Psych 360 Chapter 14

Elderly

Individuals over the age of 65, an arbitrary point set largely by social policies.

Cognitive Decline

The inevitable deterioration of cognitive abilities that occurs with aging, though severe problems do not occur for most.

Social Selectivity

The phenomenon where older adults shift their interests from seeking new social interactions to cultivating a few close friendships.

Polypharmacy

The prescription of multiple drugs to an individual, often seen in the elderly, increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions.

Cross-sectional studies

Research designs where different age groups are compared at the same point in time.

Longitudinal studies

Research methods where the same group of people is retested at different points in time to observe changes over time.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

A condition marked by modest cognitive decline without significant functional impairment.

Delirium

A sudden change in mental state characterized by confusion, disorientation, and a clouded state of consciousness.

Alzheimer’s Disease

An irreversible neurocognitive disorder characterized by brain tissue deterioration and memory loss.

Frontotemporal Dementia

A type of dementia involving the loss of neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes, often affecting personality and behavior.

Vascular Dementia

Dementia caused by cerebrovascular disease, often due to strokes, with varying symptoms based on stroke location.

Lewy Body Dementia

A form of dementia characterized by protein deposits in the brain causing cognitive decline and visual hallucinations.

Cognitive Reserve

The concept that engagement in cognitive activities may help compensate for neural decline and reduce the risk of dementia.

Huntington’s Disease

A neurocognitive disorder caused by a single gene defect, leading to memory problems and involuntary movements.

Psychological Disorders in Late Life

Conditions that are less common in the elderly than younger adults, with many experiencing a continuation of earlier symptoms.

Response Bias

A tendency for individuals to underreport symptoms, affecting prevalence estimates in studies of psychological disorders.

Cumulative Effects of Stressors

The compounded impact of a lifetime of stress factors contributing to problems experienced in late life.

Elderly Health Care Treatments

Similar treatments as earlier life, with adjustments for age-related factors like vision and hearing loss.

Cognitive Symptoms

Common symptoms of dementia that include memory impairment, disorientation, and decline in reasoning abilities.

Sleep Disturbances in Dementia

Common psychiatric symptoms in people with dementia that lead to changes in sleep patterns and mood.