Question 1

Describe strategies that older adults can use to compensate for changes in smell and taste sensitivity.

Accepted Answer

There are several strategies that older adults can use to compensate for changes in smell and taste sensitivity. Some of these strategies include:

1. Experimenting with different flavors and textures: Older adults can try incorporating a variety of flavors and textures into their meals to stimulate their taste buds and make eating more enjoyable.

2. Using herbs and spices: Adding herbs and spices to meals can help enhance the flavor of food, making it more appealing to older adults with reduced taste sensitivity.

3. Eating smaller, more frequent meals: Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day can help older adults maintain their appetite and ensure they are getting enough nutrients, even if their sense of taste and smell is diminished.

4. Seeking out strong flavors: Choosing foods with strong flavors, such as garlic, onions, and citrus fruits, can help older adults experience more intense tastes despite changes in their sense of taste and smell.

5. Paying attention to food temperature: Eating foods at different temperatures, such as hot soups or cold desserts, can help older adults experience a wider range of sensations and flavors.

6. Seeking medical advice: If changes in smell and taste sensitivity are affecting an older adult's quality of life, they should seek medical advice to rule out any underlying health issues and explore potential treatment options.

Overall, by being mindful of their food choices and experimenting with different flavors and textures, older adults can find ways to compensate for changes in smell and taste sensitivity and continue to enjoy their meals.

Question 2

Critique the research methods that were used to obtain the majority of findings presented in the chapter.
What improvements would you suggest in the research procedures used to determine the effects of aging on
various bodily systems?

Accepted Answer

The research methods used to obtain the majority of findings presented in the chapter were primarily based on longitudinal studies and cross-sectional studies. These methods involved observing and measuring the changes in various bodily systems over time and comparing these changes across different age groups.

One improvement that could be suggested in the research procedures used to determine the effects of aging on various bodily systems is the incorporation of more diverse and representative sample populations. Many studies on aging tend to focus on a specific demographic, such as Caucasian individuals from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Including a more diverse range of participants, including individuals from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as varying socioeconomic statuses, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of aging on bodily systems.

Additionally, incorporating more advanced imaging and diagnostic techniques, such as MRI scans and genetic testing, could provide a more detailed and accurate assessment of the changes occurring in bodily systems with age. This would allow for a more precise understanding of the physiological and biological processes underlying the effects of aging.

Furthermore, incorporating more comprehensive lifestyle and environmental factors into the research procedures could provide a more holistic understanding of the effects of aging on bodily systems. This could involve assessing the impact of factors such as diet, exercise, and exposure to environmental toxins on the aging process.

Overall, by incorporating more diverse sample populations, advanced imaging and diagnostic techniques, and comprehensive lifestyle and environmental factors, the research procedures used to determine the effects of aging on various bodily systems could be improved to provide a more thorough and accurate understanding of the aging process.

Question 3

A natural shrinking with age of the thymus gland contributes to the process known as:

Accepted Answer

A)   glucocorticoid cascade.
B)   immune senescence.
C)   adrenal insufficiency.
D)   pulmonary deficiency. B

Question 4

What are the different brain imaging techniques? What does each contribute to our understanding of brain functioning?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the different brain imaging techniques?...

Question 5

A BMI in the range of 25-29.9 places the individual in the category of:

Accepted Answer

A)   normal.
B)   overweight.
C)   obese.
D)   extreme obesity.

Question 6

Contrast dizziness and vertigo.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Contrast dizziness and vertigo....

Question 7

Describe how changes in the somatosensory system can contribute to changes in balance to increase the older
adult's risk of falling.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how changes in the somatosensory system...

Question 8

An 80-year-old woman is suffering from limited range of motion due to degenerative changes in her knees, shoulders, and wrists. If you were her physical therapist, you might suggest that she offset these changes by engaging primarily in:

Accepted Answer

A)   strenuous exercise.
B)   intake of sodium.
C)   rest and relaxation.
D)   flexibility training.

Question 9

The main reason that older adults are more likely to die during extreme periods of cold weather is that:

Accepted Answer

A)   they cannot maintain their core body temperature.
B)   their sweat glands function less effectively.
C)   they lack the ability to sense the outside temperature.
D)   their skin is more sensitive to temperature extremes.

Question 10

Brain scans show that older adults have more of these abnormalities in the brain consisting of clumps of dying neurons known as:

Accepted Answer

A)   myelin sheath extensions (MS
E)  
B)   white matter hyperintensities (WMH) 
C)   nerve ending fractures (NEF) 
D)   anterograde degenerative structures (ADS)

Question 11

A 79-year-old woman's exercise routine includes resistance training three times a week for an hour alternating with one-hour workouts on an elliptical machine. As a result, she will experience less of which particular age-related change in physical functioning?

Accepted Answer

A)   tinnitus
B)   presbycusis
C)   cross-linking
D)   sarcopenia

Question 12

The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is controlled by which set of hormones in the endocrine system?

Accepted Answer

A)   melatonin
B)   androgen
C)   thyroid
D)   growth factor

Question 13

List three ways that older adults can compensate for changes in balance to reduce the likelihood of a fall.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List three ways that older adults can...

Question 14

A man is worried about the possibility that his 83-year-old wife might fall and break her one of the bones in her ___________, which is one of the most susceptible in the body to loss of mineral content:

Accepted Answer

A)   upper thigh
B)   lower spine
C)   upper arm
D)   middle finger

Question 15

Barb E. Dahl is a 72-year-old woman who is pleased that for the first time in her life she has finally been able to shed excess pounds without having to diet. In reality, however, Barb's weight loss is probably not so good because it is due to:

Accepted Answer

A)   loss of muscle mass
B)   relative increase in cartilage
C)   decrease in collagen
D)   reductions in glucose

Question 16

Extensive research on exercise involving weight lifting and resistance training shows that these forms of exercise help to offset which normal age-related change in the muscles?

Accepted Answer

A)   Somatopause.
B)   Dysthermia.
C)   Adrenopause.
D)   Sarcopenia.

Question 17

According to a large study conducted in the U.K., older adults who suffer from chronic back pain also have a higher rate of:

Accepted Answer

A)   cataract formation.
B)   dizziness and vertigo.
C)   cognitive symptoms.
D)   olfactory impairment.

Question 18

Contrast the neuronal fallout and plasticity models of the aging nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Contrast the neuronal fallout and plasticity models...

Question 19

Summarize age-related changes in the three major components of the somatosensory system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize age-related changes in the three major...

Question 20

The somatopause of aging involves changes in which hormones?

Accepted Answer

A)   Hypothalamus-releasing factors
B)   Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor
C)   Cortisol-releasing factors
D)   Basal metabolic hormone

Exam 4: Physical Changes