Life-Span Development: Chapters 17-
19 Study Guide
life span - Answer max number of years and individual can live. about 120-125 for humans
life expectancy - Answer number of years that will probably be lived by the average person
born in a particular year
Evolutionary theory of aging - Answer natural selection has not eliminated many harmful
conditions and non-adaptive characteristics in older adults. ie. Alzheimer's - only affects older
adults, so the genes have already been passed on
cellular clock theory - Answer states that cellular phenomena are what limit life expectancy
due to telomere decrease
free-radical theory - Answer theory that free-radicals produced as by product of metabolism
accumulate as we age and damage our dna and cells
mitochondrial theory - Answer aging is caused by the decay of mitochondria
hormonal stress theory - Answer aging in the body's hormonal system can lower resistance to
stress and increase the likelihood of disease
cataracts - Answer thinking of lens of eye, causes vision to be cloudy, opaque and distorted
glaucoma - Answer damage to optic nerve because of pressure created by a buildup of fluid
in the eye
macular degeneration - Answer deterioration of the macula of the retina, which is the focal
center of the visual field
arthritis - Answer inflammation of the joints
osteoporosis - Answer excessive loss of bone tissue
cognitive mechanics - Answer the "hardware" of the mind, refleting the neurophysical
architecture of the brain
19 Study Guide
life span - Answer max number of years and individual can live. about 120-125 for humans
life expectancy - Answer number of years that will probably be lived by the average person
born in a particular year
Evolutionary theory of aging - Answer natural selection has not eliminated many harmful
conditions and non-adaptive characteristics in older adults. ie. Alzheimer's - only affects older
adults, so the genes have already been passed on
cellular clock theory - Answer states that cellular phenomena are what limit life expectancy
due to telomere decrease
free-radical theory - Answer theory that free-radicals produced as by product of metabolism
accumulate as we age and damage our dna and cells
mitochondrial theory - Answer aging is caused by the decay of mitochondria
hormonal stress theory - Answer aging in the body's hormonal system can lower resistance to
stress and increase the likelihood of disease
cataracts - Answer thinking of lens of eye, causes vision to be cloudy, opaque and distorted
glaucoma - Answer damage to optic nerve because of pressure created by a buildup of fluid
in the eye
macular degeneration - Answer deterioration of the macula of the retina, which is the focal
center of the visual field
arthritis - Answer inflammation of the joints
osteoporosis - Answer excessive loss of bone tissue
cognitive mechanics - Answer the "hardware" of the mind, refleting the neurophysical
architecture of the brain
