Deck 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

Robust centenarians usually have

A) brain pathology, atherosclerosis, or immune-deficiency disorders.
B) highly pessimistic personalities.
C) little or no history of community involvement.
D) efficiently functioning immune systems.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Most older adults do not suffer from hearing loss great enough to disrupt their daily lives until

A) around age 65.
B) between ages 70 and 75.
C) around age 80.
D) after age 85.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In developing nations with widespread poverty,malnutrition,disease,and armed conflict,average life expectancy hovers around _____ years.

A) 45
B) 55
C) 65
D) 75

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In the United States today,the average __________ is 78.5 years-nearly 76 for men and 81 for women.

A) brain age
B) chronological age
C) functional age
D) life expectancy

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the maximum lifespan for humans is true?

A) The longest-lived person, whose age could be documented, was a woman who lived to 112 years.
B) In the United States, the maximum lifespan for women is 81 years and for men is 76 years.
C) Some scientists say that 122 years is the upper bound of human longevity, while others say that it can be extended.
D) Scientists agree that it is more important to extend the maximum lifespan than the average healthy life expectancy.

Question 6

Which of the following 88-year-olds is expected to live the longest?

A) Gloria, who is a high-SES white woman from Maine
B) Bert, who is a low-SES black man from Mississippi
C) Abel, who is a middle-SES white man from Utah
D) Cal, who is a high-SES white man from Colorado

Question 7

Following some of the normal declines occurring after age 60,the aging brain compensates by

A) becoming more lateralized.
B) increasing the size of the frontal lobes.
C) generating new neurons and synapses.
D) increasing the intensity and speed of brain waves.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about life expectancy is true?

A) The gender gap in life expectancy has widened in industrialized nations since the early 1970s.
B) In the United States, an African-American child born in 2010 is likely to live 3 to 6 years longer than a Caucasian child.
C) Length and quality of life can be predicted by a country's health care, housing, and social services, along with lifestyle factors.
D) When researchers estimate average healthy life expectancy, the United States ranks first among industrialized nations.

Question 9

Which of the following older adults is expected to live the longest in full health,without disease or injury?

A) Kiyoko, from Japan
B) Delores, from the United States
C) Golda, from Israel
D) Pilar, from Spain

Question 10

An individual's __________ age is based on actual competence and performance.

A) biological
B) functional
C) chronological
D) skeletal

Question 11

Which of the following is a true statement about the aging sensory systems in late life?

A) Hearing impairments are more common than visual impairments.
B) More men than women report being visually impaired.
C) More women than men report being hearing impaired.
D) The gender gap in hearing impairments narrows considerably in late adulthood.

Question 12

A decrease in the number of __________ after age 60 contributes to declines in __________ sensitivity.

A) taste buds; taste
B) smell receptors: odor
C) taste receptors; food
D) neural synapses; odor

Question 13

Which of the following statements about centenarians is true?

A) Currently, U.S. centenarians make up about 3 percent of the population.
B) Only about 5 to 10 percent of centenarians are able to lead active, autonomous lives.
C) Among centenarians, women outnumber men by five to one.
D) The past 30 years have seen a 65 percent decrease in centenarians in the industrialized world.

Question 14

Currently,the average healthy life expectancy in __________ is only 28 years.

A) Afghanistan
B) Sierra Leone
C) Haiti
D) South Africa

Question 15

Betty,age 77,needs assistance with food preparation,housekeeping,and paying her bills.Betty cannot carry out some

A) instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).
B) activities of daily living (ADLs).
C) primary activities of active functioning (PAAFs).
D) secondary activities of active functioning (SAAFs).

Question 16

Longitudinal research on robust centenarians suggests that

A) they are diverse in years of education, economic well-being, and ethnicity.
B) there is a link between childbearing and exceptional longevity.
C) very few have family members who have reached very old age.
D) most experience typical age-related chronic illnesses.

Question 17

__________ skills are strongly correlated with older adults' tactile performance.

A) Fluid
B) Crystallized
C) Verbal
D) Auditory

Question 18

According to Rita's eye doctor,she may go blind.The light-sensitive cells in the central region of her retina are breaking down,causing her central vision to blur.Rita is developing

A) cataracts.
B) macular degeneration.
C) monochromacy.
D) glaucoma.

Question 19

__________ increases the risk for cataracts.

A) Working at a computer
B) Color blindness
C) Heredity
D) Impaired vision in childhood

Question 20

Older adults

A) have entered a period of dependency.
B) are no longer able to learn.
C) are active and involved in the world around them.
D) have entered a phase of deterioration.

