Deck 14: The Physical Challenges of Aging

Question 1

The structure of the eye MOST responsible for normal age-related changes in vision is the _____.

Answer 1

lens

Question 2

Identify the main problem with current alternatives to institutionalization, and then devise some creative Internet-based interventions to help people with ADL impairments who don't need full-time nursing care.

Answer 2

Drawback to continuing-care retirement communities, and assisted-living facilities: These settings are limited to wealthy older adults. Creative Internet alternatives for people with more moderate incomes might be to develop websites (similar to Airbnb) where older people get together to pool finances and buy a house with paid-for caregivers; sites promoting intergenerational housing whereby the elderly commit to watching older children in return for getting help preparing meals and housekeeping; websites matching students and home- owning older adults, in which young people get free paid-for tuition and/or live rent free in return for caring for a frail older individual in that person's home. But here the answers are also up to students!

Question 3

Problems with dressing, getting to the toilet, and eating independently are examples of _____ impairments.

Answer 3

basic ADL; basic activities of daily life

Question 4

_____ is one reason why women may be more frail than men.

Question 5

A person who is having difficulty with tasks needed for living independently has instrumental ADL (activities of daily life) problems, while someone who cannot perform fundamental self-care activities has _____ ADL (activities of daily life) impairments.

Question 6

Describe the normal changes in vision that occur with age, and then discuss strategies that older adults can use to compensate for these problems.

Question 7

Discuss several reasons why men die earlier than women, but females report more health problems throughout adult life.

Question 8

Around the world, adults who are _____ tend to be healthier and survive longer.

Question 9

Describe the prevalence, causes, and consequences of falling in later life. Then spell out interventions to prevent falling in at-risk older adults.

Question 10

Outline some forces explaining the socioeconomic health gap during adult life by putting yourself in the place of a hypothetical low-income person and citing concrete examples to illustrate your points.

Question 11

In 2015, U.S. life expectancy_____.

Question 12

Babies' chances of living beyond the maximum lifespan is _____ today.

Question 13

Women experience _____ health problems than do men during adult life.

Question 14

A friend enthusiastically tells you that soon human beings will be able to live to age 150. First, outline the research suggesting that scientists can increase the maximum lifespan, and then discuss the negative effects of achieving this breakthrough.

Question 15

Describe the two major U.S. living arrangements for elderly with ADL (activities of daily life) impairments who do not need nursing-home care. Discuss these settings' pluses and minuses.

Question 16

An elderly uncle has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and your aunt has decided to care for him at home. What advice might help this person?

Question 17

Three changes in vision that normally occur as people age are presbyopia, impaired _____ vision, and greater sensitivity to glare.

Question 18

Highlight the unique features of age-related hearing losses, and then describe the impact of this particular deficit/condition on relationships. Cite examples to illustrate your points.

Question 19

An elderly loved one is still driving, but it's clear that sensory-motor impairments are making this activity difficult. First, spell out the dilemmas a family and society face in this situation, and then suggest some creative actions to take.

Question 20

Underfeeding, or offering a low-calorie, highly nutritious diet, can increase the maximum lifespan of _____.

Question 21

_____ is the name for any illness that causes serious, progressive cognitive decline.

Question 22

_____ is the name for the chronic, age-related disease in which the joint cartilage wears away.

Question 23

A main consequence of falling in later life is _____.

Question 24

The MAIN reason why elderly people move so slowly lies in losses in _____.

Question 25

Very old women with basic ADL (activities of daily life) impairments, and people with_____, are the typical residents of nursing homes.

Question 26

According to your textbook author, successful aging involves:

A) avoiding physical deterioration.
B) acting like a youthful adult.
C) living meaningfully no matter what a person's physical state.
D) having good genes.

Question 27

_____ are housing alternatives for people with ADL (activities of daily life) limitations who do not need the intense care of nursing homes.

Question 28

_____ refers to a communication style in which people talk to elderly people like babies.

Question 29

Normal aging changes:

A) begin in midlife.
B) get worse over time.
C) begin in old age.
D) are totally different than chronic diseases.

Question 30

Which is NOT a normal aging change?

A) bone density losses
B) hearing losses
C) atherosclerosis
D) Alzheimer's disease

Question 31

Normal aging changes:

A) begin in late middle age and suddenly get dramatically worse.
B) gradually progress over years.
C) start at age 65.
D) begin during childhood.

Question 32

Convincing an older adult to give up driving can be _____.

