PSCI 103H Final Exam Study Guide: Chronic Illness, Substance Use, and Eating Disorders

Practice flashcards covering chronic illnesses (Alzheimer's, Asthma, Diabetes), HIV/AIDS, substance use, eating disorders, and health prevention based on the Chapter 11, 13, 14, and 16 study guide.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A degenerative brain disease characterized by plaques and tangles that causes progressive brain damage, memory loss, and cognitive decline over time.

-behavior symptoms: irritability, sleep difficulty, paranoia, inappropriate sexual behavior, and loss of impulse control due to frontal lobe damage

Alzheimer’s risk factor: age

• STRONGEST FACTOR: AGE

• risk increases after 65

• under age 75: ~7% show symptoms

• percentage roughly doules every 5 years

• by age 85 ~ 50% show signs

other alzheimer’s risk factors

-Genetic factors

Environmental factors that increase risk:

- stroke

- head injury

- Type 2 diabetes

- CVD

Lifestyle factors that decrease risk:

- exercising

- cognitive activity

- low level of alcohol consumption

Early-onset Alzheimer’s

A rare form of Alzheimer’s disease occurring before age $60$ that has a stronger genetic component.

late-onset

most common, after age 60, possible genetic & lifestyle component

Plaques and Tangles

Characteristic brain structures in Alzheimer’s that interfere with communication between neurons and contribute to deterioration.

Asthma

An inflammatory disease that causes constriction of the bronchial tubes, making it difficult for air to pass freely.

Diathesis-Stress Model (cause of asthma)

A model suggesting that asthma results from a combination of genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental triggers (stress).

-Immune system (infants) may overreact (allergic reaction) to substances in environment

Hygiene Hypothesis

The theory that asthma results from modern, ultra-clean environments where infants are exposed to too little bacteria, leaving the immune system underprepared. (bc asthma is more common in us, sweden, australia, and new zeland)

2 pimary causes of athsma

diathesis-stress & hygiene hypothesis

risk factors for astma

More common in / among:

Developed countries

Urban areas

African Americans

Sedentary lifestyle (not moving)

Obesity

Diabetes mellitus

A disorder caused by insulin deficiency that affects the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels.

-insulin is produced by the pancreas to help regulate body sugar

Type 1 Diabetes

An autoimmune disorder, usually occurring before age $30$, where the body cannot produce insulin; it accounts for $5\%$ of diabetes cases and has no cure; genetic; caries risk of kidney damage; used to be called adolsecent diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

A non-insulin dependent form (can produce insulin) of diabetes accounting for $90-95\%$ of cases, strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, obesity, and low physical activity.; slighly influenced by genetic factors; caries risk of CVD and kidney damage; used to be adult onset diabetes

Why no longer called juvenile / adult onset?

-Adults can develop Type 1

-Children can develop Type 2

-AGE is no longer a reliable distinction

-These names are not accurate descriptions anymore

7. What are the differences in the risk for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes between ethnic

Type 1 Diabetes

-NOT strongly associated with ethnic or socioeconomic group differences

●Type 2 Diabetes

-Higher risk among:

- African Americans

- Hispanic Americans

- Native Americans

●Pima Indians are an example of ethnic-group differences in Type 2 risk

Thrifty gene

A genetic factor that may have helped Pima Indians store energy during famine but increases Type 2 diabetes risk in modern environments; differences btwn us & mexican demostrates how environment can affect type 2 risk; can override genetics

US Pima Indians:

38% diabetes rate

lower occupational physical activity-

more processed food / unhealthy food

Mexican Pima Indians:

6.9% diabetes rate

-More farming / physical activity

-Grow their own food

What is the leading cause of death among people with Type 1

Associated with kidney disease / damage …BUT…

-

…leading cause of death for Type 1 is NOT clearly stated in the book / lecture

What is the leading cause of death among people with Type 2

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

The virus that causes the development of AIDS by weakening the immune system over time.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

A condition where the immune system loses effectiveness, leading to vulnerability to secondary infections which are often the cause of death.

