week 11 Flashcards
what age range is growing the fastest in aus
older population
in 2004 what percentage of australians were over 65
13%
by 2051 what percentage of australians will be over 65
27%
what did the Australian longitudinal study of ageing find (ALSA)
overall, participants were very healthy in both psychological wellbeing and cognition
how many ALSA participants werent depressed
2/3-3/4 showed no signs of depression
what elderly people had the highest rates of depression
those living in residential care
what percentage of ALSA showed signs of cognitive impairment
less than 15%
what declines with age
fluid intelligence
memory
speed of processing
what remains stable with old age
crystallised intelligence (resulting from education and culture)
what did ALSA find regarding housing
many people in their 80s and older live independently in their homes with little to no assistance (ageing in place)
what is ageing in place
remaining at home or in own community
familiar surroundings
support networks
theories of successful ageing
activity theory
disengagement theory
sociomotional selectivity theory
what does activity theory believe the psychosocial needs are for elderly
the same as the needs of middle aged adults
based on activity theory, where does a decrease in social interaction in old age come from
withdrawal by society from the ageing person
based on activity theory when does optimal ageing occur
when the person stays active
what is the difference between activity and disengagement theories
activity theory and disengagement theory take opposing perspectives on adapting to the loss of roles or activities that occurs in late adulthood
where does disengagement theory believe a decrease in elderly social interactions come from
mutual withdrawal of both the individual and society
what does disengagement theory believe changes in elderly
there is an increased preoccupation with the self and decreased investment in society
when does disengagement theory believe optimal ageing happens
when the ageing person establishes greater psychological distance from those around him/her
what does disengagement theory believe should be expected when ageing
decreased social interactions
what is socioemotioanl selectivity theory
changes in social motives due to people becoming more aware of the limited amount of time they have left
what do the theories place the burden of adjustment on
individuals
what do late adulthood theories of successful ageing tend to disregard
factors such as:
- reduced financial circumstances
- range of activity and interest levels
- social support
types of ageing
primary ageing
secondary ageing (effects of illness and disease)
what are the characteristics of mental disorders in older adults
they are underestimated and undertreated
why might there be a failure to diagnose and treat mental disorders
stigma
professionals may think elderly are less treatable
depression and anxiety may be seen as normal part of ageing
how do young children see death
as reversible or temporary and not necessarily inevitable
how do adolescents view death
tend to deny their own mortality
how do young adults view death
they tend to be angry when faced with their own death
how do middle adults view death
they become more aware of their own mortality
how do late adults view death
increasing acceptance of death
generally less fearful of death
what is dementia
symptoms of any illness that causes a progressive decline in a persons cognitive function
what type of ageing is dementia
secondary ageing
is dementia common
most common in over 65 but is still extremely rare
what is the most common cause of dementia
Alzheimers disease which accounts for half of all cases
types of dementia
alzheimers disease
vascular dementia related to strokes
frontotemporal dementia
dementia with lewy bodies
what is treatment like for dementia
each type of dementia has its own symptoms and therefore their own treatment plans
what is needed to be diagnosed with neurocognitive disorder
-evidence of cognitive decline from a previous of performance eg. ef, learning, memory
- cognitive deficits interfere with independence everyday activities eg. requiring assistance
- the cognitive deficits do not occur exclusively in the context of delirium
- the cognitive deficits are not better explained by other disorders
what is the progression of dementia
10+ years
how do the cases of dementia change with age
2% in 70s
6% in 80s
45% in 90s
characteristics of early onset dementia
under 65
often genetic
often faster progression
when can dementia be confirmed
post-mortem
key diagnostic features of alzheimers
memory impairment
one of more of the following:
- aphasia
- apraxia
- agnosia
- executive dysfunction
what are alzheimers disease features in the brain
neuritic plaques
neurofibrillary tangles
what are neuritic plaques
masses of dying neural material with a toxic protein that damages neurons
what are neurofibrillary tangles
twisted strands of neural fibres within the cell bodies of neurons
what is something we can see in the brain of advanced alzehiemers patients prior to death
cerebral atrophy
what type of memory declines in alzheimers patients
episodic and semantic memory deficits and impaired verbal and visual learning
how is stm and procedural in alzheimers
usually spared
language characteristics for alzheimers
anomic aphasia (impaired confrontation naming)
general conversation skills relatively preserved until mid-late stages
language characteristics for alzheimers
anomic aphasia (impaired confrontation naming)
general conversation skills relatively preserved until mid-late stages
visuospatial characteristics for alzheimers
range of visuospatial and spatial orientation deficits
clock drawing
EF characteristics for alzheimers
increased disorganisation
preservation
impaired metacognitive areness
impaired time estimation
sensory functioning characteristics for alzheimers
preserved visual, auditory and tactile acuity
emotional functioning characteristics for alzheimers
depression
behavioural and psychiatric disturbances:
insomnia
delusion
hallucinations
apthy
agitation
irritability
characteristics of vascular dementia
more abrupt onset
stepwise deterioration
may have a history of hypertension
what is delirium
is an acute confusional state or episode characterised by sudden onset of impaired cognition
how many of all ages admitted to hospital have delirium
10-15%
how many people develop it once in hospital
5-40% of hospital patients
symptoms of delirium
decreased attention span
disorganised thought
rambling speech
hallucinations
delusions
how does delirium come about
confusion fluctuates throughout the day
rapid onset
levels of consciousness may vary
what causes delirium
drug intoxication or withdrawal
sudden onset brain disease eg. meningitis
infections
electrolyte imbalance
anticholinergic drugs
heart, liver, kidney failure
is delirium reversible
yes its treatable and will go away
can people with dementia get delirium
yeah they are prone to it
