Deck 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

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

Answer 1

stem cell regeneration

Question 2

In 2011, which of the following countries had the highest life expectancy?

A) United States
B) Japan
C) Monaco
D) Sweden

Answer 2

Monaco

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

mitochondria.

Question 4

Researchers have extended the life of a human cell by:

A) removing the cap of the DNA molecule.
B) injecting it with telomerase.
C) rearranging the DNA sequences.
D) splicing the 18th and 19th chromosome.

Question 5

_____ are DNA sequences that cap chromosomes.

A) Free radicals
B) Polymers
C) Telomeres
D) Mitochondria

Question 6

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

Question 7

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 8

Reductions in _____ have been linked to small declines in memory functioning and to the severe memory loss associated with Alzheimer disease.

A) gamma-aminobutyric acid
B) dopamine
C) acetylcholine
D) adrenaline

Question 9

Which of the following countries had the lowest estimated life expectancy in 2011?

A) South Africa
B) Singapore
C) Japan
D) United States

Question 10

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 11

According to evolutionary theory, which of the following is the reason Alzheimer disease not been eliminated by evolution?

A) It appears only in adolescence or early adulthood.
B) It is a genetic disorder.
C) It is caused by improper diet and inadequate physical activity.
D) It does not appear until late middle adulthood or late adulthood.

Question 12

_____ 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 13

The _____ is one area that shrinks more than others with aging.

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

Question 14

Which of the following biological reasons explains women's increased resistance to infections and degenerative diseases?

A) Estrogen production and the additional X chromosome
B) Lower cholesterol levels and improved lung function
C) Postmenopausal hormone levels and increased body water
D) Better osmoregulation and lower trans fat

Question 15

Which of the following is a similarity of the cellular clock, free-radical, and mitochondrial theories?

A) They attribute the process of aging to hormonal changes.
B) They attempt to explain aging at the cellular level.
C) They discount the role of genetics in aging.
D) They emphasize the effects of ecological factors on aging.

Question 16

_____ theory states that cells can divide a maximum of about 75 to 80 times, and that as we age our cells become less capable of dividing.

A) Evolutionary
B) Cellular clock
C) Free-radical
D) Hormonal stress

Question 17

According to evolutionary theory, natural selection is linked to _____ which is present in the earlier part of adulthood.

A) reproductive fitness
B) neurogenesis
C) cognitive and perceptual fitness
D) muscular and skeletal strength

Question 18

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

A) 69.3 years
B) 72.3 years
C) 75.3 years
D) 78.3 years

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a biological theory explaining aging?

A) Cellular clock theory
B) Free-radical theory
C) Mitochondrial theory
D) Reverse neurogenesis theory

Question 20

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 decrease.

Question 21

Color vision declines with age due to:

A) the yellowing of the lens of the eye.
B) a decline in the effectiveness of the cones to discriminate colors.
C) cataracts preventing certain parts of the light spectrum from entering the lens of the eye.
D) a reduction of the light entering the peripheral area of the visual field.

Question 22

Identify the region of the human brain in which neurogenesis has been documented in adults.

A) Amygdala
B) Hypothalamus
C) Prefrontal cortex
D) Olfactory bulb

Question 23

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 24

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

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

Question 25

The _____ is involved in smell.

A) hippocampus
B) amygdala
C) olfactory bulb
D) prefrontal cortex

Question 26

Severe reductions in the production of dopamine have been linked with:

A) Parkinson's disease.
B) Alzheimer disease.
C) dementia other than Alzheimer disease.
D) brain cancer.

Question 27

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 28

According to the Nun Study, _____, a measure of linguistic ability assessed early in the adult years (age 22), was linked with higher brain weight, fewer incidences of mild cognitive impairment, and fewer characteristics of Alzheimer disease in 75- to 95-year-old nuns.

A) verbal comprehension
B) brain density
C) idea density
D) brain volume

Question 29

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 30

_____ are the most noticeable changes in physical appearance in late adulthood.

A) Loss of hair and brittle nails
B) Osteoporosis of the bones
C) Reduction in height and weight
D) Wrinkles and age spots

Question 31

Which of the following is observed in older adults?

