Human Development Through the Lifespan: Late Adulthood and Aging

Vocabulary flashcards covering the physical, cognitive, and mental health aspects of human development in late adulthood.

Over-85 Population Trend (US 2000-2050)

Expected to see a $500\%$ increase between the years 2000 and 2050, placing significant pressure on federal supports.

Genetic Role in Life Expectancy

Accounts for approximately $25\%$ of the variation in life expectancy, including medical predispositions.

Environmental Factors in Life Expectancy

Impacts longevity through disease, toxins, poverty, and risky behaviors, with social class playing a role in resource availability.

Third Age

Refers to the life stage between ages $60-80$, characterized by better quality of life due to increased knowledge and technological advances.

Fourth Age

Refers to the life stage over age $80$, marked by a significant loss in cognitive potential, increased effects of stress, and housing as a major consideration.

Cognitive Processing Speed

A cognitive process that decreases with age, particularly in ambiguous scenarios.

Abnormal Memory Change

Occurs when there is significant dysfunction in daily life; memory change is not inherently abnormal on its own.

Creativity

The ability to produce work that connects disparate ideas in novel ways; it peaks in the early $40s$ and decreases thereafter.

Wisdom

Dealing with important matters and experience using superior knowledge, judgment, and depth; it is considered unrelated to age.

Depression in Late Adulthood

A mental health condition that reduces from adulthood to old age for healthy people, though variation exists across cultures.

Anxiety in Older Adults

Commonly caused by factors such as loss of health, relocation, isolation, and loss of autonomy.

Dementia

A broad category of medically-related challenges involving impairment of behavior and cognitions.

Alzheimer’s disease

A condition involving gradual declines in memory, attention, and judgment, along with confusion, personality changes, and declining communication.

Parkinson’s disease

A brain disease that primarily affects motor symptoms.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy

A condition caused by repeated head trauma such as concussions.