Deck 6: Biological Perspectives on Aging

Question 1

There are different nerves in the peripheral nervous system. Which nerves carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to muscles and glands throughout the body?

A) neurons
B) sensory
C) motor
D) vagal

Answer 1

C

Question 2

As people age, they are more likely to:

A) sleep more.
B) sleep periodically.
C) sleep less.
D) sleep soundly.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

All of the following are considered to be activities of daily living (ADLs) except:

A) reading.
B) bathing.
C) eating.
D) toileting.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

All of the following are related to active life expectancy for minorities except:

A) they are less likely to have health insurance.
B) they are more likely to engage in a physical fitness program.
C) they are more likely to be employed at jobs where there is greater risk of injury.
D) they are more likely to engage in behaviors like smoking.

Question 5

Internationally, active life expectancy is highest for males and females in:

A) Austria.
B) France.
C) the Netherlands.
D) Switzerland.

Question 6

One of the consequences of the loss of cells in the cerebellum is _____.

A) poor vision
B) an increase in the tendency to fall
C) memory loss
D) a decrease in appetite

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between genes and longevity?

A) The Old Order Amish community have a gene mutation that increases fat in the blood.
B) Male Japanese Americans carry a gene mutation that reduces the risk of cancer.
C) Genes are solely responsible for all variations in longevity.
D) Environmental factors such as diet and exercise have no influence on gene activity.

Question 8

The _____ theory notes that as one ages, the collagen loses some of its elasticity and there is a hardening of the arteries of the circulatory system.

A) immune function
B) free radical
C) cross-linkage
D) genetic control

Question 9

The area of the brain that controls voluntary movement may lose _____ to _____ percent of its cells.

A) 5; 15
B) 15; 25
C) 20; 35
D) 30; 40

Question 10

Most scientists agree that aging has:

A) multiple causes.
B) a single cause.
C) unknown causes.
D) environmental causes.

Question 11

Which of the following theories equates the body to a machine that eventually wears out?

A) somatic mutation
B) cross-linkage
C) wear and tear
D) immune function

Question 12

The active life expectancy differs for men and women. Women can expect to have 58 years while men can expect to have:

A) 60 years.
B) 56 years.
C) 62 years.
D) 54 years.

Question 13

One of the most obvious signs of aging is:

A) gray hair.
B) skin discoloration.
C) the wrinkling of the skin.
D) hair loss.

Question 14

A similarity between lentigo spots and senile purpura is that both:

A) are common in people who are below 30 years of age.
B) are caused by the dissipation of the pigment melanin.
C) are absent in sites where fragile blood vessels have ruptured.
D) are cosmetic changes and pose no danger.

Question 15

Which of the following is a fact about free radicals?

A) Free radicals contribute to aging by reducing cross-links and removing age pigments.
B) Free radicals are unstable molecules that are produced when the body transforms food into chemical energy.
C) When free radicals unite in a body, they reduce the risk of cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
D) Free radicals are easily destroyed when people smoke or consume drugs.

Question 16

Which of the following is the most common form of skin cancer?

A) lentigo
B) squamous cell carcinoma
C) senile purpura
D) basal cell carcinoma

Question 17

Which theory has been used to help explain Alzheimer's disease?

A) somatic mutation
B) free radical
C) wear and tear
D) immune function

Question 18

Often, on the hands of older people, one may see purple bruises. These bruises are called:

A) lentigo.
B) malignant melanoma.
C) neurons.
D) senile purpura.

Question 19

Jeanne Calment, the oldest living human, has been the subject of study for the:

A) free radical theory.
B) wear and tear theory.
C) immune function theory.
D) genetic control theory.

Question 20

According to the _____ theory, the aging process is programmed into each cell of our bodies.

A) free radical
B) genetic control
C) cross-linkage
D) immune function

Question 21

Most age-related changes in vision have their onset in:

A) middle age.
B) childhood.
C) young adulthood.
D) old age.

Question 22

_____ is a common problem in older men.

A) Erectile dysfunction
B) Sexual intercourse
C) Sexual stimulation
D) Hormonal loss

Question 23

Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis because:

A) their bones are smaller than men's bones.
B) their bones are heavier than men's bones.
C) they don't drink as much milk as men.
D) they deplete their calcium stores by doing most of the housework.

Question 24

Women in the United States experience menopause on average around age:

A) 45.
B) 50.
C) 48.
D) 55.

Question 25

_____ causes severe bone depletion.

A) Muscular degeneration
B) Vertebral fractures
C) Osteoporosis
D) Skeletal degeneration

Question 26

Identify an accurate statement about cataracts.

A) They are visual disorders that are not a part of normal aging.
B) They are a type of hearing loss.
C) They are considered to be a part of normal aging.
D) They are a type of skin disorder.

Question 27

The majority of people first become aware of sensory change when they reach their mid-:

A) 30s.
B) 40s.
C) 50s.
D) 60s.

Question 28

Which of the following statements is true about osteoporosis?

A) In the later stages of osteoporosis, bone mass increases at a rapid pace.
B) In the earlier stages of osteoporosis, individuals predominantly suffer from a huge loss of body weight.
C) Women are more likely than men of the same age to suffer from osteoporosis.
D) The outside walls of bones become thicker in individuals with osteoporosis.

Question 29

Which of the following is not a social consequence of hearing loss?

