PSY 3620 Study Guide: Units 1-5

PSY 3620 Study Guide: Units 1-5

Units 1 and 2: Introduction and Demographics of Aging

  • Definitions of Aging

    • Aging is a complex process influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

    • Gerontology: The scientific study of aging and the challenges associated with aging populations.

    • Developmental Psychology: Study of how people change across their lifespan.

      • young - 18-39

      • middle - 40-64

      • young old - 65-79

      • old old - 80+

    • Life-span Psychology: Approach focusing on understanding changes throughout the entire human lifespan.

  • Reasons to Study Aging

    • People living longer, closer to maximum age, experiencing “gray america” (7% increase by 2030), psychological processes, family and friends grow old

  • Intra-individual Change vs. Inter-individual Differences

    • Intra-individual change: Changes occurring within an individual over time.

    • Inter-individual differences: Variability in aging experiences among different individuals.

  • The Graying of America

    • Refers to the increasing proportion of older adults in the population.

    • Implications: Challenges for healthcare systems, pensions, perceptions of aging, pop culture and marketing

  • Life-span Developmental Approach vs. Traditional View

    • Traditional views- aging deterioration, unable to cope with stress may focus on childhood and neglect later life stages. increase probability of death

    • Life-span approach emphasizes continual development from birth to old age. (description, modification, explanation)

  • Life Expectancy vs. Longevity

    • Life Expectancy: The average number of years a person is expected to live based on statistical averages.

    • Longevity: Refers to individuals living significantly longer than average, often influenced by genetics and lifestyle.

  • Concept of Age

    • Chronological Age: The actual age of an individual in years.

    • Biological Age: Refers to how well the body functions relative to biological age norms. (biomarkers - blood, cholesterol)

    • Functional: limitations: limitations (activities of daily living)

  • Age Pyramid

    • A graphical illustration showing the distribution of various age groups in a population.

    • Implications: Used to visualize demographic changes and predict future societal needs.

  • Life Expectancy and Sex Differences

    • Women generally have a higher life expectancy than men.

    • Factors influencing differences: biological, lifestyle, and social factors.

  • Demographics of Aging Society

    • Comparison of the current aging population with past populations, including historical trends.

    • Global comparisons: U.S. vs. other countries’ aging dynamics.

  • Filial Piety and Respect for the Elderly

    • Cultural attitudes toward the elderly, particularly within Asian contexts.

    • Filial Piety: cultural value - A virtue of respect for one’s parents and ancestors, impacting caregiving and support systems.

Age Stereotypes

  1. severely impaired

  2. despondent

  3. shrew

  4. recluse

  5. golden ages

  6. perfect grandparent

  7. john Wayne conservative

  • Ageism in the Workplace

    • Discrimination based on a person’s age affecting hiring, firing, and benefit allocation.

    • Elder-speak: Seen as patronizing, (childlike tone, slowed speech, simple vocab).

    • Age Irrelevant Society: Concept suggesting that individuals of all ages should be equally considered and valued. (chronological age less important over time)

  • Research Methods in Developmental Psychology

    • Cross-sectional Studies: Studies assessing different individuals of various ages at a single point in time.

    • Advantages: faster, less expensive, no follow up

    • Disadvantages: Susceptible to cohort effects (confounding factors related to age groups).

    • Longitudinal Studies: Studies observing the same individuals over an extended period.

    • Advantages: insights into development over time; minimizes cohort effects.

    • Disadvantages: Time-consuming and potentially expensive; high participant drop-out rates.

Units 3 and 4: Physical Changes

  • Theories of Why We Age

    • genetically programmed events

  • Genetic Switching Theory

    • Suggests aging results from genes being activated or deactivated over time.

  • Immunological Changes & Autoimmune Disorders

    • Age-related decline in immune system efficacy leading to increased susceptibility to diseases.

  • Crosslinking Theory

    • Theory proposing that aging results from molecular crosslinks forming within body proteins, affecting their function.

  • Telomere Shortening & the Hayflick Limit

    • Telomeres shorten with each cell division, leading to the Hayflick limit, which denotes the number of times a normal somatic cell can divide before cell division stops.

  • Free Radicals

    • Highly reactive molecules that can cause cellular damage and are implicated in aging. (unstable)

  • Beta-Amyloid Effects

    • protein fragments accumulate in brain

    • Pathological protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's.

  • Age-Related Changes

    • Skin: Changes include decreased elasticity and thickness; development of wrinkles and age spots.

    • Bone Aging: Loss of bone density and strength, increases fracture risk.

    • Cardiovascular System:

    • Arteriosclerosis: Thickening and hardening of arterial walls.

    • Atherosclerosis: Build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls.

  • Prevention of Age-Related Changes

    • Exercise, Diet, Importance of Sleep

    • Recommendations for Good Sleep: Establish routines, create a comfortable environment, and avoid stimulants before bed.

  • Sensory and Perceptual Changes

    • Various changes affecting senses, specifically vision and hearing as one ages.

Vision

  • Overview of Vision

    • Anatomy involves: cornea, pupil/iris, lens, eye cavity, retina, sclera, optic pathways, occipital lobe.

