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| Alzheimer's disease | A progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by a gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and, eventually, physical function. (See page(s) 493) |
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| arthritis | Inflammation of the joints that is accompanied by pain, stiffness, and movement problems. (See page(s) 000) |
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| cellular clock theory | Leonard Hayflick's theory that the maximum number of times that human cells can divide is about 70 to 80. As we age, our cells have less capability of dividing. (See page(s) 478) |
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| cognitive mechanics | The "hardware" of the mind, reflecting the neurophysiological architecture of the brain as developed through evolution. Cognitive mechanics involve speed and accuracy of the processes involving sensory input, visual and motor memory, discrimination, comparison, and categorization. (See page(s) 500) |
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| cognitive pragmatics | The culture-based "software" of the mind. Cognitive pragmatics include reading and writing skills, language comprehension, educational qualifications, professional skills, and also the type of knowledge about the self and life skills that help us master or cope with life. (See page(s) 501) |
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| divided attention | Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time. (See page(s) 502) |
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| episodic memory | The retention of information about the where and when of life's happenings. (See page(s) 502) |
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| explicit memory | Memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state. (See page(s) 503) |
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| free-radical theory | A microbiological theory of aging that states that people age because inside their cells normal metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals. These molecules ricochet around inside cells, damaging DNA and other cellular structures. (See page(s) 479) |
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| hormonal stress theory | The theory that aging in the body's hormonal system can lower resilience to stress and increase the likelihood of disease. (See page(s) 479) |
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| implicit memory | Memory without conscious recollection; involves skills and routine procedures that are automatically performed. (See page(s) 503) |
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| life expectancy | The number of years that probably will be lived by the average person born in a particular year. (See page(s) 474) |
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| life span | The upper boundary of life, the maximum number of years an individual can live. The maximum life span of human beings is about 120 years. (See page(s) 474) |
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| major depression | A mood disorder in which the individual is deeply unhappy, demoralized, self-derogatory, and bored. The person does not feel well, loses stamina easily, has poor appetite, and is listless and unmotivated. (See page(s) 492) |
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| mitochondrial theory | Mitochondrial theory of aging states that aging is due to the decay of mitochondria. It appears that this decay is primarily due to oxidative damage and loss of critical micronutrients supplied by the cell. (See page(s) 479) |
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| mnemonics | Techniques designed to make memory more efficient. (See page(s) 507) |
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| multi-infarct dementia | Sporadic and progressive loss of intellectual functioning caused by repeated temporary obstruction of blood flow in cerebral arteries. (See page(s) 495) |
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| osteoporosis | A disorder of aging that involves an extensive loss of bone tissue and is the main reason many older adults walk with a marked stoop. Women are especially vulnerable to osteoporosis. (See page(s) 488) |
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| Parkinson's disease | A chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis. (See page(s) 496) |
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| prospective memory | Involves remembering to do something in the future. (See page(s) 504) |
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| selective attention | Focusing on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring others that are irrelevant. (See page(s) 502) |
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| semantic memory | A person's knowledge about the world—including a person's fields of expertise, general academic knowledge of the sort learned in school, and "everyday knowledge." (See page(s) 502) |
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| source memory | The ability to remember where one learned something. (See page(s) 504) |
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| sustained attention | The state of readiness to detect and respond to small changes occurring at random times in the environment. (See page(s) 502) |
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| wisdom | Expert knowledge about the practical aspects of life that permits excellent judgment about important matters. (See page(s) 505) |
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| working memory | The concept currently used to describe short-term memory as a place for mental work. Working memory is like a "workbench" where individuals can manipulate and assemble information when making decisions, solving problems, and comprehending written and spoken language. (See page(s) 503) |