10 Development in Late Adulthood Flashcards

Flashcards covering physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development in late adulthood based on the lecture transcript.

Late Adulthood

The period of life that includes those aged $65$ years and above.

Ageism

Prejudice or discrimination based on age.

Primary Aging

A gradual, inevitable process of bodily deterioration that begins early in life and continues through years irrespective of what people do to stave it off (nature).

Young Old

Individuals aged $65$-$74$ years old.

Old Old

Individuals aged $75$-$84$ years old.

Oldest Old

Individuals aged $85$ years and above.

Centenarians

Individuals aged $100$ years or more.

Secondary Aging

Aging that results from disease, abuse, and disuse; factors that are often within a person’s control (nurture).

Functional Age

How well a person functions in a physical and social environment in comparison with others of the same chronological age.

Elderspeak

An inappropriate simplified speech register that sounds like baby talk and is used with older adults.

Gerontology

The study of the aged and aging processes.

Geriatrics

The branch of medicine concerned with aging.

Life Expectancy

The age to which a person born at a certain time and place is statistically likely to live, based on current age and health status.

Mortality Rates

The proportions of a total population or of certain age groups who die in a given year.

Life Span

The longest period that members of a species can live.

Senescence

The decline in body functioning associated with aging.

Genetic Programming Theories

Theories proposing that bodies age according to instructions built into genes and that aging is a normal part of development.

Programmed Senescence Theory

Aging is the result of the sequential switching on and off of certain genes.

Hayflick Limit

The finding that cells can divide for no more than $50$ times.

Telomeres

Structures that become shorter as the cell divides, leading to the body's inability to repair damaged tissue once replication stops.

Endocrine Theory

The theory that biological clocks act through hormones to control the pace of aging.

Immunological Theory

The theory that a programmed decline in immune system functions leads to increased vulnerability to infectious disease.

Evolutionary Theory

Aging is an evolved trait where genes promoting reproduction are selected at higher rates than genes extending lives.

Variable-Rate Theories

Theories (also called Error theories) suggesting aging is the result of random processes that vary from person to person.

Wear-and-Tear Theory

The theory that cells and tissues have vital parts that wear out.

Free-Radical Theory

The theory that accumulated damage from oxygen radicals causes cells and eventually organs to stop functioning.

Rate-of-Living Theory

The concept that the greater an organism’s rate of metabolism, the shorter its lifespan.

Autoimmune Theory

The theory that the immune system becomes confused and attacks its own body cells.

Survival Curve

A curve representing the percentage of people or animals alive at various ages.

Reserve Capacity

Backup capacity that helps body systems function to their utmost limits in times of stress.

Semanticized Cognition

Older adults utilizing their vast store of knowledge to bolster diminishing processing capacities, often leading to better decision-making.

Cataracts

Cloudy or opaque areas in the lens of the eyes, common in older adults.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The leading cause of visual impairment in older adults where retinal cells in the macula degenerate, losing the ability to distinguish fine details.

Glaucoma

Irreversible damage to the optic nerve caused by increased pressure in the eye.

Functional Fitness

Exercises or activities that improve daily activity.

Periodontal Disease

A chronic inflammation of the gums caused by the bacteria in plaque, resulting in potential tooth loss.

Dementia

A general term for the deterioration in cognitive and behavioral functioning due to physiological causes.

Multi-Infarct Dementia

A type of dementia caused by a series of small strokes.

Cognitive Reserve

A hypothesized fund of energy that may enable a deteriorating brain to continue to function normally, delaying dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive, irreversible, degenerative brain disorder characterized by cognitive deterioration, beta amyloid peptide accumulation, and neurofibrillary tangles.

Neurofibrillary Tangles

Twisted masses of dead neurons found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid Plaque

Non-functioning tissue formed by beta amyloid in the spaces between neurons.

Amnesia

Loss of memory.

Aphasia

The inability to express oneself through speech.

Agnosia

The inability to recognize familiar objects, tastes, or smells.

Apraxia

The misuse of objects because of a failure to identify them.

Anomia

The inability to remember the names of things.

Parkinson’s Disease

A progressive, irreversible degenerative neurological disorder characterized by tremor, stiffness, slowed movement, and unstable posture.

L-Dopa

A medication commonly used as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease.

Lewy Body Dementia

Dementia caused by an abnormal aggregation of protein in the brain, characterized by hallucinations and daytime sleepiness.

Frontotemporal Dementia

Dementia that leads to personality and behavior changes along with problems in language skills.

Huntington’s Disease

A disease resulting from gene mutation impacting movement, behavior, and cognition, often including difficulty in swallowing and speaking.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

A tool used to measure the intelligence of older adults.

Classic Aging Pattern

A trend where intelligence scores drop with age in performance scales more than in other scales.

Sensory Memory

The brief storage of sensory information.

Working Memory

Short-term storage of information that is being actively processed.

Episodic Memory

The system linked to specific events; this is the memory type most likely to deteriorate with age.

Semantic Memory

Memory consisting of meanings, facts, and concepts accumulated over a lifetime; shows little decline with age.

Procedural Memory

Memory of motor skills and habits; relatively unaffected by age.

Wisdom

Exceptional breadth and depth of knowledge about the conditions of life and human affects, often involving the ability to navigate the messiness of life.

Cognitive Mechanics

The 'hardware' of the mind reflecting neurophysiological architecture, such as speed and accuracy; decline begins as early as midlife.

Cognitive Pragmatics

The 'culture-based software' of the mind, including reading, writing, and professional skills.

Selective Attention

Focusing on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring irrelevant information.

Divided Attention

Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time.

Sustained Attention

Focused and extended engagement with an object, task, or event.

Executive Attention

Attention involving planning actions, monitoring progress on tasks, and detecting errors.

Source Memory

The ability to remember where one learned something.

Prospective Memory

Remembering to do something in the future.

Ego Integrity vs. Despair

The crowning achievement of Erikson's final stage of adulthood where individuals evaluate and accept their lives.

Presumption

A maladaptive state where one presumes ego integrity without actually facing the difficulties of old age.

Disdain

A malignant state of contempt for life, either one's own or anyone's.

Positivity Effect

The tendency for older adults to pay attention to and remember positive events more than negative events.

Terminal Drop

A rapid decline in well-being and life satisfaction approximately $3$-$5$ years before death.

Aging In Place

The practice of staying in one's own home during late adulthood.

Social Convoy Theory

Aging adults maintain social support by identifying network members who can provide assistance.

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

As remaining time becomes short, older adults choose to spend time with people and activities that meet immediate emotional needs.

Single Strain

Chronic practical and emotional stress attributed to the lack of an intimate partner.