Deck 15: Disorders of Aging and Cognition

Question 1

How is delirium similar to delusional disorder?

A) Both are marked by rapid onset.
B) Both increase in rate after age 65.
C) Both involve auditory hallucinations.
D) Both have the same symptoms.

Answer 1

Both increase in rate after age 65.

Question 2

One of the main reasons why disorders of the elderly are getting more attention from researchers and clinicians is that:

A) people are living longer and the proportion of the population reaching old age has been increasing steadily.
B) advances in neuroimaging technology has made it possible to study disorders that predominantly affect the elderly.
C) more research funding has been directed toward investigating disorders affecting the elderly.
D) a large percentage of researchers and clinicians are approaching old age.

Answer 2

people are living longer and the proportion of the population reaching old age has been increasing steadily.

Question 3

Among the "oldest old," those who are older than 100,the MOST common concern is the fear of:

A) reduced physical endurance.
B) death.
C) fewer new experiences.
D) decreased mental abilities.

Answer 3

decreased mental abilities.

Question 4

An elderly person who develops false beliefs that are not bizarre is MOST likely suffering from:

A) delusional disorder.
B) disorders of cognition.
C) memory problems.
D) sleep disorder.

Question 5

After age 60,the percentage of people with major neurocognitive disorders:

A) increases gradually as age increases.
B) increases exponentially as age increases.
C) increases rapidly then stabilizes after age 80.
D) remains low until age 85 and then dramatically increases.

Question 6

A 65-year-old in very good health typically will experience occasional:

A) neurocognitive disorders.
B) memory difficulties.
C) delusions.
D) hallucinations.

Question 7

What would be the BEST advice to give someone who wants to retain good cognitive functioning as long as possible in old age?

A) Be sure to get mineral supplements,especially zinc and aluminum-and take it easy,to avoid injury.
B) Disengage a little-don't let the world news upset you-and avoid caffeine and other stimulants.
C) Get a pet-caring for something else helps-and avoid eyestrain by reducing your reading.
D) Exercise your body and your mind-use it or lose it.

Question 8

Which is NOT true about the most effective long-term inpatient care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease?

A) Emotional responding deteriorates before cognitive functioning does.
B) Subtle environmental changes-brighter lights,for example-may improve mood.
C) Individualized care works better than standardized care.
D) Watching videos produces mood changes,which last even after the video is forgotten.

Question 9

A friend tells you that his 70-year-old grandmother is in good physical health but has been diagnosed with depression.He wonders if she should even bother getting therapy."She is pretty old,after all." Based on current research,the BEST answer is:

A) No; older adults with depression don't usually respond well to therapy.
B) Maybe; though only about 15 percent of elderly patients show improvement."
C) Yes; more than half of elderly patients show improvement with treatment.
D) Yes; but be sure she gets individual therapy,since group therapies don't work well with the elderly.

Question 10

The brain changes that those with Alzheimer's disease experience are:

A) similar to those of most elderly people,but they happen to an excessive degree.
B) different from those of most elderly people,especially in the cerebellum.
C) different from those of most elderly people,especially in the corpus callosum.
D) different from those of most elderly people in all parts of the brain.

Question 11

A person has normal acetylcholine and glutamate activity.If that person is suspected of having Alzheimer's disease,one might look next for:

A) lower than usual levels of zinc in the brain.
B) unusual breakdown of heavy metals in the brain.
C) an imbalance in the breakdown of calcium in the brain.
D) an enlargement of neurons in the hippocampus.

Question 12

The molecules that are found in sphere-shaped deposits in spaces between neurons in the hippocampus in individuals with Alzheimer's disease are called:

A) senile plaques.
B) neural plaques.
C) beta-amyloid protein.
D) neurofibrillary tangles.

Question 13

A person with Alzheimer's disease shows decreased brain activity in the diencephalon.This decreased activity should be related to:

A) no change in either the function of short-term memory or in the conversion of short-term memories to long-term memories.
B) no change in the function of short-term memory but problems in the conversion of short-term memories to long-term memories.
C) problems in the function of short-term memory but no change in the conversion of short-term memories to long-term memories.
D) problems in both the function of short-term memory and in the conversion of short-term memories to long-term memories.

Question 14

Women who want to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's should:

A) take estrogen for years after menopause.
B) eliminate caffeine use after menopause.
C) avoid taking ibuprofen for menstrual discomfort.
D) take male sex hormones after menopause.

