Chapter 17: Disorder of Aging and Cognition

geropsychology

the field of psychology concerned with the mental health of elderly people

delirium

a rapidly developing, acute disturbance in attention and orientation that makes it very difficult to concentrate and think in a clear and organized manner

neurocognitive disorder

a disorder marked by a significant decline in at least one area of cognitive functioning

major neurocognitive disorder

a neurocognitive disorder in which the decline in cognitive functioning is substantial and interferes with a person’s ability to be independent

mild neurocognitive disorder

a neurocognitive disorder in which the decline in cognitive functioning is modest and does not interfere with a person’s ability to be independent

Alzheimer’s Disease

the most common type of neurocognitive disorder, usually occurring after the age of 65, marked most prominently by memory impairment

senile plaques

sphere-shaped deposits of beta-amyloid protein that form in the spaces between certain neurons and in certain blood vessels of the brain as people age. People with Alzheimer’s disease have an excessive number of such plaques

neurofibrillary tangles

twisted protein fibers that form within certain neurons as people age. People with Alzheimer’s disease have an excessive number of such tangles

biomarkers

biochemical, molecular, genetic, or structural characteristics that usually accompany a disease