Lifespan Psychology - Chapter 17

Front 1

the numver of years of vigorous, healthy life

Back 1

active lifespan

Front 2

basic self-care tasks required to live on one's own, such as bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed or a chair, or eating

Back 2

activities of daily living (ADLs)

Front 3

the most common form of dementia, in which structural and chemical deterioration in the brain is associated with gradual loss of many aspects of thought and behavior, including memory, skilled and purposeful movements, and comprehension and production of speech

Back 3

Alzheimer's disease

Front 4

a structural change in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease in which dense deposits of deteriorated protein called amyloid are surrounded by clumps of dead nerve and glial cells

Back 4

amyloid plaques

Front 5

an array of devices that permits people with disabilities, including older adults, to improve their functioning

Back 5

assistive technology

Front 6

difficulty creating and retrieving links between pieces of information - for example, two items or an item and its context

Back 6

associative memory deficit

Front 7

an abnormal repsonse of the immune system in which it turns against normal body tissues

Back 7

autoimmune response

Front 8

the number of years an individual born in a particular year can expect to live, starting at any given age

Back 8

average life expectancy

Front 9

cloudy areas in the lens of the eye that increase from middle to old age, resulting in foggy vision and (without surgery) eventual blindness

Back 9

cataracts

Front 10

a form of dementia in which a series of strokes leaves dead brain cells, producing step-by-step degeneration of mental ability, with each step occurring abruptly after a stroke

Back 10

cerebrovascular dementia

Front 11

the public health goal of reducing the average period of diminished vigor before death as life expectancy extends; so far, persistence of poverty and negative lifestyle factors have interfered with progress towards this goal

Back 11

compression of morbidity

Front 12

a set of disorders occurring almost entirely in old age in which many aspects of thought and behavior are so impaired that everyday activities are disrupted

Back 12

dementia

Front 13

weakened functioning of diverse organs and body systems, which profoundly interferes with everyday competence and leaves the older adult highly vulnerable in the face of an infection, extremely hot or cold weather, or an injury

Back 13

frailty

Front 14

actual competence and performance of an older adult

Back 14

functional age

Front 15

memory without conscious awareness

Back 15

implicit memory

Front 16

tasks necessary to conduct the business of daily life and also requiring some cognitive competence, such as telephoning, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, and paying bills

Back 16

instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

Front 17

an age-related reversal in life expectancy of sectors of the population; for example, members of low-SES ethnic minorities who survive to age 85 live longer than members of the white majority

Back 17

life expectancy crossover

Front 18

blurring and eventual loss of central vision due to a break-down of light-sensitive cells in the macula, or central region of the retina

Back 18

macular degeneration

Front 19

the genetic limit to length of life for a person free of external risk factors

Back 19

maximum lifespan

Front 20

a structural change in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease in which bundles of twisted threads appear that are the product of collapsed neural structures

Back 20

neurofibrillary tangles

Front 21

a form of arthritis characterized by deteriorating cartilage on the ends of bones of frequently used joints; leads to swlling, stiffness, and loss of flexibility; otherwise known as 'wear-and-tear' arthritis

Back 21

osteoarthritis

Front 22

genetically influenced age-related declines in the functioning of organs and systems that affect all members of our species and take place even in the context of overall good health; also called biological aging

Back 22

primary aging

Front 23

recall that involves remembering to engage in planned actions at an appropriate time in the future

Back 23

prospective memory

Front 24

recall of events that happened long ago

Back 24

remote memory

Front 25

a form of arthritis in which an autoimmune response leads to inflammation of connective tissue, particularly the membranes that line the joints, resulting in stiffness, inflammation, aching, deformed joints, and serious loss of mobility

Back 25

rheumatoid arthritis

Front 26

declines due to hereditary defects and environmental influences, such as poor diet, lack of exercise, substance abuse, environmental pollution, and psychological stress

Back 26

secondary aging

Front 27

a set of strategies that permits the elderly to sustain high levels of functioning; they select personally cauled activities as a way of optimizing returns from the diminishing energies and come up with new ways of compesating for losses

Back 27

selective optimization with compesation

Front 28

a condition during sleep in with breathing ceases for 10 seconds or longer, resulting in many brief awakenings

Back 28

sleep apnea

Front 29

marked acceleration in deterioration of cognitive functioning prior to death

Back 29

terminal decline

Front 30

a form of cognition that combines breadth and depth of practical knowledge; ability to reflect on and apply that knowledge in ways that make life more bearable and worthwhile; emotional maturity, including the ability to listen, evaluate and give advice; and altruistic creativity - contributing to humanity and enriching others' lives

Back 30

wisdom