Question 15

If one examined a sample of brain tissue from a person who had died of Alzheimer's disease,it should show:

A) high concentrations of acetylcholine.
B) damage caused by lead and zinc poisoning.
C) wide gaps between neurons and neuronal connections.
D) many senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

Question 16

From a cognitive-behavioral standpoint,research suggests that Alzheimer's disease can be delayed or prevented by all of these EXCEPT:

A) performing simple calculations and reading aloud.
B) doing cognitively stimulating activities on a computer.
C) engaging in physical exercise.
D) listening to music that was popular during one's youth.

Question 17

Which has NOT been used as a cognitive-behavioral treatment for Alzheimer's disease?

A) doing simple math and reading aloud in a group setting
B) increasing the capacity of short-term memory by memorizing strings of random numbers
C) writing letters and attending cultural events,such as concerts or plays
D) using a computer-based cognitive stimulation program

Question 18

Alzheimer's is named for the first person to _____ the disease.

A) suffer from
B) identify
C) fund research in
D) write a novel about

Question 19

What is the primary difference between major and mild neurocognitive disorder?

A) the age of the person at the disorder's onset
B) the gender that is most effected
C) whether it produces Alzheimer's disease
D) whether it interferes with independent functioning

Question 20

Statistically speaking,which person is LEAST likely to develop alcohol use disorder?

A) a man in his 20s who lives with his parents
B) a man in his 20s who lives alone
C) a man in his 70s who lives in a nursing home
D) a man in his 70s who lives alone

Question 21

Based on recent research,as the percentage of elderly people who use the Internet and social media continues to rise,one would predict that the percentage of elderly people:

A) with cognitive impairment will decrease in the future.
B) with cognitive impairment will increase in the future.
C) who are victims of cyberbullying will decrease in the future.
D) who are victims of cyberbullying will increase in the future.

Question 22

Which is MOST likely to be said by an elderly person regarding long-term care?

A) "I'm glad I saved enough for this."
B) "I've known lots of people who got better and came home."
C) "I'm worried about losing my independence."
D) "I can't wait for all the interesting new activities I'll be able to do."

Question 23

What is one problem associated with delirium?

A) It is very expensive to treat.
B) The underlying factors that cause it are relatively unknown.
C) Doctors often don't recognize it and may misdiagnose it.
D) Very few studies have investigated effective treatments.

Question 24

Elderly people who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups may rely on friends and family members more than those in majority groups do for mental and health care for all these reasons EXCEPT:

A) they mistrust the majority establishment.
B) they face language barriers that interfere with care.
C) they hold cultural beliefs that prevent them from seeking services.
D) they are more likely to have a friend or family member who is trained to provide culturally appropriate services.

Question 25

Why do most elderly people take medications?

A) to treat anxiety
B) to treat psychosis
C) to treat pain
D) to treat high blood pressure

Question 26

As the percentage of the population who are 65 or older continues to rise,one would NOT expect the _____ to rise as well.

A) number of geropsychologists
B) percentage of people with neurocognitive disorder
C) percentage of people with substance use disorder
D) number of nursing homes

Question 27

In people with Alzheimer's disease,memory problems appear to be caused by disruption of the production of:

A) inhibitory neurotransmitters.
B) memory-linked fatty acids.
C) DNA.
D) memory-linked proteins.

Question 28

An individual with Alzheimer's disease is no longer able to function independently.The MOST appropriate diagnosis for this person's condition is:

A) mild delirium.
B) major delirium.
C) mild neurocognitive disorder.
D) major neurocognitive disorder.

Question 29

"I'm no fool,no sirree! I'm gonna live to be 103...." sang the Disney character Jiminy Cricket decades ago.If Jiminy Cricket had been a human (most crickets live only a few weeks),what's the BEST advice you could have given him for living a very long life?

A) Accept life's challenges with optimism,have good health habits,and inherit "longevity" genes.
B) Avoid life's hassles,have good health habits,and accept ongoing,preventive psychological counseling.
C) Find a "personal space" where you can get away from the world,and inherit "longevity" genes.
D) There's nothing you can do; extreme longevity is entirely genetic.

Question 30

A person experiences a clouding of consciousness that develops over a short period.If it often can be reversed once the underlying cause is determined,what is the condition called?

A) neurocognitive disorder
B) delirium
C) delusional disorder
D) cognitive mapping

Question 31

Sphere-shaped deposits of a small molecule in spaces between neurons in the hippocampus in individuals with Alzheimer's disease are called:

A) senile plaques.
B) neural plaques.
C) beta-amyloid proteins.
D) neurofibrillary tangles.

Question 32

Which statement is true regarding early-onset Alzheimer's disease?

