Module 10: Late Adulthood

suggests that during late adulthood, the individual and society mutually withdraw

disengagement theory

According to demographers, what is the approximate age of onset of late adulthood?

65

a type of social structure wherein the power is held by a society's oldest members

gerontocracy

an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks

Alzheimer's disease

the number of times a normal human cell population will divide before cell division stops

Hayflick limit

results in a degeneration of inner ear structures that can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and an increase in pressure within the inner ear

Ménière's disease

a strategy for improving health and well being in older adults and a model for successful aging

Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC)

Companionate grandparents are usually characterized by which of the following?

They act as supporters and buddies to their grandchildren.

the number of years a person can expect to live without disability

active life expectancy

suggests that people are barred from meaningful experiences as they age and that physical and social activities are important

activity theory

Which of the following is a term for prejudice and discrimination directed at older people?

ageism

inflammation of one or more of the joints, characterized by joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age

arthritis

regions of the world where Dan Buettner claims people live much longer than average

blue zones

Tommy is complaining of blurred vision. A visual screening reveals that his eyes have cloudy areas on the lenses that are preventing light from passing through. Tommy's diagnosis is likely ________.

cataracts

people aged 100 or older

centenarians

electronic device that consists of a microphone, a speech processor, and an electrode array to directly stimulate the auditory nerve to transmit information to the brain

cochlear implant

A large generational divide involves the use of technology. A 70 year old is less likely to use technology than a 20 year old. Research shows that some of this difference may be explained by a decline in attention and memory that occurs as we age. What kind of age related change would describe this limitation?

cognitive

failure in the vibration of the eardrum and/or movement of the ossicles

conductive hearing loss

suggests that as people age, they continue to view the self in much the same way as they did when they were younger

continuity theory

A temporary condition in which individuals experience a disturbance in attention and awareness, is referred to as

delirium

an abrupt change in the brain that causes mental confusion and emotional disruption. It makes it difficult to think, remember, sleep, pay attention, and more

delirium

an umbrella category for neurocognitive disorders, characterized by progressive and gradual cognitive deficits due to severe cerebral atrophy

dementia

theory that organisms age because cells accumulate free radical damage over time

free radical theory of aging (FRTA)

the theory that processing in all parts of the nervous system, including the brain, is less efficient

generalized slowing hypothesis

Lynn, a 65-year-old, entered in a new relationship 5 years ago and now has an active and positive sex life. She walks 20 minutes a day, has reduced her alcohol use, eats more fruits and vegetables than ever before. She is very socially engaged and uses it as a de-stressor. Researchers may attribute her overall good health to ________.

health benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, increased self-esteem, and better relationship satisfaction with positive sexual health.

high blood pressure that can lead to severe complications and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death

hypertension

Erikson refers to this as reflecting on one's life and is experiencing a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment

integrity

Kirk is beginning to look back on his life and evaluate it. Which stage describes what Kirk is attempting to accomplish?

integrity versus despair

a statistical measure of the average time an organism is expected to live, based on the year of its birth, its current age and other demographic factors including gender

life expectancy

the storage of information over an extended period

long term memory

Ann is a 75-year-old woman who has chronic pulmonary disease and osteoporosis, and she recently suffered a stroke. She now needs quite a bit of assistance on a daily basis. Which of the following best describes Anns functional age?

oldest old

a condition in which the bones become brittle, fragile, and thin, often brought about by a lack of calcium in the diet

osteoporosis

long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system which mainly affects the motor system, first characterized by shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty with walking, but thinking and behavioral problems may also occur

parkinson's disease

the theory that overall processing speed declines with age in the peripheral nervous system

peripheral slowing hypothesis

age-related sensorineural hearing loss resulting from degeneration of the cochlea or associated structures of the inner ear or auditory nerves

presbycusis

aging that is irreversible and is due to genetic predisposition

primary aging

diabetes characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin primarily from obesity or lack of exercise

type 2 diabetes (T2D)

spinning sensation

vertigo

Aging that involves universal and irreversible changes that, due to genetic programming, occur as people get older is called _________. However, Changes in physical functioning that are due to illness, health habits, and other individual differences, but which are not due to increased age itself and are not inevitable, are called ______-.

primary aging, secondary aging

the general well-being of individuals and societies, including life satisfaction, physical health, family, education, employment, wealth, safety, security, freedom, religious beliefs, and the environment

quality of life

refers to changes that are caused by illness or disease

secondary aging

biological aging and the gradual deterioration of functional abilities

senescence

failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea to the brain

sensorineural hearing loss

theory that as time horizons shrink, people become increasingly selective, investing greater resources in emotionally meaningful goals, activities, and relationships

socioemotional selectivity theory

When a cells ________ have just about disappeared, the cell stops replicating, making it susceptible to damage and producing signs of aging. (This term describes the part of the protective area(s) or tip of the DNA that grow(s) shorter every time the cell divides.)

telomeres

sound's frequency is coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron

temporal theory of pitch perception

Dr. Veino has suggested to Eleanor that she get the recommended vaccinations for older adults and that she consider increasing her daily intake of foods containing antioxidant vitamins to lower her risk of developing certain age-related diseases. Dr. Veino's recommendation suggests that she believes ________.

these controllable factors contribute to increasing one's life expectancy

Joe is 70 years old and recalls names of teachers or classmates from when he was an adolescent, but has difficulty remembering information presented quickly and orally, such as complicated instructions. Which type of memory capacity decline is he demonstrating?

working memory

a cognitive system with a limited capacity that is responsible for temporarily holding information available for processing

working memory