Middle Childhood, Adolescence, and Aging Review

Flashcards reviewing key concepts from lectures on middle childhood, adolescence, gender identity, aging, and dementia.

What part of the body grows first in middle childhood?

Lower extremities.

What are macronutrients?

Nutrients that provide energy (carbs, proteins, fats).

What do micronutrients do?

Facilitate metabolism of macronutrients (e.g., vitamins and minerals).

What are the three types of immunity?

Passive, innate, and adaptive immunity.

What’s the difference between beta and T cells?

Beta cells make antibodies (outside cell); T cells destroy infected cells.

What happens to the thymus after age 30?

It shrinks, producing fewer T cells; almost gone by age 50.

What BMI is considered obese?

BMI of 30 or greater.

What is adipose tissue?

Fat tissue that acts as an endocrine organ producing hormones.

What hormone is produced by adipose tissue?

Leptin.

What are obesogenic behaviors?

Unhealthy diet, low physical activity, high screen time.

How much extra energy intake can late-night snacking add?

More than 250 kcal per day.

How much sleep do 6–12-year-olds need?

9–12 hours per night.

What effect can coercive feeding practices have?

Children become underweight.

What is a result of food insecurity in children?

Psychological stress and overeating.

What ages define early, middle, and late adolescence?

Early (11–14), Middle (14–16), Late (16–18).

What hormone triggers the start of puberty in both sexes?

GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone).

What is the first menstruation called?

Menarche.

Name two primary sex characteristics in females.

Vagina, uterus.

What is the main psychological effect of early puberty in girls?

Lower self-esteem, deviant behavior, social withdrawal.

How are early-maturing boys typically perceived?

Popular and confident but internally stressed.

What are key influences on body image in teens?

Social norms and media.

What are the two major eating disorders discussed?

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Why is bulimia often undetected?

Individuals maintain a normal weight.

What is the difference between genotypic and phenotypic sex?

Genotypic = chromosomes; Phenotypic = internal/external anatomy.

When does gender typing begin?

Prenatally.

How do parents influence gender roles?

Through language, clothing, toys, and emotional messaging.

What is the gender schema theory?

Children actively categorize roles and traits into male or female schemas.

Define cisgender.

A person whose gender identity matches their assigned sex at birth.

Define transgender.

A person whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

What did John Money believe about gender identity?

That it is shaped entirely by nurture and social upbringing.

Who was David Reimer?

A boy raised as a girl after surgery; later identified as male, contradicting nurture theory.

What are organizational effects of sex hormones?

Prenatal changes that are permanent and affect brain/body development.

What is Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)?

XY individuals with internal testes and female external genitalia.

What happens in 5-alpha reductase deficiency?

XY children raised as girls develop male characteristics at puberty and often identify as male.

What reinforces gender roles in peer groups?

Children gravitate toward peers who share their gender-typed behavior.

What is the key enzyme needed to develop male genitalia?

5 alpha-reductase.

What is the sensitive period for external genital development?

Around 9 weeks gestation.

What is transitioning?

Changing one's phenotypic sex through psychological, medical, and surgical means.

What do puberty blockers suppress?

LH and FSH from the pituitary gland.

What’s the difference between transgender and intersex individuals?

Transgender = gender identity ≠ birth sex; Intersex = ambiguous biological sex traits.

What is primary aging?

Universal, genetically programmed, and non-modifiable aging (e.g., menopause).

What is secondary aging?

Modifiable aging influenced by lifestyle (e.g., exercise, sunscreen).

At what age does physical performance typically peak?

In early adulthood (20–30s).

What is presbyopia?

Age-related hardening of the eye lens, affecting close vision.

What is presbycusis?

Age-related hearing loss.

When does lean muscle mass begin to decrease significantly?

Around age 40.

What causes the skin to wrinkle with age?

Decreased collagen production.

When is peak fertility for women?

During the 20s.

What is the average age of menopause?

Around 50 years old.

What are estrogen and testosterone synthesized from?

Cholesterol.

At what age does estrogen peak in females?

Around 35 years old.

What hormone is converted to estrogen in fat tissue?

Testosterone.

At what rate does testosterone decrease in males after age 40?

1% per year.

How much bone loss occurs in women during menopause?

2–5% per year.

What do osteoclasts do?

Break down bone (resorption).

What do osteoblasts do?

Build bone.

What cholesterol type is increased by estrogen?

HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein).

Which type of stroke is caused by a blocked vessel?

Ischemic stroke.

What effect does low testosterone have on red blood cells?

Reduces RBC count → decreases oxygen and energy levels.

How do sex hormones impact cognition?

They maintain blood flow and brain metabolism; their decline causes cognitive decline.

What hormone allows glucose into cells?

Insulin.

What links obesity to insulin resistance?

Chronic inflammation and pro-inflammatory proteins.

What is the consequence of insulin resistance on the brain?

Damaged vessels → cognitive decline and risk of dementia.

What is memory?

The process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information.

What are the two types of long-term memory?

Declarative (explicit) and Non-declarative (implicit).

Which type of memory is most affected by aging?

Episodic memory.

What is anomia?

Difficulty retrieving words (common in aging).

What is prospective memory?

Remembering to remember something in the future.

Which type of prospective memory is more impaired in older adults?

Time-based.

When does brain weight loss accelerate?

After age 60.

What structural brain change is a marker of aging?

Enlargement of brain ventricles.

What are early signs of normal aging vs dementia?

Normal = forget names; Dementia = forget close people, lose daily function.

What are symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia?

Hallucinations, delusions, misidentification.

What causes vascular dementia?

Reduced blood flow to the brain.

Which brain regions are damaged in Alzheimer’s disease?

Hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

What are neurofibrillary tangles made of?

Tau proteins.

What forms beta-amyloid plaques?

Breakdown of amyloid precursor protein (APP).