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)

A daily pill (~$99\%$ effective) taken to prevent HIV infection before exposure occurs.

Standard drink

A serving size containing approximately the same amount of pure alcohol, defined as $12\,oz$ of beer, $5\,oz$ of wine, or $1.5\,oz$ of $80$-proof liquor.

Binge Alcohol Use

Consuming $5$ or more drinks for men, or $4$ or more drinks for women, on at least one day in the past $30$ days.

Heavy Alcohol Use

Binge drinking on $5$ or more days in the past $30$ days.

Flushing reaction

A protective factor in some Asian populations where alcohol produces an unpleasant redness, leading to lower drinking rates.

ADH (Alcohol Dehydrogenase)

An enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism; women have less stomach ADH and a less active liver form, leading to higher BACs than men after consuming the same amount.

Tolerance

A state where more of a drug or alcohol is needed over time to achieve the same effect.

Dependence

A condition where the body needs a drug to function normally, and stopping use produces withdrawal symptoms.

Cirrhosis

A direct hazard of long-term heavy drinking characterized by liver damage and scarring.

Korsakoff syndrome

Neurological damage involving severe memory loss and cognitive decline due to a thiamine deficiency caused by alcohol.

J-shaped relationship

The pattern showing that light-to-moderate drinkers have the lowest mortality, while non-drinkers have higher risk and heavy drinkers have the highest risk.

Disease Model

An approach that views problem drinking as a lifelong disease (alcoholism), assuming once a person is an alcoholic, they are always an alcoholic.

Alcohol Myopia Model

A theory suggesting people drink because alcohol restricts thought processes, leading to relief from worry, self-inflation, and increased social behaviors.

Social Learning Model (Drinking)

The view that drinking is learned through positive reinforcement (pleasure), negative reinforcement (stress reduction), and modeling others' behavior.

Stimulants

A drug category including caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine that produces alertness, elevated mood, and decreased appetite.

Depressants (Sedatives)

Drugs such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates that induce relaxation by lowering activity in the brain, muscles, and heart.

Hallucinogens

A drug category that alters perception and thought processes, such as LSD.

Harm Reduction

A prevention strategy aimed at minimizing the dangers of drug use (e.g., sterile needle programs) rather than eliminating use entirely.

Leptin

A protein that influences hunger by signaling when more food is needed.

Insulin (Weight Maintenance)

A hormone that helps the hypothalamus understand when the body has eaten enough food.

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates appetite and decreases metabolism, signaling the body is hungry and conserving energy.

Keys’ Starvation Study

A WWII study finding that severe food restriction leads to weight loss of $25\%$ and a psychological obsession with food.

Sims’ Vermont Prison Study

An overeating study suggesting a genetic component to weight, as those with a family history of obesity had the most difficulty returning to their original weight.

BMI (Body Mass Index)

A measurement based on height and weight used to classify weight status (Normal: $18.5-24.9$; Overweight: $25-29.9$; Obese: $30-34.9$).

Low-carbohydrate diets

Diets (e.g., Atkins) that produce more initial weight loss but are often no more effective long-term and are harder to maintain than low-fat diets.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder involving intentional starvation, a weight less than $85\%$ of normal, and a distorted body image; it has the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder.

Bulimia

An eating disorder characterized by repeated binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like purging, which can cause dental and esophageal damage.

Binge Eating Disorder

A DSM-$5$ disorder involving uncontrollable eating without purging, often associated with obesity, guilt, and shame.

Well-year

A year of life lived completely free from ill-being or health-related problems.

Health expectancy

The number of years a person can expect to live free from significant disability or major health problems.

Health disparity

Differences in health linked to social, economic, or environmental disadvantages, such as race, education, or income.

Primary Prevention

Strategies to avoid the development of a disease before it occurs, such as immunizations, exercise, and a healthy diet.

Secondary Prevention

Strategies focused on early disease detection to prevent progression, such as cancer screenings and blood pressure testing.