Chapter 17 Flashcards
(32 cards)
Ageism
Prejudice or discrimination against a person based on age
Primary aging
Gradual, inevitable process of bodily deterioration throughout the life span
Secondary aging
Aging processes that result from disease and bodily abuse and disuse and are often preventable
Activities of daily living (ADLs)
Essential activities that support survival, such as eating, dressing, bathing, and getting around the house
Functional age
Measure of a person’s ability to function effectively in their physical and social environment in comparison with others of the same chronological age
Gerontology
Study of the aged and the process of aging
Geriatrics
Branch of medicine concerned with processes of aging and medical conditions associated with old age
Life expectancy
Age to which a person in a particular cohort is statistically likely to live, on the basis of average longevity of a population
Longevity
Length of an individual’s life
Life span
The longest period that members of a species can live
Senescence
Period of the life span marked by declines in physical functioning, usually associated with aging; begins at different ages for different people
Genetic-programming theories
Theories that explain biological aging as resulting from a genetically determined developmental timetable
Hayflick limit
Genetically controlled limit on the number of times cells can divide in members of a species
Variable-rate theories
Theories that explain biological aging as a result of processes that involve damage to biological systems and that vary from person to person
Free radicals
Unstable, highly reactive atoms or molecules, formed during metabolism, that can cause internal bodily damage
Survival curve
A curve on a graph showing the percentage of people or animals alive at various ages
Morbidity
The condition of being in a state of disease
Reserve capacity
Ability of body organs and systems to put forth 4 to 10 times as much effort as usual under acute stress
Cataracts
Cloudy or opaque areas in the lens of the eye, which cause blurred vision
Age-related macular degeneration
Condition in which the center of the retina gradually loses its ability to discern fine details; leading cause of visual impairment in older adults
Glaucoma
Irreversible damage to the optic nerve caused by increased pressure in the eye
Functional fitness
The ability to perform the physical activities of daily living
Dementia
Deterioration in cognitive and behavioral functioning due to physiological causes
Alzheimer’s disease
Progressive, irreversible, degenerative brain disorder characterized by cognitive deterioration and loss of control of bodily functions, leading to death
