Adult Development and Aging Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from chapters 1 and 2 lecture notes covering adult development stages, research methodologies, biological theories of aging, physical and sleep changes, and individual aging differences.

According to the lecture notes, how is an adult defined, and what are the specific age ranges for young old, old, old old, centenarians, and super centenarians?

Adults are defined from emerging adulthood ($18$–$24$) to the end of life. The levels of adulthood are: young old ($65$–$74$), old ($74$–$85$), old old ($85+$), centenarians ($100+$), and super centenarians ($110+$).

What are 'blue zones' in the context of adult development?

Blue zones are geographical areas with a high concentration of centenarians, such as a California town or Italy.

How do continuous change and discontinuous change differ in adult development?

Continuous change is predictable, gradual, and occurs slowly over time (e.g., tree growth). Discontinuous change is irreversible and profoundly alters an organism's system so it cannot go back to its original state (e.g., a frog cannot revert to a tadpole).

What problem of cross-sectional studies do longitudinal studies solve, and what is a key drawback?

Longitudinal studies solve many problems of cross-sectional studies, but subject attrition (participants stopping participation over time) can weaken findings if participation drops too low.

What are sequential research designs, and what are their pros and cons?

Sequential designs combine cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches through multiple cross-sectional or longitudinal comparisons. Pro: ability to analyze age changes and their variations. Cons: complex and expensive.

How are correlation analysis results interpreted regarding range, positive correlation, negative correlation, and a score of $0$?

Correlation values range from $-1$ to $+1$. Values closer to $+1$ reflect stronger correlation, and values closer to $-1$ reflect less covariance. A positive correlation means higher scores occur together (e.g., height and age), a negative correlation means as one variable increases the other decreases (e.g., hot temp and ice cream melt), and $0$ indicates no relation.

What is a meta-analysis in research methodology?

A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines findings from many studies examining the same research question.

How do quasi-experimental studies differ from experimental studies?

Quasi-experimental studies lack random assignment of participants to groups (groups are usually chosen after the fact), whereas experimental studies feature random assignment of groups and participants.

What are the life expectancy figures in the US overall, for females, and for males?

In the US, overall life expectancy is $79\text{ years}$, female life expectancy is $81.4\text{ years}$, and male life expectancy is $76.5\text{ years}$.

What is the distinction between lifespan and healthspan?

Lifespan is the total number of years an individual lives, whereas healthspan is the number of years lived feeling healthy.

What are the definitions and examples of primary, secondary, and tertiary aging?

Primary aging: normal, disease-free, inevitable changes over time (e.g., menopause). Secondary aging: environmentally induced, non-inevitable changes (e.g., due to illness/disease). Tertiary aging: rapid losses occurring shortly before death ($1$–$2\text{ years}$ prior, e.g., increased sleep, appetite changes).

What is the Hayflick limit, and how do telomeres function as time-keepers for cells?

The Hayflick limit is the maximum number of cell divisions a species undergoes before reaching replicative senescence (predisposed genetic human lifespan limit close to $150\text{ years}$). Telomeres at chromosome tips shorten with each division; shorter length indicates unhealthier status and shorter life expectancy.

What was documented in the telomere study conducted by Dr. Ornish?

Dr. Ornish documented that lifestyle choices, specifically diet, meditation, and exercise, can relengthen telomeres.

What is calorie restriction theory, and what potential effects does a $30\%$ reduction have?

Calorie restriction theory (untested in humans) suggests reducing calories by $30\%$ could improve obesity, cancers, and diabetes, though removing that many calories could also produce negative effects.

How does total body weight change across adulthood from the $20\text{s}$ to the $70\text{s}$?

Total body weight for men and women rises from the $20\text{s}$ to $40\text{s}$, stays fairly level in the $50\text{s}$ and $60\text{s}$, and then declines in the $70\text{s}$.

What proportion of US adults are above normal BMI range, and which demographic group has the highest obesity rate?

About $2/3$ of US adults are over the normal BMI range, and females aged $40$–$59$ have the highest obesity rate.

At what age do wrinkles typically begin to appear?

Wrinkles typically begin to appear around age $45$.

What is sleep apnea, and what are its primary warning signs?

Sleep apnea is a pause in breathing during sleep typically caused by airway constriction. Warning signs include snoring, choking, gasping, weight gain/obesity, and mouth breathing.

What causes insomnia, and how does it differ by gender and age?

Insomnia is the inability to have normal sleep patterns (falling asleep, staying asleep due to cortisol spikes, or chronic illness). It increases with age, affects women more than men, and is driven by stress, outside factors (meds, disease, depression, anxiety), and lifestyle choices (alcohol, caffeine, blue screens, sugars).

What are the distinct primary reasons for sexual activity decline in men versus women?

The primary reason for decline in men is a lack of physical ability, while for women it is a lack of sexual desire.

