Deck 9: Late Adulthood

Question 1

In which of the following cultures/societies would ageism most likely be seen?
Asian
Aboriginal
West African
Western/Canadian

Answer 1

Western/Canadian

Question 2

In terms of functional age, an 87-year-old man that is still healthy and physically active would likely be described as
young.
young old.
old old.
oldest old.

Answer 2

young old.

Question 3

According to the terminology that demographers use, people who are age 85 and older are called
old old.
young old.
geriatric.
oldest old.

Answer 3

oldest old.

Question 4

Deron is a 68-year-old man who smoked most of his life and is now battling asthma.He struggles to complete some of his daily activities; otherwise, he is able to live an independent, full life.Which of the following terms best describes Deron's functional age?
oldest old
old old
young old
geriatric

Question 5

Research indicates that the fastest-growing segment of the population is the
old old.
young old.
geriatrics.
oldest old.

Question 6

Which of the following is the definition of "old old"?
Having some health problems and difficulties with daily living activities
Being healthy and active
Being frail and in need of care
Being geriatric

Question 7

Wilma is a 65-year-old woman who has chronic pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, and recently suffered a stroke.Which of the following terms best describes Wilma's functional age?
oldest old
old old
young old
geriatric

Question 8

Which of the following is the definition of "oldest old"?
Having some health problems and difficulties with daily living activities
Being healthy and active
Being frail and in need of care
Being a senior citizen

Question 9

According to the terminology that demographers use, those who are aged 65-74 are called
old old.
young old.
geriatric.
oldest old.

Question 10

Which of the following is a term for prejudice and discrimination directed at older people?
oldest old
gerontology
old old
ageism

Question 11

What is the age of the onset of late adulthood?
55
65
75
85

Question 12

According to the terminology that demographers use, people who are aged 75-84 are called
old old.
young old.
geriatric.
oldest old.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the meaning of "functional age"?
Cognitive functioning
Physical and psychological well-being
Emotional/behavioural functioning
How well people recuperate from illness

Question 14

Which of the following is considered an expert who studies aging?
genealogist
gerontologist
oncologist
endocrinologist

Question 15

Aging that involves universal and irreversible changes that, due to genetic programming, occur as people get older is called
inward aging.
secondary aging.
outward aging.
primary aging.

Question 16

Which of the following is the definition of "young old"?
Having some health problems and difficulties with daily living activities
Being healthy and active
Being frail and in need of care
Being a senior citizen

Question 17

Changes in physical functioning that are due to illness, health habits, and other individual differences, but which are not due to increased age itself and are not inevitable are called
primary aging.
secondary aging.
outward aging.
inward aging.

Question 18

Sophia is a 98-year-old woman who still lives independently, has no major illnesses, and is able to take daily walks to the local grocery store.Which of the following terms best describes Sophia's functional age?
oldest old
old old
young old
geriatric

Question 19

The term "senescence" is another name for
primary aging.
secondary aging.
outward aging.
inward aging.

Question 20

One out of every ____ people in Canada is 65 years of age or older.
4
6
7
10

Question 21

Which of the following is the term for cloudy or opaque areas on the lens of the eye that interfere with the passing of light?
glaucoma
myopia
age-related macular degeneration
cataracts

Question 22

Which of the following is the term for when pressure in the fluid of the eye increases either because it cannot be drained properly or too much fluid is produced?
glaucoma
myopia
age-related macular degeneration
cataracts

Question 23

Which if the following is true regarding brain development and aging?
The brain enlarged and holds more fluid volume.
The brain shrinks, leaving double the amount of space between the brain and the skull.
The structure, function, and number of neurons in the brain are dramatically reduced.
As the brain becomes less efficient, more glucose and oxygen is used.

Question 24

What percentage of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have some degree of hearing loss?
25%
30%
50%
75%

Question 25

Which of the following is the most common cause of blindness in older persons?
The retina of a 60-year-old person allows in only a third as much light as a 20-year-old person.
The optic nerve becomes less efficient in transmitting nerve impulses to the brain.
The lens of the eye becomes less transparent.
The portion of the retina with the highest acuity thins and degenerates.

