Module 8 Psych 140 Portage Learning
Late aduldhood
starts in 60's, can be the longest age grouping in one's life if an individual lives to old age
Do most older adults develop dementia?
No, It is not a normal part of aging. Only a small percentage of 65-to-75-year-old people have a
neurocognitive disorder. However, this number increases with age (50% of individuals 85 and
older have a neurocognitive disorder)_
What are some causes of neurocognitive disorders?
various diseases, severe drug/alcohol abuse, stroke, or progressive deterioration caused by a
variety of factors
Why do women typically outlive men?
Partly genetics, but mostly environmental. Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors,
abuse drugs and alcohol, and be less vigilant about their overall health.
primary aging
the universal and irreversible physical changes that occur to all living creatures as they grow
older, genetically influenced, and thought to be unavoidable at this point
secondary aging
aging that is not inevitable and occurs due to choices we make and environmental exposures
"wear and tear" theory
States that time and exertion is the enemy, and focuses on secondary aging but ignores the
actual cause which is primary aging. However there are holes in this theory: body does a great
job at repairing itself, individuals who engage in a lot of exercise and activity are typically
healthier and longer-lived than sedentary individuals,
free radical theory
, theory of aging that states that free radicals triggered by certain environmental contaminants
might be linked to various diseases and maladies that coincide with aging. Accumulating free
radicals over time might be associated with problems such as cataracts and arthritis
Cellular theories of aging
-Free radicals
-Hayflick Limit
Hayflick Limit Theory
states that human adult cells have a limited number of times that they can divide (approximately
20). After this limit is reached, the cells will begin to die.
programmed cell death theories
focus on how cells appear to be designed to self-destruct in our genetic code. A variety of
processes contribute to this programmed cell death, and many of the diseases associated with
aging, such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer's, have evidence of being at least partly caused by
these processes.
Subtypes of neurocognitive disorders
Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, substance/medication induced,
a prion disease, neurocognitive disease due to HIV, cognitive declines due to vascular disease
Symptoms of neurocognitive disorder caused by Parkinson's:
anxiety, depression, hallucinations, personality changes
Prion diseases
-Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease—rapidly progressive dementia, typically sporadic (some familial
forms).
-Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)—also known as "mad cow disease."
-Kuru—acquired prion disease noted in tribal populations practicing human cannibalism.
What percentage of individuals with HIV have symptoms for at least a mild neurocognitive
disorder?
approximately 25%
HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy)
Late aduldhood
starts in 60's, can be the longest age grouping in one's life if an individual lives to old age
Do most older adults develop dementia?
No, It is not a normal part of aging. Only a small percentage of 65-to-75-year-old people have a
neurocognitive disorder. However, this number increases with age (50% of individuals 85 and
older have a neurocognitive disorder)_
What are some causes of neurocognitive disorders?
various diseases, severe drug/alcohol abuse, stroke, or progressive deterioration caused by a
variety of factors
Why do women typically outlive men?
Partly genetics, but mostly environmental. Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors,
abuse drugs and alcohol, and be less vigilant about their overall health.
primary aging
the universal and irreversible physical changes that occur to all living creatures as they grow
older, genetically influenced, and thought to be unavoidable at this point
secondary aging
aging that is not inevitable and occurs due to choices we make and environmental exposures
"wear and tear" theory
States that time and exertion is the enemy, and focuses on secondary aging but ignores the
actual cause which is primary aging. However there are holes in this theory: body does a great
job at repairing itself, individuals who engage in a lot of exercise and activity are typically
healthier and longer-lived than sedentary individuals,
free radical theory
, theory of aging that states that free radicals triggered by certain environmental contaminants
might be linked to various diseases and maladies that coincide with aging. Accumulating free
radicals over time might be associated with problems such as cataracts and arthritis
Cellular theories of aging
-Free radicals
-Hayflick Limit
Hayflick Limit Theory
states that human adult cells have a limited number of times that they can divide (approximately
20). After this limit is reached, the cells will begin to die.
programmed cell death theories
focus on how cells appear to be designed to self-destruct in our genetic code. A variety of
processes contribute to this programmed cell death, and many of the diseases associated with
aging, such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer's, have evidence of being at least partly caused by
these processes.
Subtypes of neurocognitive disorders
Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, substance/medication induced,
a prion disease, neurocognitive disease due to HIV, cognitive declines due to vascular disease
Symptoms of neurocognitive disorder caused by Parkinson's:
anxiety, depression, hallucinations, personality changes
Prion diseases
-Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease—rapidly progressive dementia, typically sporadic (some familial
forms).
-Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)—also known as "mad cow disease."
-Kuru—acquired prion disease noted in tribal populations practicing human cannibalism.
What percentage of individuals with HIV have symptoms for at least a mild neurocognitive
disorder?
approximately 25%
HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy)
