Deck 17: Late Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development

Question 1

Even if fluid intelligence remained intact, prospective memory might decline.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Cellular damage theories see aging as a result of genetic instructions.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Osteoarthritis is a painful, degenerative disease characterized by wear and tear on joints.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

One's life expectancy refers to the length of time one can live under the best of circumstances.

Question 5

Sleep problems in late adulthood may involve physical changes that bring discomfort.

Question 6

Retrospective memory helps us retrieve information from the past.

Question 7

In normal aging, chronic diseases or degenerative processes, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, lead to disability or premature death.

Question 8

Today, older people are at a higher risk of dying from chronic diseases than from infectious diseases.

Question 9

Ageism refers to the privilege enjoyed by older adults in society because of their age.

Question 10

Medicines greatly improve memory functions in people with Alzheimer's disease, and their effects are far-reaching.

Question 11

An older male may enjoy orgasm as thoroughly as he did at a younger age.

Question 12

The medial temporal lobe is the executive center of the brain.

Question 13

Free radicals are molecules that toughen tissues and protect the body from cell damage.

Question 14

Chronic alcoholism can cause dementia.

Question 15

Immunological theory is a cellular damage theory of aging.

Question 16

Following the decline in bone density in late adulthood, men stand about twice the risk of hip fractures and about eight times the risk of spine fractures that women do.

Question 17

People whose diets are rich in antioxidants may be less likely to develop heart disease.

Question 18

Aging has a more detrimental effect on memory for single items than on associative memory.

Question 19

The three major causes of death of Americans age 65 and older are polio, arthritis, and diabetes.

Question 20

Rampant diseases such as German measles, smallpox, polio, and diphtheria contribute to low life-expectancy rates today.

Question 21

Today, the average American newborn female can expect to live about _____ years.

A) 125
B) 82
C) 102
D) 45

Question 22

Which of the following statements defines life span?

A) It is the length of time one can live under the best of circumstances.
B) It is the maximum amount of time a person can be expected to live in a given setting.
C) It is the minimum expected life period for a species.
D) It is the average age to which individuals live under given conditions.

Question 23

The life span of a species, including humans, depends on its _____.

A) surgical techniques
B) lifespan engineering
C) genetic programming
D) medical expertise

Question 24

Identify a correct statement about glaucoma.

A) Glaucoma shortens one's stature by inches.
B) Glaucoma rarely occurs before age 40.
C) Glaucoma cannot be treated either by surgery or medication.
D) Glaucoma causes curvature of the spine.

Question 25

In the context of the effects of aging on men and women, which of the following statements is true?

A) The risk of developing heart disease early is higher in women than in men.
B) Age-related changes tend to occur more gradually in women than in men.
C) Arthritis is more common in men than in women.
D) Osteoporosis poses a greater threat to women than to men.

Question 26

Which of the following is a vision disorder caused by the chemical changes of aging?

A) Myopia
B) Cataract
C) Ambylopia
D) Congenital strabismus

Question 27

The term ageism refers to:

A) the physical and psychological changes associated with aging.
B) the privileges enjoyed by older adults in society.
C) the age-related decline in the memory of adults.
D) the prejudice against people because of their age.

Question 28

Presbycusis is caused by:

A) auditory nerve damage.
B) age-related degenerative changes in the ear.
C) syphilis.
D) excessive intake of medication containing aminoglycosides.

Question 29

Which of the following is true of bone fractures?

A) They pose a greater threat to men than to women due to the poor bone density of men.
B) They are characteristics of the normal aging process.
C) They are more common among women after menopause than among young women.
D) They pose a greater threat to those who engage in walking as a regular exercise than those who do not.

Question 30

Pam is a 78-year-old woman whose eyesight has reduced due to the clouding of the lens of her eyes. In this scenario, which of the following disorders has Pam developed?

A) Glaucoma
B) Cataracts
C) Myopia
D) Nystagmus

Question 31

Which of the following statements is true of life expectancy?

