophy
Definition of pathological ageing: Physiological upset prevents the body’s ability to maintain _________, resulting in disease.
homeostasis
This term refers to the loss of muscle mass and reduced function of skeletal muscle in the elderly
Sarcopenia
What physiological process leads to loss of strength, increased likelihood of falls which further leads to reduced function in muscle in the elderly?
Sarcopenia
Physiological changes in lung function in the elderly:
___________ forced vital capacity
reduced
Physiological changes in lung function in the elderly:
___________ force expiratory volume
reduced
Physiological changes in lung function in the elderly:
____________ residual volume
increased
A loss of elastic recoil in the lungs, dilation of the alveoli, and loss of supporting structures for the peripheral airways result in what physiological changes in lung function? (3) hint: FVC, FEV, RV
reduced FVC
reduced FEV
increased RV
What is the effect of ageing on mitochondria?
Mitochondrial dysfunction results in falling energy outputs
What happens to stem cells with age?
They become exhausted
Genomic ________ is one of the molecular characteristics of ageing
instability
What is meant by “telomere attrition?”
The wearing down of telomeres with age
__________ __________ is the result of telomere shortening that ultimately triggers apoptosis.
Replicatic senescence
The condition or process of deterioration with age is known as
senescence
What does the “Hayflick limit” refer to?
The number of times most cells can divide before becoming terminally arrested/apoptotic (about 50 times).
There is an association between having _______ telomeres and cancer, as the cell continues to divide for longer without providing apoptotic signals.
long
Senescent cells have an absence of ___________ markers
proliferative
Senescence is associated with beta-___________ activity (the enzyme responsible for digestion of lactose)
galactosidase
Senescent cells secrete a range of signalling molecules- mainly __________
inflammatory
This refers to the epigenetic modifications to DNA that are critical to the control of gene expression
Molecular sensescence
Both DNA _________ and histone modification change with age.
methylation
Understanding molecular senescence helps us to understand the molecular targets of ____________ associated with ageing (potential drug targets).
biomarkers
What would happen if scientists were to remove all scenescent cells from the body?
Would result in an increased risk of cancer- cells dividing indefinitely
What are the best ways to improve life span and health expectancy? (3)
Healthy diet and exercise
Public health promotion
Improving aspects of the environment (such as what children are exposed to)
