Deck 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

With age:

A) brain weight decreases; brain volume does not decrease.
B) brain volume decreases; brain weight does not decrease.
C) both brain weight and brain volume decrease.
D) neither brain weight nor brain volume decreases.

Answer 1

both brain weight and brain volume decrease.

Question 2

According to the evolutionary theory of aging, why hasn't natural selection eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults?

A) Natural selection is closely linked with reproduction in young adulthood.
B) Cultural variation overwhelms natural selection.
C) It is abnormal for humans to live as long they do not.
D) Synthetic foods have disturbed the evolutionary process.

Answer 2

Natural selection is closely linked with reproduction in young adulthood.

Question 3

Which of the following biological theories of aging states that people age because their cells' normal metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules?

A) Cellular clock theory
B) Free-radical theory
C) Telomerase-injection theory
D) Hormonal stress theory

Answer 3

Free-radical theory

Question 4

In 2013, the life expectancy for men was _____ and for women was _____.

A) 88.3; 94.7
B) 94.7; 88.3
C) 76.4; 81.2
D) 81.2; 76.4

Question 5

Greta, 75 years old, has noticed that when she is outside in bright sun, and then comes in the house, it takes a long time for her eyes to adjust. When she went in for an eye exam she mentioned this to the doctor. Based on data, his response was that her experience is:

A) typical and expected for her age.
B) unusual but nothing to be concerned about.
C) something to pay attention to because it could signal a larger problem.
D) a sign of trauma and she should go to the hospital immediately.

Question 6

What is the main difference between the way younger people and older people respond to stress?

A) Younger people have a slower restorative process after a stressful episode.
B) Younger people have better coping strategies for dealing with stress.
C) The process of aging increases the pituitary gland's response to stress, making it work harder.
D) Older people keep stress hormones in their system for longer periods.

Question 7

The New England Centenarian and Supercentenarian studies found all of the following expect that:

A) participants had a low rate of age-associated diseases.
B) "the older you get, the sicker you get."
C) most participants had good mental health.
D) most participants were women.

Question 8

What is the average life expectancy for individuals born in 2013 in the United States?

A) 69.3 years
B) 72.3 years
C) 75.3 years
D) 78.8 years

Question 9

As Clarence has gotten older he is much slower going down stairs. While his adult children think it is due to his balance, he is actually experiencing the effects of age on his:

A) eye-hand coordination.
B) depth perception.
C) ocular elasticity.
D) color vision.

Question 10

Telomeres and telomerase are increasingly thought to be key components of the _____ process, providing a possible avenue to restrain cancer and delay aging.

A) hormone production
B) antibody proliferation
C) free radical regeneration
D) stem-cell regeneration

Question 11

According to the cellular clock theory, after about 70 or 80 replications, the cell no longer can reproduce and the _____ are dramatically reduced.

A) mitochondria
B) telomeres
C) chromosomes
D) sperm cells

Question 12

Mason, 75 years old, has noticed that when he's driving at night, especially if it is raining, it is very distressing. He finds it hard to see and to judge distance from other cars. He asked his doctor about it when he went in for an eye exam. Based on data, the doctor's response was that his experience is:

A) typical and expected for his age.
B) unusual but nothing to be concerned about.
C) something to pay attention to because it could signal a larger problem.
D) a sign of trauma and he should go to the hospital immediately.

Question 13

Severe reductions in the production of dopamine have been linked with _____, while reduction in acetylcholine is linked with _____.

A) Parkinson disease; Alzheimer disease
B) Alzheimer disease; Parkinson disease
C) cardiovascular disease; lung cancer
D) lung cancer; cardiovascular disease

Question 14

According to a study by Coleman that compared the brains of adults at various ages, from the forties through the seventies, the:

A) growth of dendrites increased.
B) growth of dendrites decreased.
C) number of axons increased.
D) number of neurons increased.

Question 15

The commonly noticed decrease in working memory and other cognitive activities is likely to be associated with the finding that the _____ shrinks with age.

A) prefrontal cortex
B) amygdala
C) hypothalamus
D) premotor cortex

Question 16

Which of the following are regions of the adult human brain where neurogenesis has been documented?

A) Amygdala and cerebellum
B) Hippocampus and olfactory bulb
C) Prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus
D) Hypothalamus and temporal lobes

Question 17

Gisela is suffering from a condition that involves thickening of the lens of her eyes. This causes her vision to become cloudy or distorted. Identify the condition that Gisela is suffering from.

A) Glaucoma
B) Nearsightedness
C) Macular degeneration
D) Cataracts

Question 18

Paige is having a surgical procedure to replace the natural lenses in her eyes with artificial ones. This is a routine procedure, performed to take care of:

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

Question 19

The tiny bodies within cells that supply essential energy for function, growth, and repair are known as:

A) Lewy bodies.
B) ribosomes.
C) chromosomes.
D) mitochondria.