A) Environmental factors do not affect the life expectancy of an individual.
B) Life expectancy tends to be the same for both male and female members of a given population.
C) Differences in geographic location are unlikely to affect the life expectancy of members of a species.
D) Life expectancy tends to differ according to health-related behavior patterns.

Question 32

Identify a reason life expectancy among men trails that among women by about five years.

A) Men are less likely to die from accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, strokes, homicide, HIV/AIDS, and cancer.
B) Heart disease typically develops later in men as compared to women due to the presence of estrogen.
C) Men indulge in unhealthful habits that are more typical of them, such as drinking, reckless behavior, and smoking.
D) Women tend to avoid medical attention until preventable or treatable problems become life-threatening.

Question 33

Elinor is a 78-year-old woman experiencing difficulty in hearing voices and sounds. Her hearing abilities were fine until her fifties, and have been steadily declining since then. Elinor is most likely suffering from _____.

A) presbyopia
B) retinitis
C) presbycusis
D) glaucoma

Question 34

Today, the average American newborn male can expect to live about _____ years.

A) 117
B) 82
C) 102
D) 77

Question 35

Which of the following options is a reason that there is a gap of about five years between the life expectancies of men and women?

A) Men are reluctant to have regular physical checkups or talk to doctors.
B) Women are more likely to indulge in drinking, smoking, and risky sex.
C) Estrogen and progesterone make women vulnerable to heart disease.
D) Men are less likely to die from accidents and reckless behavior.

Question 36

Osteoporosis is characterized by:

A) toughening of tissues.
B) inflammation of joints.
C) infection of bone marrow.
D) brittleness of bones.

Question 37

Benjamin is an 80-year-old man whose acuteness of hearing has dramatically decreased over the last decade. This indicates that he has most likely developed:

A) presbyopia.
B) retinitis.
C) glaucoma.
D) presbycusis.

Question 38

Glaucoma is characterized by:

A) the buildup of fluid pressure inside the eyeball.
B) the weakening of the ciliary muscles.
C) clouding of the eye lens.
D) inflammation and damage of the retina.

Question 39

In the context of age-related changes in men and women, which of the following statements is accurate?

A) Hearing ability tends to decline more gradually in women than in men.
B) Men are more likely than women to die from liver cirrhosis and strokes.
C) Heart disease typically develops later in life in men than in women.
D) Arthritis is more common in men than women among African Americans.

Question 40

Which of the following can lower the risk of osteoporosis in men?

A) Larger bone mass
B) Sedentary lifestyles
C) High levels of testosterone
D) Tough connective tissues

Question 41

Which of the following is true of physical changes in late adulthood that affect sexual behavior of individuals?

A) The vaginal opening in women tends to expand.
B) Older men ejaculate more easily as they age.
C) Erections tend to become less firm for older men.
D) Nocturnal erections disappear altogether for older men.

Question 42

Which of the following factors renders the aging human body less able to fight off infections?

A) Decline in prospective memory
B) Production of antibodies
C) Production of fertile ova
D) Decline in associative memory

Question 43

Nocturnal erections in late adulthood:

A) increase in frequency.
B) indicate an abnormal enlargement of the prostate gland.
C) disappear as part of the normal aging process.
D) diminish in intensity and duration.

Question 44

Which of the following factors might help older women reduce the risk of hip fractures?

A) A no-dairy diet intake
B) High-intensity cardio workouts
C) A high-protein diet intake
D) Walking as regular exercise

Question 45

In the context of the physical changes in older women, which of the following statements is true?

A) There tends to be an increase in vaginal lubrication.
B) There tends to be an increase in the production of estrogen.
C) The vagina and the vaginal opening tend to shrink in size.
D) The labia majora tend to thicken due to increased fatty deposits.

Question 46

In the context of aging, which of the following is true?

A) Elevated levels of stress hormones make the body vulnerable to chronic diseases.
B) The stretching of telomeres with each cell division limits the number of times a cell can divide.
C) The stiffening of body tissues retards the process of aging.
D) Elevated levels of free radicals in the body lower the risk of developing heart disease.