Question 21

Older adults who consider age-related declines inevitable and uncontrollable tend to

A) report more physical and psychological adjustment difficulties.
B) deal especially well with physical changes.
C) use active strategies to combat the changes that come with aging.
D) accept that they have to alter their lifestyle to cope with aging.

Question 22

Walter,age 75,says that he feels about 60 years old.Sixty is Walter's __________ age.

A) skeletal
B) functional
C) subjective
D) desired

Question 23

Which of the following statements about the physical signs of aging is true?

A) In men with heredity pattern baldness, hair follicles begin to produce fine, downy hair.
B) The hands and feet are especially likely to show the effects of aging.
C) Oil glands that lubricate the skin become more active, leading to wrinkles.
D) Cigarette smokers have fewer age spots than nonsmokers.

Question 24

Research indicates that Mabel,age 75,requires about _____ hours of sleep per night.

A) 5
B) 7
C) 9
D) 11

Question 25

The majority of older adults rate their health favorably because

A) most of them are still in excellent health.
B) they compare themselves to their same-age peers.
C) they are too embarrassed to reveal their ailments.
D) they realize that things could always be worse.

Question 26

If Pukiq,an 80-year-old Inuit woman,is asked for her thoughts on aging well,she is most likely to mention

A) a strong, healthy heart.
B) community involvement.
C) strong bones.
D) overall physical well-being.

Question 27

Devices such as "smart caps" and sensor-activated room lights are

A) regarded by most older adults with disabilities as invasions of privacy.
B) cost-effective and available to most older adults in industrialized countries.
C) too technically complicated to be useful to most older adults.
D) not considered essential medical equipment under U.S. government-sponsored health-care coverage.

Question 28

Throughout late adulthood,

A) joints regain some flexibility.
B) bones become thicker.
C) weight increases.
D) height declines.

Question 29

Daily vitamin-mineral supplements

A) are recommended for all older adults.
B) do not protect against cardiovascular disease or cancer.
C) are not recommended for older adults suffering from malnutrition.
D) can result in improvements in cognitive functioning and memory.

Question 30

With age,

A) artery walls soften.
B) the walls of the left ventricle thicken.
C) the heart muscle becomes less rigid.
D) maximum heart rate increases.

Question 31

Nan,age 70,feels more out of breath while exercising.This is probably because

A) the blood flow to her circulatory system has increased.
B) her heart muscle is more responsive to signals from pacemaker cells.
C) her vital capacity has reduced significantly due to aging.
D) her T cells are becoming more effective and efficient.

Question 32

Regularly eating __________ high in polyunsaturated fatty acids offers some protection against mental disabilities.

A) vegetables
B) fruit
C) fish
D) beef

Question 33

In older adults,

A) exercise can aggravate the age-related decline in the immune response.
B) even a strong immune system does little to protect against common illnesses.
C) as the immune system ages, T cells become more effective, attacking foreign substances directly.
D) the immune system is more likely to turn against normal body tissue in an autoimmune response.

Question 34

Over the past several decades,__________ has occurred in industrialized nations-as life expectancy has extended,the average period of diminished vigor before death has decreased.

A) selective optimization
B) anticipation of mortality
C) compression of morbidity
D) postponement of mortality

Question 35

When Ted began to experience age-related vision problems,he purchased computer software that read text aloud.This is an example of

A) selective optimization with compensation.
B) assistive technology.
C) overcoming negative stereotypes.
D) assisted living.

Question 36

Which of the following statements about stereotypes of aging is true?

A) Adults with more education are more susceptible to the detrimental effects of aging stereotypes.
B) Even positive aging stereotypes have a stressful, disorganizing impact on older adults' functioning.
C) In one study, Canadian adults diverse in age were less likely than Chinese adults to stereotype older people.
D) People "see" older adults in stereotypical ways, even when they appear otherwise.

Question 37

Insomnia in older adults

A) is rare because changes in the brain structure make them sleepier earlier.
B) can increase the risk of falls and cognitive impairments.
C) is caused by a decline in stress hormones in the bloodstream.
D) can be relieved by long-term medication.

Question 38

Which of the following is an indicator of survival over the next two years in a very old person?

A) low vital capacity
B) autoimmune response
C) high cortisol activity
D) high T cell activity

Question 39

Which of the following older men is at greatest risk of kidney disease?

A) Gavin, a Caucasian
B) Sean, an African American
C) Toby, a Native American
D) José, a Hispanic

Question 40

Which of the following statements about gender differences in health in late adulthood is true?

