exam 4 psych 212

Gerontology

study of the aging process

Geriatrics

medical field associated with aging

Population Pyramid

a bar graph that hows the range of ages over time

Middle Adulthood Age

60-80

Older Adulthood Age

65+

Primary Aging

-everybody experiences it

-skin, muscle, fat

Secondary Aging

-behaviors that change

-cancer

-other nontypical health challenges

Senescene

physical changes and biological changes while we age

Genetic, nature or nurture?

nature

Variable Rate Theories, nature or nurture?

nurture

Programmed Senescence Theory

the moment you were conceived your aging experience started in your genes

Evolutionary Theory

-we don't select genes that'll help us live long

-when looking for a partner look for good aging genes

ex) Huntington's disease

wear and tear theory

accumulate damage leads to aging and no repair

Rate of Living Theory

metabolism influences the way you live

Caloric Restriction Theory

don't take in as much calories, all you will talk about is food

ex) Survivor TV Show

Physical Changes of Aging

-wrinkles

-grey hair

-hairloss

-ears and nose bigger

-posture

-grip strength

..many more

Sensory Changes of Aging

-hearing

-vision

-taste and smell

presbycusis

age related hearing loss

glaucoma

build up of pressure-tunnel vision

cataracts

blurring of vision-cloudy

diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration

dark spaces in center of vision

taste and smell changes

-decrease around 60

-smokers experience this earlier

brain changes

speed of processing declines

TOT

tip of the tongue

experience-based compensation

lived longer, experienced more

Loss of brain volume= normal

-less executive function

-process negative emotions less

-cognitive function of myelin, neural pathways

Nun Study

a study of aging and Alzheimer's disease, started in 1986 as a pilot study on aging and disability using data collected from the older School Sisters of Notre Dame living in Mankato, MN, and expanded in 1990 to include older Notre Dame sisters living in the midwestern, eastern, and southern regions of the US

dementia

-many categories of diseases

-most popular-alzheimer's

mild cognitive impairment

-person has cognitive deficits in one area

-problems with memory is the most common

progressive and irreversible

continues getting worse and can't be reversed

protective factors of dementia

-healthy life style, also helps cardiovascular health

-social engagement

-high SES

-higher education

-age, but can't be avoided

Treatments of dementia

-nothing can cure it

-meds can slow or reduce declines

-elevate symptoms

Myths of Sexual and Reproduction of Older Adults

-sex only matters for young people

-asexual as they age or loose interest

menopause

-end of the ability to have children

-a year from your last period

perimenopause

-stages leading up to menopause

male reproduction of older adults

-still sexually active if they have a partner

common complaints of sexual active older males

-erectile disfunction

-difficulty getting or keeping an erection

common complaints of sexual active older women

-lack of lubrication

-loss of interest

Issues with being sexual active for older adults

consent with their cognitive health ex) dementia

privacy issues for older adults

-living in nursing home or assisted living home

-Dr. restrictions on sexual activity

education, health and safety concerns for older adults

-no pregnancy issues

-no contraceptives resulting a higher rate of STIs

-less sex ed

Examples of overload stressors

-taking care of parents

-children in college, more money

-kids entering puberty

fight or flight men or women

Men

-problem solving coping

tend or befriend men or women

Womne

-social network

-emotion focused coping

Seattle Longitudinal Study

the first cross-sequential study of adult intelligence

crystalized intelligence

vocabulary, facts, school knowledge and culturally specific

fluid intelligence

speed of processing, adaptable, culture free

what correlates to better cognition

-higher education

-substantive complexity

-intact family units

-openness to new experiences

does cognitive training help prevent dementia?

only works with practice

Baltimore Longitudinal Study

larger social life and friendships= better cognition

emotional differences to cognitive training

-less negative more on positive

-work on engaging different brain areas

mortality link to cognitive training

consider overall health more than cognitive score

phased retirement

start working less and less hours

bridge employment

quit lifetime job and start hobby job

mature learner

-work purposed = continual education

-next step in work = need master's

-leisure based = hobby education

-young adults more literate, older adults not as literate

Encapsulation

better we become an expert the more automated our responses become