The Personal Context of Later Life: Physical, Cognitive, and Mental Health Issues

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the personal context of later life, focusing on physical, cognitive, and mental health issues.

Longevity

The number of years a person can expect to live.

Average longevity

The average number of years a person lives.

Maximum longevity

The longest age to which any person lives, approximately around 120 years.

Active life expectancy

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

Dependent life expectancy

The number of years a person lives with a debilitating chronic disease in which they depend on others for care.

Telomeres

The tips of chromosomes that play a major role in aging.

Oxidative stress

An imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body.

Alzheimer's disease

A progressive brain disease that affects memory, attention, and judgment.

Cognitive aging

Changes in cognitive function that occur as a person ages.

Dysphoria

A feeling of dissatisfaction or unease, often related to depression.

Presbyopia

Difficulty seeing close objects clearly, commonly due to aging.

Presbycusis

Reduced sensitivity to high-frequency tones often experienced with age.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The most common form of incapacitating respiratory disease among older adults.

Cognitive therapy

A type of therapy that focuses on changing maladaptive beliefs about oneself.

Behavior therapy

A type of therapy that focuses on increasing rewards from the environment to combat depression.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

A form of dementia caused by repeated head trauma.

Neurofibrillary tangles

Twisted fibers that interfere with a neuron's ability to transmit information, associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released by neurons for communication between them.