According to the 2007 AARP Sexuality Survey, what five factors affect the probability of an older person having sexual relations?

1) Physical ability, 2) Sexual desire, 3) Availability of a sexual partner, 4) Privacy (e.g., in living facilities), and 5) Other forms of sensual activity (e.g., kissing or petting).

What percentage contribution do genetics make toward facial aging and body weight?

Genetics contributes $60\%$ to facial aging and influences $60\%$ of body weight.

What is a 'food desert' as described in socioeconomic factors of aging?

A food desert is typically a low-income neighborhood that lacks accessible, good-quality food (e.g., grocery stores are far away).

What is the difference between normative age-graded influences, normative history-graded influences, and non-normative life events?

Normative age-graded influences are tied to biological/social milestones common to a specific age. Normative history-graded influences affect whole cohorts/cultures due to historical events. Non-normative life events are personal occurrences whose timing is not universally shared.

What are the five dimensions of age, and how is personal control / functional age defined?

The five dimensions are chronological, biological, psychological, social, and functional age. Functional age (personal control) is defined as the sum of the other age dimensions.

What five systems make up Ecological Systems Theory in adult development?

The five systems are the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem.

Emerging Adulthood

The initial period of adulthood defined in the course spanning ages 18 to 24.

Young Old

A subcategory of older adulthood encompassing individuals aged 65 to 74 years.

Old

A subcategory of older adulthood encompassing individuals aged 74 to 85 years.

Old Old

A subcategory of older adulthood encompassing individuals aged 85 years and older.

Centenarians

Individuals who have reached 100 years of age or older.

Supercentenarians

Individuals who have reached 110 years of age or older.

Blue Zones

Geographic areas characterized by a high concentration of centenarians, such as a California town or regions in Italy.

Stability

The non-change aspects that form the core of an individual and remain consistent over time.

Continuous Change

Slow, gradual, and predictable change occurring over time, such as tree growth.

Discontinuous Change

Irreversible and profound structural transformation in an organism or system where it cannot revert to its prior state, such as a frog that cannot return to being a tadpole.

Attrition

The loss of participants over time in a study, which can weaken findings if the sample size drops too low.

Sequential Designs

Research designs combining cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches by using multiple cross-sectional comparisons, multiple longitudinal comparisons, or both.

Correlation Analysis

A statistical procedure evaluating the degree to which two variables correlate, with values ranging from $-1$ to $+1$.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical technique that combines findings from many independent studies examining the same research question.

Correlational Studies

Research designs examining how an independent variable alters a dependent variable without proving causation.

Experimental Studies

Research designs that use random assignment of participants and groups to test causal relationships.

Quasi-Experimental Studies

Research designs comparing groups chosen after the fact that lack random assignment of participants.

Descriptive Research

Research that informs investigators about the current state of participants on a measure of interest.

Qualitative Research

Non-numerical research gathering depth through case studies, interviews, participant observations, and direct observations.

Lifespan

The total length of time or number of years an individual lives.

Healthspan

The number of years an individual lives while feeling healthy and free from major physical ailments.

Primary Aging

Normal, inevitable, and disease-free developmental changes occurring over time, such as menopause.

Secondary Aging

Environmentally induced changes outside normal aging that are not inevitable, such as changes resulting from illness or disease.

Tertiary Aging

Rapid losses in physical or cognitive functioning occurring shortly before death, typically within 1 year.

Free Radicals

Molecules produced when the body metabolizes environmental stressors like UV rays, causing cellular damage that repair mechanisms become less able to fix over time.

Hayflick Limit

The finite number of cell divisions a species can undergo before reaching replicative senescence.

Telomeres

Protective structures located at the tips of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division, serving as cellular time-keepers and markers of future health and life expectancy.

Calorie Restriction Theory

A primary aging theory positing that reducing human caloric intake by $30$% could yield health benefits for conditions such as obesity, cancers, and diabetes.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing due to airway constriction, accompanied by snoring, choking, gasping, weight gain, and mouth breathing.

Insomnia

An inability to maintain normal sleep patterns, involving difficulty falling or staying asleep due to cortisol spikes, stress, medications, or lifestyle choices.

AARP Sexuality Survey (2007)

A survey identifying five key factors affecting sexual relations in older adults: physical ability, sexual desire, partner availability, privacy, and non-intercourse sensual activities.

Food Deserts

Typically low-income neighborhoods where residents lack easy access to stores selling healthy food options.

Normative Age-Graded Influences

Biological and environmental links tied directly to chronological age that impact most individuals at predictable developmental stages.

Normative History-Graded Influences

Cultural or cohort-based influences tied to a specific historical period or generation.

Non-Normative Life Events

Unique or unpredictable life events whose timing is not universally shared across individuals.

Functional Age

A summary metric of an individual's overall functioning calculated by summing chronological, biological, psychological, and social age dimensions.