Question 26

Research suggests that, with age, regular exercise contributes to which of the following?
Increased loss of muscle fibre
Increased bone fractures
Better performance on mental tests and less loss of brain tissue
Increased collagen production

Question 27

Which of the following contributes to a person developing osteoporosis?
Insufficient exercise earlier in life
A diet which does not contain sufficient protein
Improper posture throughout life
Excessive estrogen in women following menopause

Question 28

The notion that processing in all parts of the nervous system, including the brain, slow down with age is called
dendrite/axon theory.
peripheral slowing hypothesis.
generalized slowing hypothesis.
decreased myelination theory.

Question 29

The theory that processing in all parts of the nervous system, including the brain, is less efficient is called
dendrite/axon theory.
peripheral slowing hypothesis.
generalized slowing hypothesis.
decreased myelination theory.

Question 30

Older adults experience a decline in their taste and smell sensitivity because
they have fewer taste buds on the tongue.
they use too much salt on their food.
their olfactory bulbs become overactive.
they are no longer interested in food.

Question 31

Because older adults begin to lose their sensitivity to taste and smell, they begin to
eat less, which increases their chances of malnutrition.
eat more, because they don't remember what they ate.
eat more, because they make up for quality with quantity.
use too much salt to make up for the lack of taste and smell, which can lead to hypotension or low blood pressure.

Question 32

Which vision disease, if diagnosed early, can be treated with medication, lasers, and in some cases, a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins?
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
myopia
glaucoma
cataracts

Question 33

To what phenomenon does the double standard of aging refer?
The perception that older men are more cognitively capable than older women
The simultaneous belief that older persons are losing cognitive function, while maintaining stable expectations of their productivity and behaviour
Expressing the belief that older persons are more important and valued, while actually demonstrating affection and respect less often
Women being judged more harshly than men in terms of their physical appearance as they age

Question 34

Which of the following reflect internal changes due to aging?
The heart's capacity to pump blood through the circulatory system to the brain is reduced and impeded by hardening and shrinking of blood vessels.
The reduction in gray matter makes the aging brain less efficient.
The respiratory system is unchanged unless the person was exposed to cigarette smoke.
The digestive system becomes less efficient at drawing nutrients from food, leading to frequent diarrhea.

Question 35

The theory suggesting that overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system with increasing age is called
pulmonary hardening theory.
peripheral slowing hypothesis.
generalized slowing hypothesis.
decreased myelination theory.

Question 36

The notion that the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and brain become less efficient with age is called
dendrite/axon theory.
peripheral slowing hypothesis.
generalized slowing hypothesis.
decreased myelination theory.

Question 37

During a geriatrics conference, discussion focused on internal aging, specifically, brain size and cognitive decline.Which of the following summaries is most notable for this discussion?
The brain will remain the same size, and cognitive function can remain the same if the person keeps active.
Brain structure and cognition will decline slightly.
Brain structure will drastically be reduced, and cognitive functioning will decrease.
The brain becomes smaller and lighter with age but will retain its structure and function in the absence of disease.Brain cells begin to decline.

Question 38

What is the name for the protein that forms the basic fibres of body tissue?
derma
ectoderm
membrane
collagen

Question 39

What percentage of adults over the age of 75 have some degree of hearing loss?
25%
30%
50%
75%

Question 40

A condition in which the bones become brittle, fragile, and thin, often brought about by a lack of calcium in the diet is called
osteopathy.
endocrinology.
osteoporosis.
rickets.

Question 41

Research on bilingualism in older adults has revealed that

A)bilingualism is associated with more severe information processing deficiencies after age 70.
B)bilingualism is associated with improved physical and mental health, possibly due to social benefits.
C)bilingualism appeared to delay the onset of dementia, serving as a "cognitive reserve."
D)bilingualism is associated with more severe declines after a diagnosis of dementia, but not the likelihood of a diagnosis of dementia.