A) It tends to run in families.
B) It is triggered by environmental factors.
C) It is not associated with an excess of senile plaques.
D) It produces fewer cognitive impairments compared to late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Question 33

The percentage of the U.S.population today aged 65 and older is approximately:

A) 4 percent.
B) 7 percent.
C) 15 percent.
D) 25 percent.

Question 34

Which statement is TRUE regarding anxiety disorders and aging?

A) Symptoms of anxiety disorders are distinct from other medical conditions.
B) The prevalence of anxiety among the elderly is comparable to that of other age groups.
C) Declining sexual drive is the main source of anxiety among the elderly.
D) Drug treatments are metabolized differently in the elderly and should be used cautiously.

Question 35

The MOST frequent type of neurocognitive disorder in the elderly is:

A) vascular in nature.
B) Parkinson's disease.
C) Alzheimer's disease.
D) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Question 36

Which statement regarding the use of drug therapy to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease is accurate?

A) Drug therapy slows down the disease in all patients.
B) Drug therapy slows down the disease only in patients with severe forms of the disease.
C) Drug therapy slows down the disease in patients treated early in the course of a milder form of the disease.
D) Drug therapy slows down the disease in no one; drug therapy doesn't work for Alzheimer's disease.

Question 37

To control occasional pain and inflammation,a person uses an over-the-counter drug containing ibuprofen.Interestingly,recent research shows that the person also may be reducing the risk of contracting which disease?

A) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
B) Alzheimer's disease
C) Huntington's disease
D) Parkinson's disease

Question 38

Among elderly persons who would benefit from mental health services,MOST:

A) do not get the treatment they need.
B) see a mental health care provider but are noncompliant with their treatment plans.
C) resist using these services even when opportunities are available.
D) seek services from those who are not qualified to offer effective treatment.

Question 39

Studies show that when treating depression in elderly patients,it is important to remember which point?

A) Drug treatments may need to be altered because drugs are broken down differently in the older body.
B) Individual and group therapies are rarely used.
C) Electroconvulsive shock therapy is the treatment of choice.
D) Therapy is not effective most of the time.

Question 40

Which of these is a biomarker that usually accompanies Alzheimer's disease?

A) elevated beta-amyloid and tau proteins
B) elevated serum lead levels
C) memory issues and other cognitive impairments
D) high activity in the hippocampus

Question 41

The best evidence we have to date suggests that early-onset Alzheimer's disease is transmitted genetically in families that:

A) transmit mutations of certain protein-producing genes.
B) have many members with the sporadic form of the disease.
C) have no members with the disease but transmit genetically recessive traits.
D) do not have a clear history of the disease.

Question 42

A person with Alzheimer's disease who is taking a drug designed to affect acetylcholine and glutamate may experience:

A) improvement in short-term memory but not in the ability to cope under pressure.
B) improvement in the ability to cope under pressure but not in short-term memory.
C) improvement both in short-term memory and in the ability to cope under pressure.
D) neither improvement in short-term memory,nor in the ability to cope under pressure.

Question 43

Which of these is NOT a characteristic shared by most centenarians?

A) being somewhat physically and sexually active
B) having a close relative who also lived to a very old age
C) having unimpaired sensory functions
D) fearing cognitive decline more than death

Question 44

Short-term memory is like a _____,whereas long-term memory is like a _____.

A) workbench; storage cabinet
B) video camera; audio recorder
C) singer; choir
D) bag of candy; candy factory

Question 45

Lisa Mosconi and her associates administered PET scans to seemingly healthy elderly research participants to measure activity in the hippocampus.They found that participants with low hippocampus activity were more likely to develop neurocognitive disorders later in life.How accurate were their predictions?

A) about 60 percent for both mild and major neurocognitive impairment
B) about 90 percent for both mild and major neurocognitive impairment
C) more than 70 percent accurate for mild neurocognitive impairment and more than 80 percent accurate for major neurocognitive impairment
D) more than 80 percent accurate for mild neurocognitive impairment,and nearly 100 percent accurate for major neurocognitive impairment

Question 46

Which problem related to substance abuse is more typical among the elderly than among those in other age groups?

A) alcohol use disorder
B) drinking in reaction to negative life events
C) misuse of prescription drugs
D) misuse of illicit drugs

Question 47

The research conducted by Mosconi and others to identify biomarkers that predict Alzheimer's disease is BEST classified as a(n):

A) clinical trial.
B) epidemiological study.
C) case study.
D) longitudinal study.

Question 48

At 72 years old,Edward has just been diagnosed with depression.What is true regarding how he may recover in the future?

