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acute condition
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health condition that tends to occur quickly and lasts only a brief period of time
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age-related macular degeneration
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blurring and potential loss of vision in the center of the field of vision as a result of damage to the central part of the retina (macula)
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Alzheimer’s disease
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most common form of dementia; progressive, fatal, and characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain and affecting memory before limiting other cognitive abilities and eventually motor skills
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autobiographical memory
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memories related to personal life and history, with both episodic and semantic components
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cataract
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cloudy area on the typically clear lens of the eye caused by a buildup of protein
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cellular clock theory
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theory that cells can divide to reproduce themselves only a limited number of times, and as they reach this number, the body is no longer able to replace old or damaged cells with new ones
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chronic condition
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health condition that may develop slowly over time and last for a long duration
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cognitive reserve
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characteristics that are protective against dementia by delaying onset and reducing symptoms
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compression of morbidity
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idea that a healthy lifestyle can extend life expectancy while also decreasing the time we spend in poor health or a highly dependent state
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dementia
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wide variety of conditions characterized by damage to the brain, including cell death that interferes with daily functioning and ability to live independently
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dry eye syndrome
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eye condition that occurs when eyes don’t produce enough tears
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free radical theory
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theory that free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules that are a by-product of food metabolization, damage tissues or cells, and this damage accumulates as people get older
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geropsychology
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subfield of psychology that focuses on enhancing the mental health of older adults
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glaucoma
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vision impairment caused by increased pressure inside the eye and resulting damage to the optic nerve
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hemorrhagic stroke
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event in which a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, resulting in bleeding that deprives an area of the brain of sufficient blood flow and oxygen that can be fatal
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hormonal stress theory of aging (also, neuroendocrine theory)
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theory that as we age, stress hormones stay elevated longer after a stressful response, potentially contributing to aging-associated health problems like hypertension and diabetes
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hypoxia
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condition in which lack of oxygen in body tissue causes damage
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ischemic stroke
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event in which a blood clot prevents an area of the brain from receiving enough blood or oxygen
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macula
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central part of the retina in the eye
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Medicaid
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U.S. federal program that pays for some health-care costs of individuals with low income
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Medicare
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U.S. federal program that pays for some health-care costs of older adults
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mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
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cognitive decline that is more severe than normative but below the threshold for a dementia-related diagnosis
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osteoporosis
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condition characterized by extensive loss of bone mass and weakening of the bones in later life
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positivity effect
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tendency to remember things from our past more positively as we get older
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presbycusis
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age-related hearing decline that starts with the inability to hear high-pitch frequencies
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presbyopia
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age-related decline in vision due to stiffening of the lens that results in more difficulty seeing things that are close
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primary aging
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natural healthy aging process that has not been accelerated or worsened as a result of disease
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sarcopenia
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loss of muscle mass that occurs in later life
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secondary aging
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aging that has been accelerated and worsened by disease processes, lifestyle choices, or environmental factors
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sundowning
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tendency for dementia symptoms to worsen in the evening
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telomere
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protective strand of DNA on the tip of each chromosome that becomes shorter each time a cell divides until the cell is no longer able to divide any more
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terminal decline
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accelerated and nonnormative declines in cognitive ability that can occur one to five years before death
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tertiary aging
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more rapid and general declines that may occur in the months and years prior to death
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universal health care
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system that makes health-care services accessible to all citizens with little or no out-of-pocket costs, because the government subsidizes the cost through taxes
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vertigo
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condition that causes dizziness or the sensation of moving when still
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wear and tear theory
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theory that the use of our bodies results in unrepaired damage that accumulates over time, resulting in aging
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wisdom
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ability to use intellect and past experiences to make good decisions about the future