Aging Studies Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Aging Studies distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/aging-studies/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Biological Aging (Senescence)

The progressive deterioration of physiological functions at the cellular and organ-system level over time, including the accumulation of DNA damage, decline in stem cell function, and increased vulnerability to disease and death.

Telomere Shortening

The progressive reduction in the length of telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, with each cell division. When telomeres become critically short, cells enter a state of senescence or undergo apoptosis.

Successful Aging

A model proposed by Rowe and Kahn describing optimal aging as the combination of low probability of disease and disability, high cognitive and physical functional capacity, and active engagement with life.

Ageism

Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age, most commonly directed toward older adults. Coined by Robert Butler in 1969, ageism can be institutional, interpersonal, or internalized.

Activity Theory of Aging

A social gerontological theory proposing that older adults who remain socially active and maintain their roles and relationships experience greater life satisfaction and better health outcomes than those who disengage.

Disengagement Theory

An early and now largely criticized theory proposed by Cumming and Henry in 1961, suggesting that it is natural and mutually beneficial for older adults to gradually withdraw from social roles and relationships as they approach death.

Cognitive Reserve

The brain's ability to improvise and find alternate ways of completing tasks, built up through a lifetime of education, intellectual stimulation, and complex activities. Higher cognitive reserve can delay the clinical manifestation of dementia.

Compression of Morbidity

A hypothesis proposed by James Fries suggesting that the onset of chronic illness and disability can be delayed to a shorter period near the end of life through preventive medicine, healthy behaviors, and medical advances.

Demographic Transition

The shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as societies develop economically, resulting in population aging. This transition fundamentally alters the age structure and dependency ratio of a society.

Geriatric Syndromes

Complex clinical conditions common in older adults that do not fall into discrete disease categories, typically resulting from multiple underlying factors. Major geriatric syndromes include frailty, falls, delirium, urinary incontinence, and polypharmacy.

Key Terms at a Glance

Ageism:Stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination against people based on their age, particularly older adults.

Alzheimer's Disease:A progressive neurodegenerative disease causing memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes, characterized by amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Biogerontology:The sub-field of gerontology focused on the biological processes of aging at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels.

Caloric Restriction:A dietary intervention reducing caloric intake below typical levels without malnutrition, shown to extend lifespan in multiple model organisms.

Centenarian:A person who has reached the age of 100 years or more. Studied in aging research for insights into exceptional longevity.

Cognitive Decline:The gradual reduction in cognitive abilities such as memory, processing speed, and executive function associated with normal aging or neurodegenerative disease.

Compression of Morbidity:The concept that the onset of disability and chronic disease can be postponed to a shorter period before death through preventive health measures.

Delirium:An acute, fluctuating disturbance in attention and cognition common in hospitalized older adults, often caused by infection, medication, or metabolic imbalance.

Dementia:A general term for a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, encompassing conditions like Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Dependency Ratio:A demographic measure of the proportion of dependents (aged 0-14 and 65+) to the working-age population (15-64) in a society.

Epigenetics of Aging:The study of age-related changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence, including DNA methylation patterns used in epigenetic clocks.

Frailty:A clinical syndrome of decreased physiological reserve and increased vulnerability, marked by weakness, slow gait, weight loss, exhaustion, and low activity.

Geriatrics:The branch of medicine specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease in older adults.

Gerontology:The scientific study of aging, including biological, psychological, and social aspects of growing older.

Hayflick Limit:The number of times a normal human cell population will divide before cell division stops, approximately 50-70 divisions.

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