Question 20

_____ is the number of years that the average person born in a particular year will probably live.

A) Life expectancy
B) Life span
C) Longevity
D) Life extension

Question 21

Lung capacity drops _____ between the ages of 20 and 80, even when disease is not present.

A) 20%
B) 40%
C) 50%
D) 60%

Question 22

_____ is a condition in which individuals may have relatively normal peripheral vision but are unable to see clearly what is right in front of them.

A) Glaucoma
B) Cataracts
C) Macular degeneration
D) Retinal hardening

Question 23

Which of the following is the leading cause of death in the 75 to 84 and 85 and over age groups?

A) Cardiovascular disease
B) Kidney disease
C) Cancer
D) Hypertension

Question 24

Which of the following statements regarding smell and taste in the elderly is TRUE?

A) There is no sign of decline in these senses as we age.
B) Older adults show a greater decline in their sense of taste than in their sense of smell.
C) Smell and taste decline less in healthy older adults than in their less healthy counterparts.
D) Smell and taste become more sensitive as we age.

Question 25

Jasper was hoping to beat the odds and keep his sex life active without medications. Eventually he realized that his experience of _____ occurring in every second to third attempt was normal physiological circumstance.

A) resolution
B) orgasm
C) arousal
D) excitement

Question 26

Mrs. Hernandez has considerable pain and swelling in her wrists, fingers, and knees. It is becoming very difficult for her to maintain her usual routines as her stiffness increases. Mrs. Hernandez has:

A) arteriosclerosis.
B) diabetes.
C) arthritis.
D) osteoporosis.

Question 27

Felicia is an American between 65 and 74 years of age. Her doctor should be most concerned about her developing _____, the leading cause of death for her age group.

A) cancer
B) influenza
C) lung disease
D) cardiovascular disease

Question 28

Calvin and Vincent, both in their early seventies, are avid runners. Calvin would be content to stick with his aerobic activity, but Vincent insists that gerontologists recommend _____ training in addition to aerobic activity for older adults.

A) strength
B) yoga
C) anaerobic
D) mental

Question 29

Salina walks with a marked stoop now that she is old. This is most likely due to:

A) bursitis.
B) osteoporosis.
C) arthritis.
D) diabetes.

Question 30

Gerry, 72 years old, is feeling sluggish and mentally cloudy because he is having trouble sleeping. After talking with his nurse practitioner, he learned that recent research has found that _____ improves the sleep profile of older adults.

A) a high-calorie diet
B) an inactive lifestyle
C) regular exercise
D) antidepressant medication

Question 31

Harold and Sue are both in their seventies. If they are typical of older adults in the United States, based on their gender it is likely that Harold will develop _____ and Sue will develop _____.

A) arthritis; hypertension
B) hypertension; arthritis
C) vision problems; hearing problems
D) hearing problems; vision problems

Question 32

_____ is the most common chronic disorder in late adulthood.

A) Glaucoma
B) Diabetes
C) Arthritis
D) Kidney disease

Question 33

Researchers have found all of the following to be true of sleep in older adults except that they:

A) have trouble going back to sleep after waking up.
B) sleep lighter.
C) wake up often during the night.
D) fall asleep quickly.

Question 34

Ellie is 75 years old. According to your textbook, she is MOST likely to complain about:

A) back pain.
B) peripheral neuropathic pain.
C) chronic joint pain.
D) leg pain.

Question 35

Gladys has _____ that keeps her from seeing what is directly in her line of sight. She has learned to turn her eyes so that she can see with her peripheral vision. It is annoying, but she tells herself that it is better than having no sight at all.

A) glaucoma
B) cataracts
C) macular degeneration
D) retinal hardening

Question 36

Emiko was happy to see her grandmother moving slowly as they walked from her front door to the car. It is winter, and there is ice under a thin cover of snow. Once in the car her grandmother said, "I'm so worried about _____ and breaking a bone."

A) osteoporosis
B) arthritis
C) osteomalacia
D) muscular dystrophy

Question 37

Cynthia is 91 years old. Her optic nerves have been damaged due to buildup of fluid in the eye. The doctor has told her that her condition can be treated with eye drops. The disease that has impaired Cynthia's vision is:

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

Question 38

At least _____ of older adults report at least some persistent pain.

A) 20%
B) 45%
C) 60%
D) 95%

Question 39

A recent national survey revealed that _____ of adults 70 years and older had a hearing loss defined as an inability to hear sounds at frequencies higher than 25 dB with their better ear.

A) 15%
B) 28%
C) 50%
D) 63%

Question 40

Jace has been diagnosed with _____, a condition characterized by damage to the optic nerve due to buildup of fluid in the eye.

