NA essay Flashcards
Discuss the cognitive impairments that can be seen in NA and the theories that explain the decline (31 cards)
How does the source define normal ageing?
Normal ageing is defined as cognitive changes occurring without neurological disease such as dementia or stroke.
What dimensions of normal ageing are mentioned in the source Introduction?
The source mentions Biological (brain shrinkage), Psychological (cognitive ability), and Social (roles/expectations) dimensions.
What subtle cognitive changes are noted as part of normal ageing in the Introduction?
Subtle cognitive changes include decline in memory, processing speed, and executive function.
Which cognitive functions are noted as being preserved during normal ageing?
Vocabulary, semantic memory, and procedural memory are noted as preserved functions.
What is the main thesis presented in the Introduction regarding cognitive decline?
The thesis is that cognitive decline reflects complex neurobiological changes like brain shrinkage and white matter changes.
How does sensory processing decline relate to other cognitive changes mentioned in Body 1?
Deterioration in vision and hearing can lead to slower, less sensitive information processing. This is linked to memory and verbal ability loss.
What specific type of memory problem is highlighted in Body 1, and what brain areas are linked to it?
Episodic memory problems (encoding/retrieval issues) are highlighted. These are linked to hippocampus and entorhinal cortex atrophy.
What is executive dysfunction, and which brain area is linked to it according to Body 1?
Executive dysfunction involves impaired goal planning, problem-solving, and attention. It is linked to the prefrontal cortex.
What specific neurobiological changes are listed in Body 1 as contributing to cognitive decline?
Listed changes include neuronal shrinkage, brain shrinkage, reduced blood flow, and white matter degeneration.
What is the core idea of the Processing Speed Theory (Salthouse, 1996) described in Body 2?
The theory suggests a general slowing of mental operations, which means less time to process and integrate information.
What neurobiological change is the Processing Speed Theory linked to in Body 2?
It is linked to white matter decline.
What is a stated limitation of the Processing Speed Theory in the source?
It doesn’t fully explain domain-specific declines.
What is the core idea of the Inhibitory Deficit Theory (Hasher & Zacks, 1988) described in Body 2?
The theory suggests weaker inhibition, leading to more irrelevant information staying in working memory.
What problems are the Inhibitory Deficit Theory linked to in the source?
It is linked to attention switching problems and DMN (Default Mode Network) overactivity.
What is a stated limitation of the Inhibitory Deficit Theory in the source?
It doesn’t fully explain episodic memory problems.
What is the main concept of the Associative Deficit Hypothesis (Naveh-Benjamin, 2000) in Body 3?
It proposes difficulty in linking unrelated items, such as names and faces.
What type of experimental deficit supports the Associative Deficit Hypothesis according to the source?
It is supported by deficits observed in paired-associate learning.
What is the main idea of the Frontal Ageing Hypothesis?
This hypothesis suggests that ageing primarily impacts the frontal lobes, leading to impaired executive functions.
What evidence is mentioned in support of the Frontal Ageing Hypothesis?
Evidence includes Prefrontal cortex shrinkage observed on neuroimaging.
What is a limitation noted for the Frontal Ageing Hypothesis?
It is not universal, as some individuals maintain good frontal functions.
What is the core idea of the Limited Resources Theory (Craik, 1986) discussed in Body 4?
It suggests older adults have fewer cognitive resources, making effortful tasks more difficult.
What criticism of the Limited Resources Theory is mentioned?
The concept of ‘Resources’ is hard to define/measure.
What does Brain Plasticity refer to in the context of Body 4?
It refers to the brain’s ability to adapt, even in later life.
What model is mentioned as an example related to brain plasticity?
The HAROLD model (bilateral activation) is mentioned.