  • Age-Related Changes

    • Presbyopia: ability to focus on close objects decreases due to loss of lens elasticity.

      • accommodation: changing shape of lens

    • Cataracts: Clouding of the lens, impacting vision clarity.

    • Glaucoma: Increased pressure, tunnel vision; treatment involves medications and surgery.

    • Macular Degeneration: Affects central vision due to damage to the retina; treatments include dietary changes and medications.

Hearing

  • Overview of Hearing System

    • Sound amplitude (loudness): > 80db causes hearing loss over time

    • frequency (pitch): > 130db immediate damage, hearing loss

  • Presbycusis: Age-related hearing loss characterized by decreased sensitivity to higher frequencies.

    • Types, Causes, Symptoms: 2 categories - conductive, sensorineural

      • 4 types- 1. conductive (damage to ear drum/ ossicles) 2. sensory presbyiusis ( hair cells destroyed) 3. inner ear conductor (atrophy cochlear mem.) 4. neural & atrial - nerve cell death in pathway & auditory cortex

      • Generally gradual, associated with cumulative noise exposure and age.

  • Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing in the ears; potential causes include hearing loss and exposure to loud noise.

Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease (Unit 5)

  • Definition of Dementia

    • chronic organic disorder, cognitive, emotional, & biological erode over time

  • Types of Dementia

    • Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), multi infract Vascular Dementia, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, duo diagnosis

  • Dementia Compared to Delirium & Depression

    • Delirium: Acute, often reversible state of confusion, distinct from the gradual cognitive decline seen in dementia.

    • Depression: Mood disorder that can mimic dementia symptoms but is treatable.

  • Alzheimer's Disease

    • Progressive cognitive disorder leading to memory loss, language difficulties, and impaired reasoning.

  • Symptoms & Prevalence

    • most common (60-80% currently affects 7 million)

    • 1.3% pop. 65 & 80

    • 20-30% 80+ pop.

    • symptoms: impaired memory functioning, word finding difficulties, impaired reasoning (discourse), flat bizarre or labeled effect, irritability, delusions, sun downing, loss of motor function, altered sleep patterns

    • early-onset (genetic factors): before 70, faster progression, genetic link stronger

    • late-onset (environmental factors): after 70, slower progression, genetic link weaker

  • Causes of AD: Multi factored, involving both environmental influences (68% risk) and genetic susceptibilities (30% risk), primarily the APOE-4 allele.

    • Plaques and Tangles: Abnormal protein deposits in the brain causing neuronal damage and cognitive decline.

  • Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

    • Early - Mild - Moderate - Severe. Each stage has characteristic symptoms and challenges.

  • Diagnosis of AD

    • Clinical evaluations include cognitive testing and medical history assessment; biomarkers may also assist in diagnosis.

  • Treatment

    • Medications aimed at symptomatic management, alongside lifestyle modifications to enhance quality of life.

  • Parkinson's Disease

    • Symptoms include tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Treatment focuses on medication and physical therapy.

  • Vascular Dementia

    • Resulting from impaired blood flow to the brain; symptoms and causes are distinct from Alzheimer's, often overlapping with acute stroke experiences.

  • Caregiver Issues

    • What Caregiving Is: Support provided for those unable to care for themselves; often by family or friends.

    • Dos and Don’ts: Provide empathy, respect boundaries, avoid burnout.

    • Where to Seek Information: Resources available include community services, healthcare providers, and support groups.

    • Stressors: Emotional and physical strains faced by caregivers, necessitating support and coping strategies.

Unit 5: Cognitive Aging

  • What Aspects of Cognition Decline

    • Working memory, processing speed tend to decline, attentional abilities (hold, manipulate information)

    • What Stays the Same: long term (procedural, implicit and priming, areas of expertise, knowledge base) Generally stable information retrieval and crystallized intelligence.

    • What Gets Better with Age: Expertise in certain domains, social wisdom, and problem-solving skills.

  • Working Memory Model

    • limited capacity (attention)

    • sub-systems : visual-spatial sketchpad, phonological loop, episodic buffer

    • Components involve a central executive that manages sub-systems, like the articulatory loop that helps in processing verbal information.

  • Changes in Letter/Number Sequencing Task Performance

    • Aging affects performance through declines in speed and accuracy of task completion.

  • Long-Term Memory

    • Encoding, Storage, Retrieval: Cognitive processes involved in memory formation can be impacted by age, leading to various errors.

  • Procedural Memory

    • Tasks involving motor skills often remain intact despite overall cognitive decline.

    • Explicit vs. Implicit Memory: Explicit memory (facts and events) may decline, while implicit memory (skills and habits) is usually more resilient.

  • Repetition Priming

    • A phenomenon where exposure to a stimulus influences subsequent responses.

  • Fallibility of Memory and False Memory

    • Aging increases the likelihood of memory errors and susceptibility to false memories; phenomena such as tip-of-the-tongue are more common with age.

  • Autobiographical Memory (AM)

    • Memory for events and experiences in one’s own life.