Exam 4: Chapter 9 Flashcards
(30 cards)
what are the 3 elderly category
- the young old-65-74
- the old old-75-84
- the oldest old-84+
Ageism
- prejudice and discrimination directed to old people
- negative attitudes about older people
- job discrimination
Primary aging-Senescence
aging that involves the irreversible changes that occur as people age
Secondary Aging
changes physical and cognitive functioning due to illness, heath habits and other factors
-not inevitable
Physical changes
- hair grayage
- wrinkles-the skin loses elasticity and collagen
- shrink as much as 4 inches
- cartilage in backbone becomes thinner
- Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis-
a condition in which bones become brittle and fragile, and thin
what percentage of women over 60 have osteoporosis ?
25%
what can prevent osteoporosis?
calcium and exercise can prevent it
what are the results of Internal Aging?
- The brain gets smaller with age.
- reduction of blood flow
- the number of neurons decline
- the efficiency of the respiratory system and cardiovascular system declines
- the digestive system is less efficient
what occurs with rxn time as we age?
- slows significantly
peripheral slowing
hypothesis-processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system
Generalized slowing
Hypothesis- processing in all parts of the nervous system including the brain is less efficient.
The Senses
decline in sense organs
what are three diseases that affect the eye due to old age?
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
Cataracts
cloudy or opaque areas of the lens of the eye that interfere with passing light
Glaucoma
- the pressure in the fluid of the eye increases
- can be corrected with drugs
- it must be detected early enough
Macular degeneration
- affects the macula, a yellowish area of the eye located near the retina
- eyesight deteriorates
what is the percent of Hearing loss between 65-74?
30% of adults between 65 and 74 have some hearing loss
Health in Late Adulthood
- Most older people have at least one chronic condition
- Arthritis
- Hypertension, high blood pressure
- the leading causes death in elderly people; heart disease, cancer and stroke
Psychological & Mental Disorders
- Depression-one of the more common problems for this age group
- may be a result of cumulative losses in life
- declining health may contribute
Dementia
- the most common mental disorder of old people
- several diseases
- signs include
- —–decline in memory
- —–lessened intellectual abilities
- —–impaired judgement
Alzheimers
- nearly 1/2 of people over the age of 85 are affected
- symptoms
- —-forgetfulness
- —-first recent memories go then older memories
- —-eventually , total confusion, inability to speak intelligibly or to recognize family
What goes wrong?
- problems in production of protein beta amyloid precursor
- neurons die causing a loss of neurotransmitters, especially ACh
- the brain shrinks
- areas of the hippocampus, front and temporal lobes deteriorates
Plaques
- clumps of a protein called beta amyloid
- may damage and destroy brain cells
Tangles
-threads of tau protein twist into abnormal tangles inside brain cells, leading to failure of the transport system
Alzheimers
- genetics-runs in families
- high blood pressure& diet may increase susceptibility
- viruses, immune system dysfunction, hormone imbalances are being investigated