A) glaucoma
B) cataracts
C) retinopathy
D) macular degeneration

Question 41

In the study by Rodin and Langer, which of the following was found to be the result of older adults having perceived control over their own lives?

A) It led to fewer social interactions.
B) It significantly reduced life expectancy.
C) It increased the levels of stress.
D) It was found to increase longevity.

Question 42

Older adults who participated in 20 one-hour video game training sessions with the program Lumosity showed reduction in their:

A) distraction.
B) alertness.
C) memory span.
D) vigilance.

Question 43

The most current recommendation regarding exercise for older adults is to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic activity for _____ and muscle strengthening activities _____.

A) 2.5 hours a day; 2 days a week
B) 2.5 hours a week; 2 days a week
C) 1.5 hours three times a week; 1 day a week
D) 1 hour every day; 1 day a week

Question 44

_____ attention is focused and extended engagement with an object, task, event, or some other aspect of the environment.

A) Selective
B) Sustained
C) Divided
D) Executive

Question 45

In a classic study, Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer found that an important factor related to health, and even survival, in a nursing home is:

A) the provision of emergency geriatric care.
B) the availability of trained staff to care for the oldest-olds.
C) the patient's feelings of control and self-determination.
D) the opportunity to interact with family member(s) during the stay.

Question 46

Arthur has been trying to get his grandmother, Maggie, to exercise. After doing some research he presents her with some findings. "Granny Maggie, exercise will do all of these things for you." He's right, except for:

A) delaying the onset of chronic diseases.
B) improving cardiovascular health.
C) improving hearing and vision.
D) delaying the onset of type two diabetes.

Question 47

The term _____ refers to the ability to focus on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant to the task at hand while ignoring others that are irrelevant.

A) divided attention
B) selective attention
C) attention deficit
D) sustained attention

Question 48

There is considerable research evidence showing _____ increases the lifespan of laboratory animals.

A) vitamin restriction
B) calorie overload
C) calorie restriction
D) protein-restricted diet

Question 49

Esther won't admit this to anyone, but has reached the age where driving scares her and makes her nervous. She gets particularly overwhelmed in traffic when trying to make a left-hand turn. She is having trouble using her _____ attention to make decisions about what to notice at the intersection.

A) executive
B) divided
C) sustained
D) selective

Question 50

When the house is quiet, Lucy's grandmother can knit for hours. She uses ____ attention to keep up counting and changing stitches.

A) selective
B) sustained
C) divided
D) executive

Question 51

Which of the following is TRUE about attention?

A) The more difficult the competing tasks are, the more effectively older adults divide attention than younger adults.
B) When the two competing tasks are reasonably easy, age differences among adults are minimal or nonexistent.
C) On simple tasks involving a search for a feature, age differences are dramatic even when individuals are given sufficient practice.
D) Generally, older adults are more adept at selective attention than younger adults are.

Question 52

Your elderly aunt, Marie, was recently admitted to a nursing home where there is a "residents advisory board" made up of the people who live in the home. They consult with the staff on changes that affect their lives and help to plan the monthly activities. Based on research by Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer, you would expect that Aunt Marie will:

A) be happier than if she did not have any input into decisions affecting her life.
B) be stressed by having to make decisions; that's what she pays the staff to do.
C) be even more depressed that she is not able to live on her own anymore.
D) be apathetic about what happens to her.

Question 53

Zack is having a conversation with his friend, Ben, in a crowded room. Despite the presence of many voices around him, Zack focuses on what Ben is saying. This is an example of _____ attention.

A) selective
B) divided
C) implicit
D) executive

Question 54

Which of the following is a term used to describe sustained attention?

A) Executive functioning
B) Transitivity
C) Vigilance
D) Multitasking

Question 55

Karl keeps up with everything that happens outside through his living room window. Nothing in that view escapes his attention. Whether it is someone coming home from work, or the neighbor's cat looking out the window, Karl's _____ attention will pick it up.

A) selective
B) sustained
C) divided
D) executive

Question 56

The cognitive benefits for older adults who exercise include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) a higher level of executive function.
B) the ability to process information more quickly.
C) an expanded short-term memory capacity.
D) delays in cognitive decline.

Question 57

Although there are differences in the quality of care in nursing homes and other extended-care facilities in the United States, more than _____ are considered to be seriously deficient.

A) one-quarter
B) one-third
C) one-half
D) three-quarters

Question 58

Terry took her grandmother out to a popular restaurant. After they arrived Terry was worried that her grandmother would find the noise to be a problem, but she didn't. Her grandmother was fully capable of using _____ attention to focus on Terry's voice.

A) selective
B) divided
C) sustained
D) executive

Question 59

Older adults who were given speed of processing training showed improvements in their _____ attention.