A) Women are more prone than men to fatal diseases.
B) Men have more non-life-threatening disabling conditions than women.
C) By very old age, women are more impaired than men because only the sturdiest men survive.
D) At very old ages, women are better able to remain independent and engage in hobbies.

Question 41

Bonnie was diagnosed with the most common form of cortical dementia,in which structural and chemical brain deterioration is associated with gradual loss of many aspects of thought and behavior.Bonnie has

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

Question 42

Strategies to help manage arthritis include

A) rest, pain relief, and physical activity.
B) hormone therapy.
C) a balance of rest and reduced physical activity.
D) daily pain medication and reduced physical activity.

Question 43

Which of the following older adults is the most likely to be stricken with dementia?

A) Wilbur, a 65-year-old African American
B) Bea, a 72-year-old Caucasian
C) Brett, an 80-year-old Caucasian
D) Whitney, a 90-year-old African American

Question 44

Frailty

A) leaves older people highly vulnerable in the face of infection, extreme temperatures, or injury.
B) is mostly caused by primary rather than secondary aging.
C) is a serious condition, but does not interfere with everyday competence.
D) is entirely caused by aging.

Question 45

After cardiovascular disease and cancer,the most common killer among the aged is/are

A) stroke.
B) respiratory diseases.
C) Alzheimer's disease.
D) unintentional injuries.

Question 46

The risk of __________ fracture increases fifteenfold from age 65 to 85 and is associated with a 20 percent increase in mortality.

A) hip
B) elbow
C) skull
D) ankle

Question 47

Which of the following statements about older adult drivers and motor vehicle accidents is true?

A) Older adults rarely try to compensate for their difficulties by being more cautious drivers.
B) Older drivers have higher rates of accidents, traffic violations, and fatalities than any other age group.
C) Older adults tend to drive less than young adults and, consequently, are at a lower risk for traffic accidents.
D) Older adults are at high risk for collisions at busy intersections and in other complex traffic situations.

Question 48

Which of the following statements about Alzheimer's disease is true?

A) By 2030, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's is expected to be cut in half.
B) At first, recent memory is most impaired, but as serious disorientation sets in, recall of distant events evaporates.
C) Among the early symptoms of the disease are depression, loss of the ability to speak, and imaginary fears.
D) Alzheimer's accounts for about one-quarter of all dementia cases, though at older ages, the percentage declines.

Question 49

Which of the following is an example of primary aging?

A) high blood pressure from prolonged stress
B) liver disease from excessive alcohol consumption
C) cancer from environmental pollution
D) age-related hearing loss

Question 50

From middle to late adulthood,the incidence of __________ nearly doubles,affecting 20 percent of Americans age 65 and older.

A) juvenile diabetes
B) type 2 diabetes
C) rheumatoid arthritis
D) osteoarthritis

Question 51

Compared with young drivers,older drivers are more likely to

A) drive quickly.
B) fail to yield the right of way.
C) drive recklessly.
D) heed signs.

Question 52

Mr.Winston has difficulty breathing caused by an extreme loss of elasticity in lung tissue.This is known as

A) a stroke.
B) emphysema.
C) pneumonia.
D) diabetes.

Question 53

In the National Social Life,Health,and Aging Project,which surveyed more than 3,000 U.S.57- to 85-year-olds,more than half of the oldest respondents with an intimate partner

A) reported an increase in frequency of sexual activity in late adulthood.
B) assigned little to no importance to sexual activity.
C) reported engaging in little or no sexual activity over the previous year.
D) reported engaging in sexual activity at least two or three times per month.

Question 54

Which of the following statements about exercise in late adulthood is true?

A) Weight-bearing exercise promotes muscle size and strength, even if begun as late as age 90.
B) Brain scans show that physically fit older people experience more tissue loss in the cerebral cortex.
C) "Taking it easy" is the best treatment for many chronic diseases.
D) Good nutrition and physical activity are only beneficial when they are lifelong habits.

Question 55

__________ is a major cause of late-life disability and,after age 75,death.

A) Type 2 diabetes
B) The flu
C) Stroke
D) Arthritis

Question 56

Which of the following statements about falling in late adulthood is true?

A) While falls in old age can be devastating, only about 15 percent of adults over age 80 have experienced a fall.
B) Use of medication that affects mental processing decreases the risk of falling.
C) When older adults do fall, serious injury results about 70 percent of the time.
D) Falling can impair health indirectly by promoting fear of falling.