Question 33

Assisted-living facilities and _____ are housing alternatives in the United States for frail elderly (who have sufficient money) and don't need the intense care of a nursing home.

Question 34

The two main diseases that cause dementia are Alzheimer's disease and _____ dementia.

Question 35

The main environmental cause of age-related hearing loss is exposure to _____.

Question 36

Offering a clearly structured predictable daily routine helps individuals with early _____.

Question 37

Presbycusis is caused by deterioration of the _____ in the inner ear.

Question 38

Poor vision, impaired hearing, and slowed______ affect driving abilities in later life.

Question 39

The _____ genetic marker heightens the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Question 40

Two products of neural decay found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease are senile plaques and _____.

Question 41

Which man is a supercentenarian?

A) Mr. Chen, who just turned age 100
B) Mr. Yang, who still walks at age 100
C) Mr. Rose, who just turned 110
D) Mr. Ruth, who still walks at age 105

Question 42

Latisha is having trouble cooking; Latoya can't dress herself. How would you describe the ability to function of each woman?

A) Latisha has instrumental ADL impairments; Latoya has basic ADL impairments.
B) Latoya has instrumental ADL impairments; Latisha has basic ADL impairments.
C) Both women have instrumental ADL impairments.
D) Both women have basic ADL impairments.

Question 43

Chronic diseases affect which adults?

A) only people who do not take care of their health
B) mostly adults who are age 65 or older
C) most middle-aged people
D) only people over 75

Question 44

Jane is 80 years old and can live alone, but she has trouble standing at her stove to cook a meal and pushing a vacuum cleaner. Jane has _____ ADL (activities of daily life) impairments.

A) basic
B) serious
C) chronic
D) instrumental

Question 45

The age group MOST likely to have ADL (activities of daily life) impairments is in their _____.

A) sixties
B) seventies
C) eighties
D) nineties

Question 46

The MOST common age-related disease is _____.

A) asthma
B) heart disease
C) osteoporosis
D) arthritis

Question 47

Who is MOST likely to have ADL impairments?

A) a 60-year-old person
B) a 70-year-old person
C) an 80-year-old person
D) a 90-year-old person

Question 48

What is the relationship between normal aging and chronic disease?

A) Normal aging changes, when they get severe, often become chronic disease.
B) The signs of normal aging are totally different than chronic disease.
C) Normal aging is exactly the same as chronic disease.
D) Normal aging begins at the same age as does chronic disease.

Question 49

Miriam is 80 and cannot walk or dress herself. Miriam has _____ ADL (activities of daily life) impairments and may need to move to a nursing home.

A) basic
B) serious
C) chronic
D) instrumental

Question 50

The risk of having basic ADL (activities of daily life) impairments greatly accelerates after the _____.

A) fifties
B) sixties
C) early seventies
D) oldest-old

Question 51

Who has basic ADL (activities of daily life) impairments?

A) Mrs. Im, who cannot clean the house
B) Mrs. Johnson, who cannot get to the toilet
C) Mr. Cortez, who has trouble walking up steps
D) Mr. Horowitz, who is 50 years old

Question 52

In order, list an example of an instrumental ADL (activities of daily living) and a basic ADL (activities of daily life) impairment.

A) trouble cooking; trouble feeding oneself
B) trouble dressing oneself; trouble cooking
C) trouble feeding oneself; trouble cooking
D) trouble cleaning house; trouble cooking

Question 53

The maximum human lifespan is_____.

A) about age 85
B) built into our genetic code
C) decreasing due to poor medical care
D) decreasing due to pollution

Question 54

What is the most accurate statement about the relationship of chronic diseases to death?

A) All chronic diseases cause death.
B) Chronic diseases typically impair functioning, but only a percentage cause death.
C) Many chronic diseases cause death.
D) No chronic diseases cause death.

Question 55

Normal aging changes often _____.

A) turn into chronic disease
B) turn directly into ADL impairments
C) can be prevented
D) immediately cause death

Question 56

Who is LEAST likely to need a nursing home?

A) Mrs. Smith, who cannot get out of bed
B) Ms. Chen, who cannot dress herself
C) Mrs. Adachi, who cannot feed herself
D) Mrs. Rodrigues, who can no longer drive

Question 57

Which is the correct progression over time (that is, over the years)?

A) normal aging; chronic disease; ADL impairments
B) chronic disease; normal aging; ADL impairments
C) ADL impairments; chronic disease; normal aging
D) normal aging; ADL impairments; chronic disease

Question 58

Who has instrumental ADL (activities of daily life) impairments?

