Module 8
Compare and contrast primary and secondary aging. - ✅✅ -Primary aging is
biological and genetically influenced. Secondary aging is aging that is caused by
lifestyle and the environment.
✅✅
What are some logical and scientific problems with the "wear and tear" theory of
aging? - -The body does an amazing job of repairing itself under normal
circumstances. Also, individuals who engage in moderate to vigorous exercise and
activity are typically healthier and longer-lived compared to more sedentary
individuals.
What are some current explanations for why we age biologically? - ✅✅ -Specific
genes seem to be at least partly responsible for longevity as well as the age at which
noticeable physical changes occur in aging. Other genetic theories consider
cumulative effects that damage DNA and therefore result in aging.
✅✅
Describe three subtypes of neurocognitive disorders discussed in this module. -
-Parkinson's Disease may cause a neurocognitive disorder. Symptoms include
anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and personality changes.
Cognitive declines due to Vascular Disease are due to a cerebrovascular event such
as a stroke. Risk factors include hypertension, smoking, obesity and any factors that
contribute to cerebrovascular disease.
A Traumatic brain injury (which involves trauma to the brain from impact to the head,
paired with a number of symptoms such as loss of consciousness or amnesia) can
result in cognitive impairment such as difficulty concentrating and slowed processing.
Substance/medication induced neurocognitive disorder is due to usually a lifetime of
heavy drug use such as alcohol abuse. This may result in the individual having
severe problems with concentrating as well as some motor problems.
A Prion disease is caused by transmissible agents called prions. For example, a
form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is known as "mad cow disease." In humans,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is very rare. While the precise process for developing a
prion disease is not well understood, research indicates that transmission can occur
by corneal transplantation, injection, and possibly physical contacted with
contaminated matter.
A number of individuals with an HIV Infection have a neurocognitive disorder that is
tied to this disease. Approximately 25% of individuals with HIV have symptoms for at
least a mild neurocognitive disorder.
Alzheimer's disease (named after the discoverer, Dr. Alzheimer) is the most common
type of dementia (60% of cases)
✅✅
Summarize what the progression of Alzheimer's disease often looks like, being sure
to incorporate the three time points in your summary. - -Early stages: problems
with declarative memory and language. Social activities, daily activities, and mood
, may be affected. Middle stages: progressive memory deterioration and problems
with common words and names. Problems with self-care. May have spatial
reasoning difficulties and may be unaware of the year/month/current location. Final
stages: completely unable to care for self.
Summarize current findings regarding what causes AD. - ✅✅ -Research has ruled
out many environmental substances (for example, aluminum and aspartame) as
primary causes of AD. However, the precise causes are still unknown. While amlyoid
plaques and neurofibrillay tangles characterize the brains of patients with AD (and
contribute to neural death and brain shrinkage), these abnormalities can also be
observed in the brains of asymptomatic individuals. This leads researchers to
investigate still further for insight into why individuals may function so differently with
and without the presence of these abnormal brain structures.
✅✅
Compare and contrast the three theories discussed in this section. -
-Disengagement theory: older adults should withdraw from societal interaction
to maintain life satisfaction. Activity theory: the more active the older adult is, the
better (if levels of interaction decrease, they are often due to barriers that need to be
overcome). Selective Optimization with Compensation theory essentially says that
older adults need to make the best of the resources they have available, utilizing
choice, practice, and creative strategies to carry on with activities despite declining in
some ways.
Reflection question: What does it mean to age successfully? - ✅✅ -Aging
successfully can be viewed in many different ways by an individual. Everyone's
perspective may be different. One may say aging successfully means they are
happy, content with the way life has gone and is going, they are still able to move
and get around with little help, and still have a life to live.
How would you answer the question, "What is death?" - ✅✅ -A variety of answers
can be given to this question! As this module discusses, brain death is a prevailing
definition in current Western society. This refers to the cessation of both higher and
lower cortical processes. However, other cultures (and other times in history) have
used other definitions. Furthermore, all of these definitions focus on the physical,
rather than spiritual aspect of death. An in-depth study of death and dying would
necessitate exploration of religious explanations of death.
A friend is grieving the loss of a loved one. She is angry at the local hospital and
✅✅
feels that more should have been done to save her loved one. However, she never
experienced denial while grieving this loss. Is she grieving "normally"? - -Many
current grief researchers would emphasize that there is no "normal" way of grieving.
Everyone grieves in his or her own way. However, there may be adaptive (helpful)
and maladaptive (unhelpful) ways to grieve. Kubler-Ross's stage theory, while not
originally applicable to your friend's situation, shows some common aspects of grief,
Compare and contrast primary and secondary aging. - ✅✅ -Primary aging is
biological and genetically influenced. Secondary aging is aging that is caused by
lifestyle and the environment.