Question 47

Sleep problems in late adulthood:

A) occur in just a small percentage of individuals.
B) are unlikely to be linked to chronic illnesses.
C) may symptomize psychological disorders.
D) do not involve physical changes.

Question 48

Studies showing that longevity tends to run in families validate:

A) maintenance theories of aging.
B) error theories of aging.
C) programmed theories of aging.
D) cellular damage theories of aging.

Question 49

Which of the following options is a result of the cross-linking of cell proteins?

A) Stiffening of collagen
B) Production of antioxidants
C) Soft and supple skin
D) Loss of bone calcium

Question 50

Antioxidants delay aging by:

A) disarming free radicals.
B) enabling cross-linking of cell proteins.
C) lengthening telomeres.
D) regulating hormone levels in the body.

Question 51

Which of the following is true of free radicals?

A) They are produced during metabolism by oxidation.
B) They elongate telomeres.
C) They loosen body proteins and tissues.
D) They accelerate the secretion of enzymes by the endocrine system.

Question 52

In the context of programmed theories of aging, which of the following is likely to determine the number of times a cell can divide and survive?

A) The free radical content in the body
B) The length of telomeres for a species
C) The extent of cross-linking
D) The extent of wear-and-tear of the body through use

Question 53

Samuel, a 75-year-old man, repeatedly wakes up during the night gasping for breath. This happens because he stops breathing while he's asleep. Samuel is most likely suffering from:

A) sleep apnea.
B) astigmatism.
C) sleepwalking.
D) lung collapse.

Question 54

Who among the following is most likely to be suffering from sleep apnea?

A) Nia, who occasionally wakes up from sleep gasping for breath due to a temporary suspension of breathing
B) Sam, who sometimes walks around while still asleep without being consciously aware of doing so
C) Beth, who has difficulty falling asleep, wakes up quite often during the night, and has trouble going back to sleep
D) Mike, who consistently feels drowsy all day and tends to sleep a lot

Question 55

Which of the following happens each time human cells divide?

A) Telomeres shrink
B) Corticosteroids are released into the bloodstream
C) Chromosomes shrink
D) Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream

Question 56

Which of the following factors may compensate for reduced physical responses during sexual activity among older people?

A) Paler and thinner vaginas
B) Unreasonable expectations
C) Guilt about sexual urges
D) Years of sexual experience

Question 57

Men with _____ commonly need to urinate during the night, causing awakening.

A) shrunken pupils
B) enlarged prostate glands
C) shrunken spines
D) enlarged adrenal glands

Question 58

_____ is a key reason for painful sex among older women.

A) Increased elasticity of vaginal walls
B) Estrogen production
C) Lack of adequate lubrication
D) Diminishing nocturnal emissions

Question 59

Which of the following theories is a cellular damage theory of aging?

A) The telomere theory
B) The endocrine theory
C) The wear-and-tear theory
D) The immunological theory

Question 60

According to the _____, the immune system is preset to decline by an internal biological clock.

A) immunological theory
B) wear-and-tear theory
C) free-radical theory
D) cross-linking theory

Question 61

Which of the following statements is true in the context of cognitive development in older adults?

A) Aging is unlikely to affect the processing speed of individuals.
B) Aging has little effect on the retrospective memory of individuals.
C) Aging tends to affect explicit memory more than implicit memory.
D) Aging has a more detrimental effect on memory for single items than on associative memory.

Question 62

Autobiographical memory is a type of:

A) explicit memory.
B) implicit memory.
C) prospective memory.
D) procedural memory.

Question 63

Which of the following is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis?

A) Anti-inflammatory drugs
B) Electroconvulsive therapy
C) Laxatives
D) Hormone therapy

Question 64

Which of the following memories is likely to be helpful in developing sight vocabulary?

A) Sensory memory
B) Associative memory
C) Prospective memory
D) Echoic memory

Question 65

Implicit memory is associated with the ability to:

A) visually associate people with their names.
B) automatically recall things learnt by repetition.
C) remember past incidents and general knowledge.
D) recollect our plans for the future.

