Keyterms for Exam 6

demographers

people who study population trends

population pyramid

graphic technique for illustrating population trends

average longevity

age at which half of the people born in a particular year will have died

maximum longevity 

oldest age to which any person lives 

active life expectancy

number of years that a person is free from debilitating chronic disease and impairment

dependent life expectancy

number of years a person lives with a debilitating chronic disease in which the person depends on others for care

telomeres 

tips of chromosomes that play a major role in aging by adjusting the cell’s response to stress and growth stimulation based on cell divisions and DNA damage 

telomerase

enzyme needed in DNA replication to fully reproduce the telomeres when cells divide

oxidative stress

an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body

free radicals

highly reactive chemicals produced randomly in normal metabolism

antioxidants

molecules that stabilize free radicals to become less reactive

neurofibillary tangles

spiral-shaped masses formed when fibers that compose the axon become twisted together

beta amyloid 

a protein that is the basis for neuritic plaques and is thought to be a basis for dementia

neurotransmitters

chemicals released by neurons in order for them to communicate with each other

structural neuroimaging

neuroimaging technique such as CT and MRI scans that provide highly detailed images of anatomical features in the brain

functional neuroimaging

neuroimaging technique that provides an indication of brain activity but not high anatomical detail

atherosclerosis

a disease caused by calcification and blockages in the arteries

stroke, or cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs)

interruption of the blood flow in the brain due to blockage or a hemorrhage in a cerebral artery

transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)

brief interruption of blood flow to the brain, often an early warning sign of stroke

vascular dementia

disease caused by numerous small cerebral vascular accidents

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

most common form of incapacitating respiratory disease among older adults

presbyopia 

difficulty seeing close objects clearly 

contaracts

opaque spots on the lens that limit the amount of light transmitted

glaucoma

disease in which the fluid in the eye does not drain properly, causing very high internal pressure that can damage the eye and cause loss of vision

age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

progressive and irreversible destruction of receptors from any of a number of causes 

diabetic retinopathy

eye disease that is a by product of diabetes causing damage to the arteries in the retina that can lead to other problems

presbycusis

reduced sensitivity to high frequency tones

diabetes mellitus 

disease that occurs when the pancreas produces insufficient insulin 

type 2 diabetes

type of diabetes that usually develops earlier in life and requires the use of insulin, sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes

type 2 diabetes

type of diabetes that typically develops in adulthood and is often effectively managed through diet

circadian rhythms

sleep-wake cycle

metabolism

the rate at which energy is needed and used in the body

working memory

processes and structures involved in holding information in mind and simultaneously using it for other functions

implicit memory

unconscious remembering of information learned at some earlier time

explicit memory

deliberate and conscious remembering of information that is learned and remembered at a specific time

episodic memory

general class of memory having to do with the conscious recollection of information from a specific time or event

semantic memory 

general class of memory concerning the remembering of meanings of words or concepts not tied to a specific time or event 

autobiographical memory

memory for events that occur during one’s life

external memory aids

memory aids that rely on environmental resources such as notebooks and calenders

internal memory aids

memory aids that rely on mental processes such as imagery

dysphoria 

feeling sad or down 

internal belief systems

view of a cause of depression as what one tells oneself about why certain things are happening

behavior therapy

type of therapy based on the notion that people with depression experience too few rewards or reinforcements from their environment

cognitive therapy 

type of therapy based on the idea that maladaptive beliefs or cognitions about oneself are responsible for depression

anxiety disorders

problems such as feelings of severe anxiety, phobias and obsessive-complusive behaviors

dementia

family of disease involving serious impairment of behavioral and cognitive functioning and some form of permanent damage to the brain

Alzheimer’s disease

disease marked by gradual declines in memory, attention, and judgment, confusion as to time and place, difficulties in communicating decline in self-care skills, inappropriate behavior and personality changes

incontinence

loss of bladder or bowel control

parkinson’s disease

brain disease known primarily for its characteristic motor symptoms, very slow walking difficulty getting into and out of chairs, and a slow hand tremor but it can develop into a form of dementia