A) Lung capacity increases
B) Lungs become more elastic
C) The diaphragm strengthens
D) The chest size decreases

Question 32

Which of the following is a region of the adult human brain where neurogenesis has been documented?

A) Amygdala
B) Hippocampus
C) Prefrontal cortex
D) Hypothalamus

Question 33

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

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

Question 34

The _____ is involved in memory.

A) hippocampus
B) amygdala
C) prefrontal cortex
D) olfactory bulb

Question 35

Cynthia is 91 years old. Her optic nerves have got 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 36

The _____ refers to the primary neural receptor for hearing in the inner ear.

A) ear drum
B) cochlea
C) semicircular canals
D) malleus

Question 37

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 38

Which of the following is NOT one of the three major diseases that can impair the vision of older adults?

A) Myopia
B) Cataract
C) Glaucoma
D) Macular degeneration

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 percent
B) 28 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 63 percent

Question 40

The vision of older adults can be affected by age-related changes. One of these changes, which can make steps and curbs difficult to manage, is a decline in:

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

Question 41

Compared with elderly men, elderly women are LESS likely to have:

A) arthritis.
B) hypertension.
C) visual problems.
D) hearing problems.

Question 42

_____ are the leading cause of injury deaths among adults who are 65 years and older.

A) Household fires
B) Falls
C) Motor vehicle accidents
D) Heart conditions

Question 43

A recent study revealed that _____ improves the sleep profile of older adults.

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

Question 44

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 45

Selective attention is _____, whereas divided attention is _____.

A) vigilance; focusing on a specific event
B) paying attention only occasionally; constantly paying attention
C) focusing on one thing; focusing on many things
D) paying attention to detail; paying attention to significant events

Question 46

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 47

_____ is the most common chronic disorder in late adulthood.

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

Question 48

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 49

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 50

An example of _____ attention is the ability to focus on one voice among many in a crowded room or a noisy restaurant.

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

Question 51

_____ becomes less frequent in males with age, occurring in every second to third attempt rather than every time.

A) Resolution
B) Orgasm
C) Arousal
D) Excitement

Question 52

Exercise is linked to the prevention or delayed onset of chronic diseases, such as _____.

A) type 2 diabetes
B) type 1 diabetes
C) hemophilia
D) asthma

Question 53

_____ is likely to delay biochemical alterations such as the age-related rise in cholesterol and triglycerides observed in both humans and animals.

A) Vitamin restriction
B) Calorie overload
C) Calorie restriction
D) Protein-restricted diet

Question 54

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 any more.
D) be apathetic about what happens to her.

Question 55

_____ involves an extensive loss of bone tissue.

A) Arteriosclerosis
B) Diabetes
C) Arthritis
D) Osteoporosis

Question 56

Felicia is an American between 65-74 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 57

Women are especially vulnerable to _____, which is the leading cause of broken bones in women.

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

Question 58

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 59

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 60

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 61

_____ attention involves concentrating on more than one activity at the same time.

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

Question 62

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 63

Remembering the name of your favorite toy when you were a child is an example of _____ memory.

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

Question 64

Which of the following is the probable reason for the decline in working memory in older adults?

A) Increased distractibility
B) Efficient inhibition
C) Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon
D) Lowered implicit memory

Question 65

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 66

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

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

Question 67

Older adults have more difficulty determining the time required to step on the brakes when a traffic light suddenly turns red. This is because they have:

A) a decline in explicit memory.
B) slower perceptual speed.
C) inferior semantic memory.
D) lost the ability to use their episodic memory.

Question 68

_____ 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 69

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 70

Which of the following statements about the relationship between semantic 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 71

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 72

Remembering where you went on vacation last summer is an example of _____ memory.

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

Question 73

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 74

_____ 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 75

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 76

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

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

Question 77

A common memory problem for older adults is _____, in which individuals can't quite retrieve familiar information but have the feeling that they should be able to retrieve it.

A) dementia
B) the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon
C) temporary memory loss
D) mental block

Question 78

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

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

Question 79

An example of _____ attention is making a decision about which stimuli to attend to when making a left turn at an intersection.

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

Question 80

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.