Question 57

Normal age-related cell death in the brain

A) leads to Alzheimer's disease in approximately 60 percent of U.S. older adults.
B) leads to cerebrovascular dementia in older adults with hypertension.
C) does not lead to loss of ability to engage in everyday activities.
D) leads to Parkinson's disease in many adults over age 85.

Question 58

Which of the following is an example of secondary aging?

A) reduced bone mass
B) hereditary macular degeneration
C) lack of menstruation after menopause
D) decline in brain weight

Question 59

Which of the following leading causes of disability and death is more prevalent among women than among men?

A) stroke
B) cancer
C) emphysema
D) cardiovascular disease

Question 60

Genevieve's doctor tells her she has degenerative joint disease.Genevieve is suffering from

A) rheumatoid arthritis.
B) osteoarthritis.
C) osteoporosis.
D) atherosclerosis.

Question 61

Age differences in __________ memory are much smaller than in __________ memory.

A) explicit; implicit
B) deliberate; implicit
C) implicit; deliberate
D) associative; implicit

Question 62

The abnormal ApoE4 gene is the most commonly known risk factor for

A) familial Alzheimer's disease.
B) vascular dementia.
C) sporadic Alzheimer's disease.
D) Parkinson's disease.

Question 63

__________ is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

A) Taking ginko biloba
B) Having Down syndrome
C) Taking folic acid
D) Having a higher education

Question 64

Older adults who sustain high levels of functioning

A) become less selective in their activities.
B) show gains in fluid intelligence only.
C) show losses in crystallized intelligence only.
D) engage in selective optimization with compensation.

Question 65

Familial Alzheimer's disease

A) generally has an early onset-between ages 30 and 60.
B) progresses more slowly than sporadic Alzheimer's disease.
C) affects genes of chromosomes 3, 13, and 23.
D) typically appears after age 65.

Question 66

Caregivers of older adults with dementia often do not accept respite services because

A) of cost, concerns about the patient's adjustment, or guilt.
B) they do not want any time away from providing care.
C) they do not believe that respite will help them.
D) they do not receive any offers of help from family or friends.

Question 67

Marta is shown a list of words that includes the word back and then is asked to fill in the word fragment b--k.Marta completes the fragment as back rather than book or buck.Marta is using __________ memory.

A) episodic
B) recognition
C) implicit
D) explicit

Question 68

Because it requires little mental effort,__________ does not change much with age.

A) recognition
B) episodic memory
C) recall
D) explicit memory

Question 69

When Joe's grandpa talks to Joe about his high school days,he is exhibiting __________ memory.

A) intermediate
B) implicit
C) associative
D) remote

Question 70

The more a mental ability relies on __________,the earlier it starts to decline.

A) creativity
B) expertise
C) fluid intelligence
D) crystalized intelligence

Question 71

Depression

A) declines with age.
B) affects about 10 percent of people over age 65.
C) is rarely related to physical illness or pain.
D) can lead to cognitive deterioration.

Question 72

Which of the following older adults is the most likely to enter a nursing home?

A) Rosa, a Hispanic American
B) Akari, an Asian American
C) Roger, a Caucasian American
D) Rochelle, an African American

Question 73

Wayne was misdiagnosed with dementia.He is most likely to suffer from which of the following conditions?

A) type 2 diabetes
B) atherosclerosis
C) Parkinson's disease
D) depression

Question 74

Cerebrovascular dementia

A) is caused by a series of strokes.
B) affects more women than men.
C) is uncommon in Japan due to a low-fat diet.
D) is more common than Alzheimer's disease.

Question 75

Memory that depends on __________ is largely spared in old age.

A) face-name associations
B) familiarity
C) conscious use of strategies
D) word-voice associations

Question 76

Difficulties with diverse aspects of __________ rise substantially with old age.

A) recognition
B) vocabulary recall
C) episodic memory
D) general information recall

Question 77

Marty has Alzheimer's disease.As the disease progresses,Marty's __________ will __________.

A) anxiety and depression; decrease
B) sleep patterns; improve
C) skilled and purposeful movements; disintegrate
D) personality; be unaffected

Question 78

Compared with nursing homes,assisted-living facilities

A) provide less direct care.
B) are often lower in quality.
C) are less homelike.
D) are less cost-effective.

Question 79

__________ has been called "the 36-hour day."

A) Having cerebrovascular dementia
B) Having Parkinson's disease
C) Providing care for an Alzheimer's patient
D) Being misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer's

Question 80

Marion has just learned that her brain contains an abundance of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques.Marion's doctors are probably concerned that she has

A) had a stroke.
B) Parkinson's disease.
C) Huntington's disease.
D) Alzheimer's disease.