PSYC-225: Ch 16 - Late Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development

Young-old

Adults who are between the ages of 65 and 74

Middle-old

Adults who are between the ages of 75 and 84

Oldest-old

Adults who are 85 and older

Level of functioning

A measure that evaluates how well adults manage in their daily lives

Activities of daily living (ADLs)

Basic living skills that include independently using the bathroom, getting dressed, bathing and feeding oneself, and moving short distances

Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

A measure of functioning that includes tasks requiring planning and social skills, such as arranging for transportation, shopping, cooking, organizing finances, keeping your home clean, communicating by phone, and managing medical care and medication

Life expectancy

A measurement of how long you can expect to live

Vestibular system

Located in the inner ear, this network transmits information to the brain about where you are in space

Sarcopenia

A significant lack of muscle mass that limits adults' ability to perform everyday activities

Frailty

An age-linked condition including muscle weakness, exhaustion, physical inability to be active, and sometimes weight loss

Osteoporosis

When bones become so porous and fragile that they are vulnerable to breaks

Arthritis

A condition causing pain in the joints

Locus coeruleus

A region in the brainstem that is a hub of brain networks and provides the neurotransmitters to the brain

Glia

The support cells of the brain, helping clean out waste, regulate energy, build immunity, construct synapses and myelinated connections, and heal injured neurons

Tau protein

An essential building block of neurons that helps move nutrients and energy from one part of the neuron to another

Neurofibrillary tangles

Misshapen tau proteins that bunch together, and can damage the brain and contribute to neurocognitive disorders

Amyloid beta

A protein byproduct implicated in brain aging that builds up as a result of inflammation and glial dysfunction

Wisdom

The ability to creatively reason about complex situations based on deep insights about people

Cognitive reserve

The ability to maintain your thinking abilities despite getting older, delaying cognitive decline

Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs)

A spectrum of age-linked difficulties with thinking and independent functioning, ranging from mild to severe

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

When an adult has more cognitive challenges than would be expected for a person of their age, but is still able to function in their everyday life

Alzheimer's disease

A degenerative neurocognitive disorder caused by the buildup of tau and amyloid protein that is linked to difficulties with thinking and the ability to function

Vascular cognitive disorder

A disorder that occurs when injuries to the cardiovascular system disrupt the brain and cognitive function