Question 42

Almost ________ of people 65 years old and older rate their health as good, very good, or excellent.
one-fourth
one-half
two-thirds
three-quarters

Question 43

In addition of genetic predisposition, which of the following are/is contributors to developing Alzheimer's disease?
Certain viruses and immune dysfunction
A protein-deficient diet
A lack of social integration
Increased stress levels

Question 44

What proportion of older people have hypertension, or high blood pressure, which is a condition with no symptoms that can lead to tension within the circulatory system, deterioration of the blood vessels and heart, and increased risk of cerebrovascular disease or stroke if left untreated?
one-third
one-half
one-fifth
two-thirds

Question 45

When the production of the protein beta amyloid precursor protein, which normally produces neurons, goes awry and produces clumps of cells that trigger inflammation and deterioration of nerve cells, this is called
Huntington's disease.
Alzheimer's disease.
schizophrenia.
Parkinson's disease.

Question 46

Angelo, who is 72, is demonstrating the following symptoms: serious memory loss, lessened intellectual ability, and impaired judgement.What diagnosis is Angelo likely to receive from his doctor?
drug intoxication
Alzheimer's disease
dementia
a stroke

Question 47

Jiao is an 88-year-old woman who is fluent in both English and Mandarin.What effect can we expect her bilingualism to have on her cognitive function?
Her skill in verbal expression will decline in both languages more quickly than if she knew only one language.
The effort of maintaining both languages will stress the language systems of the brain, leading to an increased risk of dementia.
Her language skills will be maintained for a significantly longer time than other skills, such as numeracy or short-term memory.
The mental exercise of using both languages will provide a "cognitive reserve," delaying the possible onset of dementia.

Question 48

What is the term for a progressive brain disorder that produces loss of memory and confusion?

A)seizure
B)Alzheimer's disease
C)drug intoxication
D)a stroke

Question 49

Maria is a 65-year-old woman who has difficulty managing simple, everyday tasks because of the painful swelling of the joints in her hands.Maria is likely diagnosed with
arthritis.
high blood pressure.
Alzheimer's disease.
hypertension.

Question 50

Which of the following is an incurable disease that causes painful inflammation and swelling of one or more joints?
hypertension
high blood pressure
Alzheimer's disease
arthritis

Question 51

___ percent of older adults with a university degree rated themselves as being in very good or excellent health, compared to ___ percent with less than a high school education.
58; 48
48; 30
38; 48
58; 30

Question 52

Which of the following is the most common mental disorder of older adults, covering several diseases, each of which includes serious memory loss accompanied by declines in other mental functioning?

A)glaucoma
B)dementia
C)Alzheimer's disease
D)schizoaffective disorder

Question 53

Which of the following is/are among the leading causes of death in older adults?
heart disease and stroke
accidents
Alzheimer's disease
suicide

Question 54

People diagnosed with Alzheimer's display which of the following changes?
Emotional instability and rages
Persistent seizures and tremors
Digestive difficulties and frequent vomiting
Sensory deficiencies

Question 55

What percentage of people over the age of 65 show some symptoms of a psychological disorder?

A)10% to 20%
B)15% to 25%
C)25% to 30%
D)30% to 50%

Question 56

What percentage of people aged 90 and older have Alzheimer's disease?
30%
40%
50%
60%

Question 57

Muriel is an 86-year-old woman who tries to function independently, but has suffered for several years with forgetfulness, especially of her recent memories.She has trouble recalling the names of her best friends when they call on the phone, and she worries that she may have a form of dementia called

A)Alzheimer's disease.
B)Huntington's disease.
C)schizophrenia.
D)Parkinson's disease.

Question 58

Alzheimer's patients make up _______ of the people living in nursing homes.
one-fourth
two-thirds
two-fifths
one-third

Question 59

In the final stage of Alzheimer's disease, people
lose olfactory buds.
have trouble recalling particular words during conversation.
demonstrate unusual forgetfulness.
lose voluntary control of their muscles and are bedridden.

Question 60

While ___ of people aged 75-84 have Alzheimer's disease, ___ of people over the age of 90 have the disease.
nearly half; over 90%
15%; over 90%
19%; nearly half
3%; nearly half

Question 61

When a cell's _________ has/have just about disappeared, the cell stops replicating, making it susceptible to damage and producing signs of aging.

A)chromosomes
B)ribonucleic acid
C)telomeres
D)antigens

Question 62

Which of the theories promotes the idea based on the survival of the species that a long life after the reproductive years is unnecessary?

A)wear-and-tear theories
B)genetic programming theories of aging
C)life expectancy theories
D)inevitable death theories

Question 63

Evidence supporting the genetic programming theories of aging comes from research showing that when human cells are permitted to divide in the laboratory, they can do so successfully only around ____ times.

