Aging
BEINGS AT CONCEPTION
Cognitive neuroscience
discipline that studies links between the brain and cognitive functioning; Changes in the brain can influence cognitive functioning, and changes in cognitive functioning can influence the brain
Cognitive Mechanics
Hardware" of the mind; reflects neuropsychological architecture of the brain. Involves speed and accuracy of processes involving sensory input, visual and motor memory, discrimination, comparison, and categorization. Declines with age.
Cognitive Pragmatics
culture-based; "software". Includes: reading and writing skills, language comprehension, educational qualifications, professional skills, and knowledge of "self" and the life skills that help us to master or cope with life. Plateaus with age.
Which of the following statements about cognitive functioning is NOT true?
a. Cognitive interventions may increase these neural connections.
b. Aging of the brain's prefrontal cortex does not affect working memory.
c. Changes in cognitive functioning can influence the brain.
d. Changes in the brain can influence cognitive functi
Selective Attention
focusing on a specific aspect of an experience that is relevant, while ignoring everything is is irrelevant. (ie only paying attention to what is necessary)
Divided Attention
concentrating on more than one activity at the same time. (ie multitasking)
Sustained Attention
Focused and extended engagement with an object, task, event, or other aspect of the environment. (think: the opposite of ADHD)
Memory
Memory changes during aging, but not all memory changes in the same way; affected by beliefs and expectancies; influenced by health, education, and SES
Working memory and perceptual speed
decline during the late adulthood years
Episodic Memory
retention of info about where and when things happened in life. "I remember my first beer" (older ppl have more difficulty recalling things like this, not because they were drunk (maybe) but because they are old!)
Semantic Memory
knowledge about the world - including person's field of expertise, general academic knowledge learned in school and "everyday knowledge". Older adults can typically recall this information, but it can take them a longer time to recall. Ability to recall s
Explicit Memory
also called declarative memory; memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state. (ie remembering what is on your list for the grocery store)
Implicit Memory
Memory without conscious recollection; involves skills, routine procedures that are automatically performed; (ie driving, typing, brushing teeth)
Source Memory
the ability to remember where one learned something. declines with age. Example: forgetting who told you a joke, and telling the person who told it to you
Prospective Memory
Remembering to do something in the future (remembering to take medication); declines with age, but can be specific in regard to what the task is....it's complicated
Decision Making
preserved rather well in older adults
Wisdom
Expert knowledge about the practical aspects of life that permits excellent judgement about important matters; acknowledging multiple perspectives, recognizing one's own limits, compromising....being a wizard.
Major Depression
mood disorder; individual is deeply unhappy, demoralized, self-derogatory, and bored. Tires easily, poor appetite, listless and unmotivated. SO common it is called the "common cold" of mental disorders....what does this say about society...hmmmmm
Processing Speed
Often due to a decline in brain and CNS functioning
Dementia
global term, any neurological disorder in which the primary symptoms involve a deterioration of mental functioning. 20% of individuals over the age of 80 have dementia
Alzheimer Disease
progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by a gradual deterioration of memory (Acetylcholine), language, and eventually physical fxn; Physiologically --> amyloid plaques (proteins that build up in blood) and neurofibrillary tangles (twisted
Multi-infarct Dementia
sporadic and progressive loss of intellectual fxn caused by repeated temporary obstruction of blood flow in cerebral arteries; results from "mini strokes"; also called vascular dementia. Characterized by: numbness on side of face/arm/leg, confusion, slurr
Parkinson Disease
Chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement and partial facial paralysis. (ppl w/ PD = Muhammad Ali, Michael J Fox). Caused by degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons. The actual cause of degeneration is not known.
Successful Aging
.......
Zack is in a crowded restaurant trying to pay attention to the waiter who is reading off the daily lunch specials. He is having a difficult time because _____ attention declines as one ages.
a. selective
b. divided
c. focused
d. sustained
Education, Work, and Health
Level of education, cognitive abilities associated with work, and overall health have increased in the 20th century and in successive generations
Use It or Lose It
Use your brain or it will turn into mush. Your brain needs to be trained and maintained just like a healthy, sexy bod.
Language and Aging
Tip of the tongue" phenomenon, difficulty in understanding speech. Older adults often speak lower, slower, less precise, and less fluent
Cognitive Ability
best predictor of job performance in older adults
Retirement
On average, workers will spend 10%-15% of their lives in retirement (USA)
7 million retired Americans return to work after they retire
An increasing number of adults are beginning to reject the early retirement option
Adjusting to Retirement
Best results when: Healthy; Active and have an adequate income; Are better educated; Have extended social networks and family; Were satisfied with their lives before retiring; Flexibility and planning are key factors in whether individuals adjust well to
Which of the following statements about retirement is TRUE?
a. Men spend less time planning for retirement than women do.
b. Older adults with a long work history adjust to retirement more easily than those who have been in the workforce for a shorter period of time.
c. Many workers count on benefits that will not
Common Predictors of Depression
Earlier depressive symptoms
Poor health or disability
Loss events
Low social support
Which of the following is TRUE concerning depression in older adults?
a. It is often left untreated.
b. It is a very common though temporary problem.
c. It is a very rare problem.
d. It is usually diagnosed and treated.
What percentage of suicides involves older adults 65 years of age or older?
a. less than 2 percent
b. 10 percent
*C. 25 percent
d. 40 percent
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
a transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early disease
In 2009, an estimated _____ adults in the United States had Alzheimer disease.
a. 1 million
b. 2.6 million
c. 5.3 million
d. 8.5 million
Martha cares for her elderly mother, Marjorie, who has Alzheimer disease. Although Marjorie goes to a program at the senior center a few hours each week, the majority of her care falls to Martha. According to research on family caregivers for persons with
a. an ulcer.
b. migraine headaches.
c. depression.
d. obsessions.
Victimization, Crime, and Elder Mistreatment
sense of fear and vulnerability in older adults because of their physical decline and limitations; Crimes against older adults are likely to be serious; Elder maltreatment is primarily committed by family members; can also be institutional abuse
Religion and Old Peeps
Older adults are spiritual leaders in many societies around the world; Many derive a sense of meaning in life from religion have higher levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism; can provide important psychological needs