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

form of dementia caused by repeated head trauma such as concussions 

healthy aging

growing old by avoiding disease, being engaged with life and maintaining high cognitive and physical functioning

adaptation level

when press level is average for particular level of competence

zone of maximum performance potential

when press level is slightly higher, trending to improve performance 

zone of maximum comfort

when press level is slightly lower, facilitating a high quality of life

proactivity

when people choose new behaviors to meet new desires or needs and exert control over their lives

docility 

when people allow their situation to dictate the options they have

preventive adaptations

actions that avoid stressors and increase or build social resources

corrective adaptations

actions taken in response to stressors and that can be facilitated by internal and external resources

integrity versus despair

according to erikson, the process in late life by which people try to make sense of their lives

life review

process by which people reflect on the events and experiences of their lifetimes

subjective well-being

evaluation of one’s life that is associated with positive feelings

spiritual support

type of coping strategy that includes seeking pastoral care, participating in organized and nonorganized religious activities, and expressing faith in a God who cares for people

social convoy

group of people who journey with us throughout our lives, providing support in good times and bad

socioemotional selectivity

the process by which social contact is motivated by a variety of goals, including information seeking, self concept and emotional regulaltion

frail older adults 

older adults who have physical disabilities, are very ill, may have cognitive or psychological disorders and need assistance with everyday tasks

activities of daily living (ADLs)

basic self-care tasks such as eating, bathing, toileting, walking and dressing

instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

actions that requires some intellectual competence and planning

physical limitations (PLIMs)

activities that reflect functional limitations such as walking a block or sitting for about two hours

sense of place

cognitive and emotional attachments that a person puts on their place of residence, by which a “house” is made into a “home”

functional health

definition of health based on the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and physical limitations (PLIMs)

assisted living facilities

supportive living arrangement for people who need assistance with ADLs and IADLs but who are not so impaired physically or cognitively that they need 24 hour care

nursing home

type of long-term care facility that provides medical care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using a team of healthcare professionals that includes physicians (who must be on call at all times), nurses, therapists (ex. physical occupational and others)

thanatology 

study of death, dying, grief, bereavement and social attitudes toward these issues

clinical death

lack of heartbeat and respiration

whole-brain death

declared only when the deceased meets eight criteria which were established in 1981

persistent vegetative state

situation in which a person’s cortical functioning ceases while brainstem activity continues 

bioethics

study of the interface between human values and technological advances in health and life sciences

euthanasia

the practice of ending life for reasons of mercy

active euthanasia 

the deliberate ending of someone’s life, that may be based on clear statement of the person’s wishes or be a decision made by someone else who has legal authority to do so

passive euthanasia

allowing a person to die by withholding available treatment

physician-assisted suicide

procedures in which a physicians provides a dying person with a fatal dose of medication that the individual self-administers

death anxiety

feeling of anxiety or even fear of death and dying

terror management theory

theory that addresses the issue of why people engage in certain behaviors to achieve particular psychological states based on their deeply rooted concerns about morality 

end of life issues

issues pertaining to management of the final phase of life, after death disposition of the body and memorial services and distribution of assets

final scenario

way for people to make their choices known about how they do and do not want their lives to end

palliative care

care that is focused on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of disease at any point during the disease process

hospice

approach to assisting dying people that emphasizes pain management, or palliative care and death with dignity

death doula

an umbrella term to identify lay people, primarily women who provide a variety of nonmedical support, social, emotional, practical, and spiritual for people nearing the end of life, including individuals close to them

living will

document in which a person states their wishes about life support and other treatments and interventions

healthcare power of attorney

document in which an individual appoints someone to act as their agent for healthcare decisions

do not resuscitate (DNR) order

medical order that means that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not started should one’s heart and breathing stop

bereavement 

stage or condition caused by loss through death

grief

sorrow, hurt, anger, guilt, confusion and other feelings that arise after suffering a loss

mourning

ways in which people express their grief

anticipatory grief

grief that is experienced during the period before an expected death occurs that supposedly serves to buffer the impact of the loss when bit does come and to facilitate recovery

grief work

psychological side of coming to terms with bereavement

anniversary reaction

refers to changes in behavior related to feelings of sadness on this date

four-component model

model for understanding grief that is based on 1. the context of the loss 2. continuation of subjective meaning associated with loss 3. changing representations of the lost relationship over time and 4. the role of coping and emotion-regulation processes

grief work as rumination hypothesis

approach that not only rejects the necessity of grief processing for recovery from loss but also views extensive grief processing as a form of rumination that may increase distress

dual process model (DPM)

view of coping with bereavement that integrates lossoriented stressors and restoration-oriented stressors