A) selective
B) perceptive
C) inductive
D) sustained

Question 60

At the family dinners Peggy is getting to the age where she is overwhelmed by all the noise and chaos around her. She tries to ignore it and have a conversation, but her _____ attention isn't strong enough to filter out all the distractions.

A) selective
B) perceptive
C) inductive
D) sustained

Question 61

Which of the following is an example of explicit memory?

A) John summarizes the plot of a novel that he has just read to his friend.
B) Max drives the car from his office to his home.
C) Linda turns off the lights before going to bed.
D) Maria types on her computer while talking to her friend.

Question 62

The retention of information about the when and where of life's happenings is called _____ memory.

A) episodic
B) prospective
C) source
D) semantic

Question 63

_____ memory is memory without conscious recollection.

A) Implicit
B) Prospective
C) Source
D) Explicit

Question 64

Which of the following statements about the relationship between semantic memory, episodic memory, and aging is TRUE?

A) Episodic memory declines more than semantic memory in older adults.
B) Older adults are usually unable to retrieve semantic information.
C) Episodic memory and semantic memory remain unchanged in older adults.
D) Older adults can retrieve semantic information from long ago but not from the recent past.

Question 65

Sally, now 64 years old, is telling her granddaughter about what it was like to ride on a train instead of a plane. Sally is recalling _____ memories.

A) prospective
B) implicit
C) semantic
D) episodic

Question 66

_____ is a cognitive resource that involves the ability to perform tasks such as deciding whether pairs of two-digit or two-letter strings are the same or different or determining the time required to step on the brakes when the car directly ahead stops.

A) Sustained attention
B) Executive attention
C) Episodic memory
D) Perceptual speed

Question 67

Which of the following is TRUE about implicit memory?

A) It is also known as declarative memory.
B) It is more likely to be adversely affected by aging than explicit memory.
C) It involves skills and routine procedures that are automatically performed.
D) It is memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state.

Question 68

Adeline, age 90, still drives her car to the senior center every Friday. Last week she told you that someone you know from her church died. When you ask her for the person's name, she says, "I can't remember her name. She sits near the front and always has a hat on." Clearly Adeline has better _____ memory than _____ memory.

A) explicit; implicit
B) implicit; explicit
C) explicit; procedural
D) source; trait

Question 69

Why are older adults more likely to forget what items they wanted to buy at a grocery store (unless they write them down on a list and take it with them) than they are to forget how to drive a car?

A) Perceptual speed declines with aging.
B) Implicit memory is less likely to be adversely affected by aging than explicit memory.
C) Source memory is more likely to decline with aging than prospective memory.
D) Explicit memory declines more rapidly with aging than implicit memory.

Question 70

Helen's knowledge of calculus and statistics is a part of her _____ memory.

A) semantic
B) episodic
C) prospective
D) implicit

Question 71

A person's knowledge about the world is called _____ memory.

A) schematic
B) functional
C) normative
D) semantic

Question 72

Explicit memory is also called _____ memory.

A) collective
B) procedural
C) declarative
D) false

Question 73

Which is true of older adults and episodic memories?

A) Episodic memory performance is unrelated to the development of dementia.
B) No matter what age, older memories are more accurate.
C) Older adults have more accurate episodic memories than younger adults.
D) They can't remember older events as well as they think they can.

Question 74

Harriett has been playing piano at church for most of her adult life. She can play many songs without thinking about it. In fact, she can carry on a conversation while she is playing. The songs are in her _____ memory.

A) implicit
B) prospective
C) source
D) explicit

Question 75

Frank, age 67, recites a poem that he learned in grade school, much to the amazement of his grandchildren. This is an example of Frank's _____ memory.

A) procedural
B) episodic
C) semantic
D) functional

Question 76

Peter, now 75 years old, is recounting his last trip on a boat. He is using _____ memory.

A) situational
B) semantic
C) prospective
D) episodic

Question 77

Although Alicia has a great memory for trivia, she has difficulty remembering important events in her life. Alicia has good _____ memory but poor _____ memory.

A) episodic; procedural
B) procedural; semantic
C) semantic; episodic
D) explicit; implicit

Question 78

Which of the following is an example of implicit memory?

A) Being at a grocery store and remembering what you wanted to buy
B) Typing on the computer while talking to a friend
C) Being able to name the capital of Illinois
D) Recounting the events of a movie you have seen

Question 79

Perceptual speed shows considerable decline in late adulthood and is strongly linked with declines in:

A) selective attention.
B) semantic memory.
C) working memory.
D) divided attention.

Question 80

Maria hadn't been on a bike in 15 years. She was a little shaky at first until she got her balance, but after that she was able to ride with her family, have a conversation, and look around the neighborhood. Maria was using _____ memory.

A) declarative
B) prospective
C) implicit
D) explicit