A)10
B)20
C)50
D)75

Question 64

What are the theories of aging that argue that the body's constant manufacturing of energy creates by-products, which combine with toxins such as radiation, chemical exposure, accidents, and disease, and eventually reach such high levels that they impair the body's ability to function normally?

A)life expectancy theories
B)genetic programming theories of aging
C)wear-and-tear theories
D)inevitable death theories

Question 65

The theories that the mechanical functions of the body simply wear out with age are called the

A)wear-and-tear theories.
B)inevitable death theories.
C)life expectancy theories.
D)genetic programming theories of aging.

Question 66

What are the two major factors that determine whether or not an older adult can engage in sexual activity?
Family approval and personal sexual history
Participation in an exercise program, and whether they have an available partner
Good physical and mental health, and previous sexual activity
The level of testosterone in males, and estrogen in females

Question 67

George wants to live longer, and has decided to consult a nutritionist.What advice might the nutritionist give him in order to increase his expected longevity?

A)George would be advised to consume more calories in order to build up his metabolism.
B)George would be advised to restrict his calories significantly and consume antioxidants.
C)George would be advised to increase his fibre intake and consume a variety of pro-biotic substances.
D)George would be advised to consume more dairy products, to activate the body's sirtuins.

Question 68

Research on human longevity has discovered that unstable molecules called _____________ drift through the body may damage cells and lead to aging, and that these molecules can be combated with the use of _____________.

A)sirtuins; statins
B)telomeres; telomerase
C)antigens; probiotics
D)free radicals; antioxidants

Question 69

Approximately what percentage of older adults in Canada live in poverty?
6%
11%
18%
31%

Question 70

Which of the following is a reason why life expectancy has continued to rise for the world's population?

A)Major alterations in the human genetic code
B)The increasing prevalence of telomere therapy
C)Vaccinations and preventive measures against diseases
D)A less stressful and more balanced lifestyle than in recent generations

Question 71

The goal of professionals such as social services workers is to help senior citizens extend their
periods between illnesses.
lives.
active lifespans.
mental capabilities.

Question 72

What is the term for the part of the protective area(s) or tip of the DNA that grow(s) shorter every time the cell divides?

A)chromosomes
B)ribonucleic acid
C)telomeres
D)antigens

Question 73

The wear-and-tear theories of aging argues that the body constantly manufactures energy and creates ___________, which eventually reach such high levels as to impair the body's normal functioning.

A)by-products
B)radiation
C)diseases
D)toxins

Question 74

Which of the theories promotes the existence of a "death gene" that is programmed to direct the body to deteriorate and die?

A)wear-and-tear theories
B)inevitable death theories
C)life expectancy theories
D)genetic programming theories of aging

Question 75

What is the term for the average age of death for members of a population?

A)cohort effect
B)life expectancy
C)peer group expectancy
D)theory of aging

Question 76

Theories that suggest that our body's DNA genetic code contains a built-in time limit for the reproduction of human cells are called the

A)wear-and-tear theories.
B)inevitable death theories.
C)life expectancy theories.
D)genetic programming theories of aging.

Question 77

Which of the following best describes patterns of sexual activity in older adults?

A)Older adults rarely engage in sexual activity, due to stereotypes and social stigma.
B)Older adults engage in more sexual activity as testosterone levels rise throughout late adulthood.
C)Nearly half of all married older adults are having sex with their partner at least once a month.
D)Older adults are very likely to engage in sexual activity, provided they are experiencing good enough physical and mental health.

Question 78

Which of the theories promotes the view that the cells of the body can only duplicate a certain number of times, and that the genetic instructions for running the body can be read only a certain number of times before they become illegible?

A)wear-and-tear theories
B)genetic programming theories of aging
C)life expectancy theories
D)inevitable death theories

Question 79

What is a category of by-product that is produced in the body and has been related to aging?
carbon dioxide
oxygen-deprived ribonucleic acid
acetylcholine
free radicals

Question 80

K.Warner Schaie has employed an ongoing study of intelligence in older people using the _________ research method.

A)cross-sectional
B)longitudinal
C)experimental
D)sequential studies