A) People are likely to feel lonely and left out of a group.
B) People have difficulty paying attention.
C) People are encouraged by family members to engage in conversations.
D) People do not enjoy their free time.

Question 30

A similarity between glaucoma and cataracts is that both:

A) are part of the normal aging process in all individuals.
B) occur only when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy.
C) are incurable.
D) become increasingly common with advancing age.

Question 31

All of the following occurs during menopause in women except:

A) there is a decline in the production of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
B) the walls of the vagina become thinner.
C) sexual intercourse is not painful.
D) the vagina takes longer to lubricate in response to sexual stimulation.

Question 32

Peak bone mass occurs around age:

A) 20.
B) 30.
C) 40.
D) 55.

Question 33

Older people have more difficulty maintaining normal body temperature in hot temperature because they:

A) have less bone density.
B) have limited mobility.
C) have lost some of their sense of touch.
D) sweat less.

Question 34

The most cited reason for disability in older people is:

A) osteoporosis.
B) declining vision.
C) hearing loss.
D) arthritis.

Question 35

The syndrome of changes, both physical and behavioral, that occurs in the reproductive system is termed:

A) menopause.
B) erectile dysfunction.
C) climacteric.
D) hormonal loss.

Question 36

Older _____ are more likely to die from excessive heat.

A) women
B) men
C) men who live alone
D) women in institutions

Question 37

Which of the following is not one of the ways older drivers reduce the risk of being involved in an accident?

A) stop driving at night
B) stop driving in heavy traffic
C) only drive when another adult is in the car
D) give up their driver's license voluntarily

Question 38

Identify an accurate statement about rheumatoid arthritis?

A) It is more common in men than in women.
B) It is caused by the immune system attacking the synovial membrane.
C) It is a degenerative joint disease that results from wear and tear at the joint surfaces where bones join other bones.
D) It is the most common type of arthritis.

Question 39

Research studies in 2007 found that hormone replacement therapy increased the risk of:

A) heart disease and stroke.
B) arthritis.
C) throat cancer.
D) diabetes.

Question 40

Until recently, a commonly prescribed treatment for menopause was:

A) hormone replacement therapy.
B) diet.
C) exercise.
D) increased sexual intercourse.

Question 41

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer.

Question 42

Blood pressure increases with age because of:

A) loss of elasticity of blood vessels.
B) slow blood flow.
C) limited physical activities.
D) limited fluid intake.

Question 43

The measure of the number of years a person can expect to live without a disability is termed active life expectancy.

Question 44

Visual disorders such as glaucoma and cataracts are a part of normal aging.

Question 45

Damage to the cerebellum can produce changes in sleep patterns.

Question 46

In the study of Swedish twins on the prevalence of angina or chest pain, it was found that _____ factors played only a small role in the risk of having angina.

A) environmental
B) genetic
C) dietary
D) stress

Question 47

Women have fewer years of active life expectancy because they are more likely than men to live past 85.

Question 48

Which is not one of the factors that can reduce the risk of heart disease?

A) diet
B) low levels of stress
C) smoking
D) exercise

Question 49

Genes alone determine whether an individual gets a specific disease.

Question 50

Hypertension is made worse by the fatty deposits called plaque, which narrow the arteries. Plaque formation has been linked to:

A) saturated fats such as red meats.
B) excessive sugar intake.
C) excessive caffeine intake.
D) Vitamin B deficiency.

Question 51

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the aging heart?

A) There is muscle atrophy.
B) There is a reduction in the amount of blood pumped with each contraction.
C) There is a decrease in the nonconducting cells.
D) There is an increase in connective tissue and fat.

Question 52

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

A) It is caused by the rapid increase of nerve cells in the central portion of the brain.
B) It is the most dangerous anxiety disorder caused primarily by an increase in dopamine levels in the brain.
C) It develops slowly over many years.
D) It is least likely to be diagnosed in older people.

Question 53

The graying of the hair is caused by an increase in the number of active pigment producing cells.

Question 54

As people grow older, their bodies lose some ability to regulate heating and cooling.

Question 55

Parkinson's disease is:

A) a mental disorder.
B) specific to certain ethnic groups.
C) a neurological disorder.
D) a disorder mostly prevalent in young children.

Question 56

For men, all of the following were risk factors associated with angina except:

A) smoking.
B) work pressure.
C) obesity.
D) low-level of emotional well-being.

Question 57

Hearing is least acute during the 20s.

Question 58

Identify an accurate statement about ovarian cancer.

A) The greatest risk factor for ovarian cancer is age.
B) Ovarian cancer accounts for about 50 percent of cancers in women.
C) Ovarian cancer is a non-fatal illness.
D) The median age for diagnosis of ovarian cancer is 35.

Question 59

As people age, they need more light to perceive depth and to see clearly.

Question 60

Which form of cancer is the most common?

A) skin
B) lung
C) liver
D) stomach

Question 61

Discuss the main premises of each biological theory of aging. Which theory seems best supported by scientific evidence?

Question 62

Presbycusis is first noticeable when people cannot hear high-pitched sounds.

Question 63

Menopause is considered complete if a woman goes a full two years without a menstrual cycle.

Question 64

Dark-complexioned people cannot get skin cancer.

Question 65

What are the main visible age-related changes in the human body?

Question 66

According to research, though it is different than women's, men experience their own menopause.