✅✅
What are some logical and scientific problems with the "wear and tear" theory of
aging? - -The body does an amazing job of repairing itself under normal
circumstances. Also, individuals who engage in moderate to vigorous exercise and
activity are typically healthier and longer-lived compared to more sedentary
individuals.
What are some current explanations for why we age biologically? - ✅✅ -Specific
genes seem to be at least partly responsible for longevity as well as the age at which
noticeable physical changes occur in aging. Other genetic theories consider
cumulative effects that damage DNA and therefore result in aging.
✅✅
Describe three subtypes of neurocognitive disorders discussed in this module. -
-Parkinson's Disease may cause a neurocognitive disorder. Symptoms include
anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and personality changes.
Cognitive declines due to Vascular Disease are due to a cerebrovascular event such
as a stroke. Risk factors include hypertension, smoking, obesity and any factors that
contribute to cerebrovascular disease.
A Traumatic brain injury (which involves trauma to the brain from impact to the head,
paired with a number of symptoms such as loss of consciousness or amnesia) can
result in cognitive impairment such as difficulty concentrating and slowed processing.
Substance/medication induced neurocognitive disorder is due to usually a lifetime of
heavy drug use such as alcohol abuse. This may result in the individual having
severe problems with concentrating as well as some motor problems.
A Prion disease is caused by transmissible agents called prions. For example, a
form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is known as "mad cow disease." In humans,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is very rare. While the precise process for developing a
prion disease is not well understood, research indicates that transmission can occur
by corneal transplantation, injection, and possibly physical contacted with
contaminated matter.
A number of individuals with an HIV Infection have a neurocognitive disorder that is
tied to this disease. Approximately 25% of individuals with HIV have symptoms for at
least a mild neurocognitive disorder.
Alzheimer's disease (named after the discoverer, Dr. Alzheimer) is the most common
type of dementia (60% of cases)
✅✅
Summarize what the progression of Alzheimer's disease often looks like, being sure
to incorporate the three time points in your summary. - -Early stages: problems
with declarative memory and language. Social activities, daily activities, and mood
, may be affected. Middle stages: progressive memory deterioration and problems
with common words and names. Problems with self-care. May have spatial
reasoning difficulties and may be unaware of the year/month/current location. Final
stages: completely unable to care for self.
Summarize current findings regarding what causes AD. - ✅✅ -Research has ruled
out many environmental substances (for example, aluminum and aspartame) as
primary causes of AD. However, the precise causes are still unknown. While amlyoid
plaques and neurofibrillay tangles characterize the brains of patients with AD (and
contribute to neural death and brain shrinkage), these abnormalities can also be
observed in the brains of asymptomatic individuals. This leads researchers to
investigate still further for insight into why individuals may function so differently with
and without the presence of these abnormal brain structures.
✅✅
Compare and contrast the three theories discussed in this section. -
-Disengagement theory: older adults should withdraw from societal interaction
to maintain life satisfaction. Activity theory: the more active the older adult is, the
better (if levels of interaction decrease, they are often due to barriers that need to be
overcome). Selective Optimization with Compensation theory essentially says that
older adults need to make the best of the resources they have available, utilizing
choice, practice, and creative strategies to carry on with activities despite declining in
some ways.
Reflection question: What does it mean to age successfully? - ✅✅ -Aging
successfully can be viewed in many different ways by an individual. Everyone's
perspective may be different. One may say aging successfully means they are
happy, content with the way life has gone and is going, they are still able to move
and get around with little help, and still have a life to live.
How would you answer the question, "What is death?" - ✅✅ -A variety of answers
can be given to this question! As this module discusses, brain death is a prevailing
definition in current Western society. This refers to the cessation of both higher and
lower cortical processes. However, other cultures (and other times in history) have
used other definitions. Furthermore, all of these definitions focus on the physical,
rather than spiritual aspect of death. An in-depth study of death and dying would
necessitate exploration of religious explanations of death.
A friend is grieving the loss of a loved one. She is angry at the local hospital and
✅✅
feels that more should have been done to save her loved one. However, she never
experienced denial while grieving this loss. Is she grieving "normally"? - -Many
current grief researchers would emphasize that there is no "normal" way of grieving.
Everyone grieves in his or her own way. However, there may be adaptive (helpful)
and maladaptive (unhelpful) ways to grieve. Kubler-Ross's stage theory, while not
originally applicable to your friend's situation, shows some common aspects of grief,
