Chapter 17 Flashcards
1
Q
Gerontology
A
- scientific study of aging
2
Q
CLSA (Canadian Longitudinal Studying on Aging)
A
- area of growth and development
- sense of satisfaction (fewer responsibilities)
3
Q
Male steoistims
A
- Less likely to seek mental health advice, health care
- Tough it out mentality
- Men tend to have smaller social support groups = longevity
4
Q
Hay-flick limit
A
- the number of times a cell can replicate
5
Q
Telomere
A
- string of repetitive DNA, timekeeping mechanism
6
Q
3 aspects of Telomere
A
- length decreases each time cell divides
- minimum telomere length, below = diseases
- shortening = lifetime stress
7
Q
Reasons why we age at a biological standpoint?
A
- number of times they can replicate properly
- reduction in grey matter, neurologically not sending signals as efficiently
- lack of stimulation
8
Q
Cellular damage
A
- loss of function = leads to aging
9
Q
Cross-linking
A
- occurs when undesirable chemical bonds form between proteins or fats
10
Q
Free radicals
A
foods, sunlight, X-rays, air pollution
11
Q
Stem cells
A
- gradually lose ability to sustain body’s cell
- genotype determines max lifespan, variation in longevity of each individual = epigenetic errors
12
Q
Self-Rated Health
A
Health is largest factor determining physical and mental status
13
Q
Optimism
A
- less stress
- follow advice
- self-efficacy
14
Q
Functional Status
A
- measure of an individual’s ability to perform certain roles/tasks
15
Q
BADL
A
- basic tasks
- bathing, dressing
16
Q
IADL
A
- complex tasks
- managing money, cooking, housework
17
Q
Senior autonomy and independence = better _____
A
subjective
18
Q
Frail elderly
A
- seniors whose physical and/or mental impairments are so extensive that they cannot care for themselves
19
Q
Health Habits
A
- maintain when we younger = reaps benefit when older
- engaging when older still beneficial
- boosts cognitive function
- eating well
20
Q
Physical Exercise
A
- improves strength and motor skills after only 12 weeks of exercise
- loss less height over 30 yr
- muscle mass retention
21
Q
Physical Exercise
A
- improves strength and motor skills after only 12 weeks of exercise
- loss less height over 30 yr
- muscle mass retention
22
Q
Four main changes occur in the brain
A
- reduction of brain weight
- loss of grey matter
- decline in density of dendrites
- slower synaptic speed
23
Q
Less ____ atrophy occurs in those with more education
A
cerebral cortex
24
Q
Slower synaptic speeds results in
A
slowing in reaction time
25
Vision Defects
- presbyopia increases
- enlarged blind spot
- decreased pupillary response
- eye diseases (ex: cataracts, glaucoma)
26
Biggest impact on sense of wellbeing
vision loss
27
Hearing defects
- presbycusis (hearing loss)
- men lose more hearing (occupational exposure)
- hear human sounds dec.
- word discrimination = tough
- tinnitus = ringing in ears
28
Social and psychosocial problems
Hearing loss
29
Taste
- ability to taste five basic = unchanged
- less saliva
- flavours seem blander
30
Smell
- smell deteriorates
| - loss of smell/taste = nutrition problems
31
Touch
- loss of sensitivity to cold/hot = safety issue
32
Cognitive changes (3)
- forgetfulness inc.
- Short-term or working memory = different, # of items, how long, selective attention
- Younger = perform better retrospective (more recent) memory tasks
33
Natural settings
- prospective memory tasks (remembering doctors appointment)
| - external cues
34
Older adults under-perform on prospective memory tasks when in a ___________________________ (no external memory cues).
controlled laboratory setting
35
Strategy Learning
- learning process takes longer
36
Everyday memory
- recall virtually all "everyday" tasks less well than younger adults
37
Preliminary Explanations of age-related memory decline (4)
- rate of grey/white matter
- dec. volume of hippocampus (memory)
- loss of nerve conductance speed in CNS
- changes in attention strategies
38
- accumulated knowledge & abilitly to apply to practice problems of living
- measured based on solutions
- does not decline
- remains constant
- linked with subjective well-being
Wisdom
39
________
1) Re-evaluation phase (around age 50)
2) Liberation phase (in their 60s)
3) Summing-up phase (in their 70s)
4) Encore phase (in their 80s)
Cohen's four-stage theory
| RLSE
40
A neurological disorder involving problems with memory and thinking that affect an individual's emotional, social, and physical functioning.
Dementia
41
A progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, finally, physical functioning.
- A severe form of dementia
Delirium
42
Alzheimer's Disease risk factors?
- change in appetite regulation (overeating)
- facial expressions and emotions
- cannot control their own emotions
43
Early detection of Alzheimer's?
- difficulties with IADLs
- biomarkers
- eye exam
44
What can reduce Alzheimer's?
- healthy eating
| - exercise
45
Heredity?
Genetic factors seem to be important to some, but not to all, cases of Alzheimer’s
46
Causes?
- Multiple causes exist (e.g., depression, drug use, disease, head trauma) and about 10% are reversible with treatment, so careful diagnosis is necessary
47
Depression
- “Grumpiness” by family members (ageism
- Often left untreated by health professionals
- Losing spouse
- Conflict
48
______ may be mistaken for clinical depression.
Depressed mood (Geriatric dysthymia)
49
Risk factors for depression?
1) Inadequate social support
2) Inadequate income
3) Emotional loss
4) Nagging health problems
5) Health status
6) Education
6) gender (women)
7) declining physical abilities
49
Why are men more at risk for suicide?
- multiple risk factors at once
- troubled by economic stress
- do not adjust as well as women to death of a spouse
- more successful in suicide attempts
50
Prevention and Intervention of Suicide?
- enhancement of lifestyle (exercise)
- social supports, religious activities
- counselling, psychological therapies
- medication