Question 66

The ability to recall the order in which events have occurred can be attributed to:

A) temporal memory.
B) sensory memory.
C) prospective memory.
D) implicit memory.

Question 67

Medicaid is a federal program that:

A) regulates healthcare costs for all uninsured tourists visiting the United States.
B) fully covers healthcare costs of terminally ill cancer patients among older adults in the United States.
C) funds reproductive health care for female citizens of all ages in the United States.
D) covers a portion of the healthcare costs of people of all ages who are unable to afford coverage.

Question 68

Elaine, an overweight 70-year-old woman, suffers from painful joints. The bones of her knees and hips grind together, causing pain. She takes over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by her physician to relieve the discomfort. Elaine is most likely suffering from _____.

A) osteoarthritis
B) tuberculosis
C) diabetes mellitus
D) chronic bronchitis

Question 69

What is Medicare?

A) It is a federal program that regulates healthcare costs for all uninsured Americans.
B) It is a federal program that fully covers healthcare costs of terminally ill older adults in America.
C) It is a federal program that partially funds health care for older Americans and the disabled.
D) It is a federal program that covers a portion of the healthcare costs of people of all ages who are otherwise unable to afford coverage.

Question 70

Brain infections such as meningitis, HIV, and encephalitis; chronic alcoholism, strokes, and tumors are some of the causes of _____.

A) diabetes
B) tuberculosis
C) dementia
D) diphtheria

Question 71

Older adults are more likely to be intoxicated by alcohol consumption compared to younger adults due to:

A) the slowdown in the metabolic rate of older adults.
B) the low level of free radical content in the body of older adults.
C) the increase in the processing speed of older adults.
D) the increase in antibodies secreted by the endocrine system of older adults.

Question 72

Which of the following statements is true of rheumatoid arthritis?

A) It affects the entire body.
B) It does not affect the bones and cartilage.
C) It is characterized by wear and tear on joints.
D) It is a hereditary congenital disorder.

Question 73

Which of the following is a result of the stiffening of collagen?

A) Brittle bones
B) Coarse and dry skin
C) Increase in vaginal lubrication
D) Excessive apoptosis

Question 74

Which of the following is the leading cause of death among adults over the age of 80 in America?

A) Cirrhosis of the liver
B) HIV/AIDS
C) stroke
D) Heart disease

Question 75

Dementia is a condition characterized by:

A) temporary suspension of breathing while sleeping.
B) pain and stiffness of the joints.
C) sudden loss of vision and hearing ability.
D) dramatic deterioration of mental abilities.

Question 76

Mark suffers from severe pain in his knees due to an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the joints. He finds it extremely painful to walk. If Mark's condition is due to his tissues being attacked by his body's immune system, he is suffering from:

A) rheumatoid arthritis.
B) osteoarthritis.
C) septic arthritis.
D) psoriatic arthritis.

Question 77

Felipe, a 75-year-old-man, has developed a brain condition that makes it difficult for him to manage daily tasks. He fails to speak in full sentences and does not recognize friends. He also experiences hallucinations. Felipe is most likely suffering from _____.

A) Crohn's disease
B) Alzheimer's disease
C) German measles
D) Asperger's syndrome

Question 78

Which of the following statements about arthritis is true?

A) Arthritis is less common in African Americans than European Americans.
B) Arthritis is more common in women than men.
C) Children are unlikely to be affected by arthritis.
D) The risk of arthritis tends to be highest in adolescence.

Question 79

To prepare her students for an examination, a teacher made them recite the names of all the continents thrice before beginning her lessons every day. At the end of three weeks of this exercise, every student could recollect the names of continents. This example demonstrates the concept of:

A) explicit memory.
B) implicit memory.
C) episodic memory.
D) haptic memory.

Question 80

Muira, a 70-year-old woman, has been diagnosed with a progressive brain disease that makes it difficult for her to manage daily tasks such as selecting clothes, recalling names and addresses, and driving. She becomes confused and gets lost in streets and stores. She also suffers from paranoid delusions. Muira is most likely suffering from _____.

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Crohn's disease
C) German measles
D) Asperger's syndrome