(See related pages)
Below are the key terms featured in this chapter. The textbook's full glossary is also available for online searching.
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| Alzheimer’s disease | A progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and physical function |
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| Arthritis | Inflammation of the joints accompanied by pain, stiffness, and movement problems |
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| Cellular clock theory | Theory that the maximum number of times human cells can divide is about 70–80 |
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| Cognitive mechanics | The "hardware" of the mind; involve speed and accuracy of cognitive processes |
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| Cognitive pragmatics | The “software” of the mind, including reading and writing skills, language comprehension, and the type of knowledge about the self and life skills that help us master and cope with life |
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| Dementia | A global term for any neurological disorder in which the primary symptoms involve a deterioration of mental functioning |
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| Episodic memory | The retention of memory about the where and when of life’s happenings |
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| Explicit memory | Memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state |
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| Free-radical theory | States that people age because normal metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules |
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| Hormonal stress theory | Aging in the body's hormonal system may lower resilience to stress |
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| Implicit memory | Memory without conscious recollections; automatic skills and routine procedures |
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| Life expectancy | The number of years that will probably be lived by the average person born in a given year |
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| Life span | The maximum number of years an individual can live (120 for humans) |
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| Major depression | A mood disorder in which a person is deeply unhappy, demoralized, self-derogatory, and bored |
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| Mnemonics | Techniques designed to make memory more efficient |
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| Multi-infarct dementia | Sporadic and progressive loss of intellectual functioning caused by repeated temporary obstruction of blood flow in the cerebral arteries |
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| Osteoporosis | Aging disorder involving extensive loss of bone tissue |
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| Parkinson’s disease | A chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis |
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| Semantic memory | Knowledge about the world—e.g., fields of expertise, academic, and everyday knowledge |
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| Terminal drop hypothesis | The hypothesis that death is preceded by a decrease in cognitive functioning |
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| Wisdom | Expert knowledge about life's practical aspects that permits excellent judgment |
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| Working memory | Concept used to describe short-term memory as a place for mental work |