Deck 10: Modulating Human Aging and Longevity

Question 1

True or false: The life-extending properties of calorie restriction have been effective in virtually all non-genetically altered species studied.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or false: The finding that physical activity increases mean life span suggests that it alters only the rate of aging,not longevity.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

True or false: The level of calorie restriction must be somewhere between 30% and 40% of ad libitum intake to have an effect on longevity.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

True or false: The possibility for modifying aging is evidenced by the gains in human life expectancy during the past 100 years.

Question 5

What finding observed in C.elegans and Drosophila undergoing calorie restriction supports the evolutionary and genetic basis of longevity?
(a)Longevity is associated with alteration in the clk genes.
(b)Life-span extension is associated with a delay in reproduction.
(c)Longevity is associated with increased fecundity.
(d)Longevity is associated with alteration in the daf-2 gene.

Question 6

The reduced accumulation of cellular damage and slowed rate of aging seen in calorie restriction are supported by the observation that ______ proteins are up-regulated.
(a)chaperone
(b)regulatory
(c)mitochondrial
(d)ribosomal

Question 7

Many biogerontologists believe that the investigation of human aging should focus more attention on:
(a)individuals at the end of their reproductive life span.
(b)very old (100+)individuals.
(c)pre-reproductively active populations.
(d)individuals in their forties and fifties.
Modulating Longevity: Calorie Restriction

Question 8

True or false: To date,investigations in nonhuman primates have shown that calorie restriction delays age-related disease but does not increase longevity.

Question 9

True or false: Large clinical trials conducted thus far have been unable to confirm that supplementing the diet with any single nutrient extends life span.
Modulating the Rate of Aging: Physical Activity

Question 10

The rate of decline in the reserve capacity of a physiological system is primarily determined by:
(a)genetic factors.
(b)the age at which growth and development end.
(c)the size of the reserve capacity when reproductive age is reached.
(d)gender.
Looking toward the Future: The Implications of Modulating the Rate of Aging and Longevity

Question 11

Fill in the blank: ______ is the system of cellular energy metabolism that produces the most ATP.

Question 12

True or false: Although we cannot modify aging,we can modify the rate of aging.

Question 13

The training effect and the benefits that come with it can be explained by:
(a)the loss in body weight.
(b)the increased use of fat as the energy substrate for exercise.
(c)the increased need for ATP synthesis during exercise.
(d)increased muscle strength.

Question 14

Short-answer question: Briefly explain how the early investigations by C.M.McCay and colleagues demonstrated the problem of selective mortality.

Question 15

Which is of the following is not a principle of biological systems that explains why aging cannot be modified?
(a)Aging did not evolve.
(b)The first law of thermodynamics does not apply to living systems.
(c)Biological systems are subject to the laws of thermodynamics.
(d)The second law of thermodynamics manifests randomly.

Question 16

The production of ATP in the absence of oxygen is described as:
(a)aerobic.
(b)nonaerobic.
(c)anaerobic.
(d)glucogenic.

Question 17

The single most important factor that will limit the usefulness of calorie restriction in humans is:
(a)nutrient deficiencies.
(b)our already long life span.
(c)the ability to adhere to a 25% or more reduction in calories.
(d)an increase in underweight-related physiological diseases/disorders.

Question 18

True or false: Only glucose is used as an energy substrate during exercise.

Question 19

True or false: Regular physical activity slows the rate of aging because it helps to preserve the reserve capacity in many physiological systems.

Question 20

Which of the following macronutrients has been shown to extend life when given either above or below normal requirements?
(a)proteins
(b)fats
(c)carbohydrates
(d)No macronutrient has been shown to increase life span.

Question 21

Short-answer question: Explain how low birth rates and extended longevity may alter society's roles for the young and old.

Question 22

Short-answer question: Relate the low birth rates seen in economically developed countries to the evolutionary theories you learned about in Chapter 3.

Question 23

Short-answer question: Summarize both the optimistic and the pessimistic views of how a long life will modify one's perception of personal achievement.

Question 24

Short-answer question: Briefly explain what is meant by "compression of morbidity" and describe how it changes the discussion of the issues facing a society with an expanding older population.