A) Mrs. Jones, who is having trouble cooking and cleaning
B) Mr. Soto, who cannot dress himself
C) Mr. Rendon, who cannot get to the toilet
D) Mrs. Belsky, who needs nursing-home care

Question 59

The normal age change called _____ progresses into osteoporosis.

A) atherosclerosis
B) night vision troubles
C) bone-density loss
D) hearing loss

Question 60

Normal aging changes:

A) may be prevented if people take care of their health.
B) progress gradually over years.
C) can typically be reversed.
D) are totally different than chronic disease.

Question 61

According to the text, which of the following is life-shortening?

A) normal birth weight
B) obesity
C) high SES
D) regular exercise

Question 62

Who is LEAST likely to survive to their nineties?

A) Mona, a wealthy European American woman
B) Ali, a wealthy European American man
C) Francisco, a typical European American man
D) Belinda, a typical European American woman

Question 63

The socioeconomic health gap:

A) appears in every nation.
B) begins in old age.
C) begins in middle age.
D) is widest in the developed world.

Question 64

Statistically speaking, who is most likely to develop ADL impairments in their fifties?

A) a male high school graduate
B) a female high school graduate
C) a male college graduate
D) a female college graduate

Question 65

Which group is MOST likely to have serious ethical qualms about life-extension research?

A) young adults
B) scientists
C) religious people
D) wealthy adults

Question 66

Low socioeconomic-status adults age faster and die at a younger age than their wealthier counterparts. This is true:

A) only in affluent nations.
B) only in developing nations.
C) in every nation.
D) only in nations without universal health care.

Question 67

A baby born today may possibly survive_____.

A) to age 200
B) to age 150
C) to 85 but not older
D) to the maximum lifespan, but not beyond

Question 68

Why, according to the text, are scientists pessimistic about extending the human maximum lifespan?

A) Aging has complex causes, so a single antiaging intervention won't work.
B) People love to eat more than they should.
C) People will always die of accidents.
D) People will always die of infectious diseases.

Question 69

In the United States, the socioeconomic health gap _____ over the twenty-first century.

A) increased
B) decreased
C) stayed stable
D) dramatically declined

Question 70

According to this chapter, during the next decade:

A) more people will live beyond the maximum lifespan.
B) far fewer people will reach age 100 than they do today.
C) the human maximum lifespan will be roughly the same as today.
D) scientists will find a solution, or magic bullet, that prevents aging.

Question 71

What is the MOST important condition promoting overall aging?

A) obesity
B) osteoporosis
C) glaucoma
D) arthritis

Question 72

Calorie restriction has which of the following documented benefits?

A) increasing rats' maximum lifespan
B) raising the human maximum lifespan
C) decreasing blood flow
D) lowering metabolic rate

Question 73

John lives in poverty and James' income ranks in the upper 5 percent. If both men live in the United States, recent statistics suggest James will outlive John by:

A) 10 years.
B) 15 years
C) 20 years.
D) an unknown number of years.

Question 74

In human beings, calorie restriction has which documented benefit?

A) increasing the maximum lifespan
B) decreasing some risk factors for chronic disease
C) making people depressed
D) producing overpopulation

Question 75

The socioeconomic health gap appears:

A) around age 60.
B) in middle age.
C) at every age.
D) for males, not for females.

Question 76

Humborto is horrified, because, for the first time, in 2015, U.S._____.

A) life-expectancy declined
B) men were more likely to die of age-related diseases
C) women were more likely to die of accidents
D) babies were more likely to die in the womb

Question 77

Because underfeeding can increase the maximum lifespan, a colleague asks you if he should adopt that strategy. Having read the text, which is the MOST appropriate response?

A) Yes; go for it!
B) Be cautious since what applies to rats may not fit human beings.
C) It's hopeless, as researchers have documented that underfeeding doesn't work in humans.
D) Underfeeding can put off cancer, but no other disease.

Question 78

All things being equal, which low income 60-year-old is apt to live the longest?

A) Carl, whose neighborhood has a high fraction of college graduates
B) Sam, whose neighborhood has a high fraction of women
C) Mark, whose neighborhood has a high fraction of children
D) Peter, whose neighborhood has a high fraction of older people

Question 79

Diabetes is not likely to affect:

A) the eyes.
B) the heart.
C) the bones.
D) the kidneys.

Question 80

Who is MOST likely to survive to their nineties?

A) Mona, a wealthy European American woman
B) Ali, a wealthy European American man
C) Francisco, a Latino man
D) Belinda, a Latino woman