Chapter 8 Part 1: Biological Aspects of Development During Adulthood

Maturity

completion of all growth and developmental changes; associated with attaining adulthood in the past

Accommodation

in vision, the ability of the eyes to focus quickly and efficiently on objects both near and far away

Presbyopia

difficulty in accurately perceiving objects that are close

Presbycusis

the loss of hearing of high-frequency tones

Hypertension

abnormally high blood pressure caused by constriction of arteries; it increases the likelihood of kidney damage, heart failure, and brain damage via strokes

Passive Smoking

inhaling air in an area where someone has been smoking

Osteoporosis

inflammation of bone tissue causing softness and porous structure; the condition can lead to bone breakage and tooth loss

Arthritis

inflammation of the joint area between bone junctions

Rheumatism

a variety of conditions resulting in stiffness and soreness in tissues associated with bone joints

Atherosclerosis

a cardiovascular disease in which plaques of fatty material form along arterial walls in the body and especially in the heart; leads to blockage of blood flow and the possibility of clots, increasing the likelihood of heart attack and stroke

Arteriosclerosis

commonly called "hardening of the arteries," there is a gradual loss of elasticity in arterial walls throughout the body

Diabetes

the failure of the pancreas gland cells to secrete an adequate amount of an enzyme (insulin) that is essential for metabolizing sugars

Menopause

the climacteric in females; cessation of all reproductive functions that begins at about age 45-48 and is completed by about age 55

Climacteric

decline in sexual functioning among middle-aged men

Gingivitis

inflammation of gum tissue that contributes highly to tooth loss

Kyphosis

a "humpback" posture

Scoliosis

S-curved spinal column

Gout

a metabolic disorder that results from uric acid crystals forming at joint areas, especially in the feet

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

a condition involving destruction of lung tissue that results in lowered lung elasticity; makes it difficult to breathe and move about freely

Pneumonia

an inflammation of the lungs

hiatal hernia

a condition in which a portion of the stomach slides up next to the esophagus

Diverticulitis

an inflammation of a portion of an intestine that causes pain, nausea, and a change in bowel habits

Incontinence

the inability to retain urine in the bladder until voluntarily released

Cataracts

a change in the lens of the eye causing it to become opaque to entering light, which reduces vision considerably

Glaucoma

a group of diseases resulting in increased pressure within the eyeball and leading to blindness if left untreated

Macular Degeneration

a decreased blood supply to the retina, causing loss of visual sharpness when looking directly ahead but not in the peripheral vision area

Gustatory Dysfunction

decline in the ability to taste; often occurs in late adulthood

Olfactory Impairment

significant loss of smell; often occurs in late adulthood

Reaction Time

the amount of time it takes a person to respond to a stimulus

Precision Grip

when the middle finger or index finger and opposing thumb are used to manipulate small objects

Healthy Behavior

any behavior that reduces the susceptibility to disease and enhances physical and psychological function and well-being

Risky Behavior

any behavior that detrimentally effects health or increases the likelihood of disease, although they typically increase an individual's sense of well-being at the moment

Motivation

conceptualized as establishing goals, developing a plan to obtain those goals, and actual behaviors taken to achieve the goals

Stress

the physiological and psychological reactions of an organism to demands placed upon it

Stressors

events that can cause stress reactions

Infertility

the inability to conceive a child after consistently having intercourse without contraception for at least a year (under age 35) or after 6 months (age 35 and older)

Strokes

a cerebrovascular accident occurring when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or is obstructed by a blood clot

Dementia

a type of organic brain syndrome that is a neuropsychiatric disorder related to brain cell impairment

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

a degenerative chronic brain disorder occurring commonly in late adulthood; characterized initially by forgetfulness, later by serious cognitive dysfunction, and eventually by complete loss of mental functioning and death

Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease

when symptoms become noticeable between ages 30 and 64; genetics often play a role in development

Late-onset Alzheimer's Disease

when symptoms become noticeable after age 65; most common form of AD

Parkinson's Disease

a chronic degenerative brain disorder commonly occurring in late adulthood: characterized initially by tremors, muscle weakness, and a peculiar gait; then speech becomes slurred; death eventually results from severe brain-cell damage

Dopamine

a neurotransmitter that is responsible for smooth and coordinated movement of the muscles in the body

Embryonic Stem Cells

stem cells obtained from human embryos that results in the death of the embryo

Somatic Stem Cells

another term for adult stem cells

Equipotentiality

the ability for a cell to develop into any type of cell in the body

Well-being

being in a state of contentment and health

Group Selection

an early theory that aging is destructive to the individual but beneficial to the group

Disposable Soma Theory

the favored evolutionary aging theory that humans have only so much energy, which must be divided between reproduction activities and non-reproduction activities that are important for the long-term maintenance of the body

Soma

the entire body of a person or other organism

Programmed Disposable Soma Theory

an aging theory that posits that within the genome is programming to slow down or stop maintenance activities, allowing aging and death to occur