A) He will recover more slowly than average from injuries,but recover at a normal rate from illnesses.
B) He will recover at a normal rate from injuries but recover more slowly than average from illnesses.
C) He will recover more slowly than average from both injuries and illnesses.
D) He will recover at a normal rate from both injuries and illnesses.

Question 49

Research evaluating sociocultural approaches to dealing with Alzheimer's disease-for example,assisted-living facilities and day-care facilities-shows that,in general,patients receiving these forms of care:

A) enjoy life more and don't continue to decline as quickly.
B) enjoy life more but continue to decline as quickly.
C) don't enjoy life more but don't continue to decline as quickly.
D) don't enjoy life more and continue to decline as quickly.

Question 50

What does research show is the greatest source of anxiety among the elderly?

A) specific experiences
B) losses
C) health
D) drinking

Question 51

The prefrontal cortex is to _____,as the temporal lobes and diencephalon are to _____.

A) long-term memory; transferring information into short-term memory
B) short-term memory; transferring information into long-term memory
C) episodic memory; procedural memory
D) procedural memory; episodic memory

Question 52

Gary starts drinking heavily after the death of his wife,who he was married to for 58 years.What kind of substance abuse would this be called?

A) late-onset alcoholism
B) early-onset alcoholism
C) geriatric alcohol abuse disorder
D) socially driven problem drinking

Question 53

Most elderly people with schizophrenia were initially diagnosed and treated for it:

A) when they were much younger.
B) when they entered a nursing home.
C) shortly after reaching old age.
D) after they began living alone.

Question 54

Triple jeopardy,as an issue affecting the mental health of the elderly,refers to:

A) depression,anxiety,and substance abuse.
B) neurocognitive disorder,delirium,and substance abuse.
C) a person being old,a minority member,and a woman.
D) discrimination,poor long-term care,and poor medical care.

Question 55

Which statement BEST describes the limitations of the current treatment options for Alzheimer's disease?

A) No treatment exists to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
B) There is no treatment available to decrease the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease.
C) There are no treatment options to help people cope with taking care of Alzheimer's patients.
D) No treatment exists that can stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Question 56

Ruby has just been diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder.What is likely TRUE about Ruby?

A) She experiences little or no decline in any area of cognitive functioning.
B) She experiences decline in only one area of cognitive functioning.
C) She can still function independently.
D) She can no longer function independently.

Question 57

Psychological disorders among the elderly can be divided into two groups:

A) personal losses and mental stress.
B) the process of aging and disorders of cognition.
C) environmental factors and genetic factors.
D) physical problems and sensory problems.

Question 58

Rebecca is 68 years old and has just been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.This disorder is most likely:

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
B) agoraphobia.
C) chronic panic attacks.
D) generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 59

Marcus has psychological problems.He overhears a therapist mention "double jeopardy" when talking about Marcus's case to a colleague.What does this mean about Marcus?

A) He is old and physically ill.
B) He is old and a member of an ethnic minority.
C) He is young and a member of an ethnic minority.
D) He is physically ill and young.

Question 60

Elizabeth has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.What will be her most likely initial reaction?

A) denial that she has a problem
B) anger and agitation
C) indifference about the disorder
D) social withdrawal

Question 61

Studies have shown that when compared to people in their 80s and 90s,the "oldest old," are considered:

A) less agile.
B) less healthy.
C) less clear-headed.
D) healthy,more agile,and clearheaded.

Question 62

Researchers differentiate older problem drinkers into those who have _____ and those who _____.

A) been abusing alcohol for most of their life; are late-onset alcohol abusers
B) problems abusing other drugs; do not abuse other drugs
C) been diagnosed with depression; have a diagnosed anxiety disorder
D) lived in assisted living facilities; have lived independently their entire lives

Question 63

The temporal lobes include which brain structures that are linked to memory function?

A) medulla and cerebellum
B) thalamus and hypothalamus
C) hippocampus and amygdala
D) reticular formation and pituitary gland

Question 64

One of the MOST frequent reasons for the institutionalization of Alzheimer's patients is to:

A) provide more sophisticated medical treatments.
B) provide increased opportunities for employment.
C) provide relief to overwhelmed home caregivers.
D) take advantage of better rehabilitation services.

Question 65

Benjamin,age 71,takes two over-the-counter medications and five prescription medications.Is this number of medication usual for a person Benjamin's age?

A) Somewhat.The average elderly individual takes only one or two medications.
B) No.The average elderly individual takes double this amount of medications.
C) Yes.The average elderly individual takes about this amount of medications.
D) Somewhat.The average elderly individual takes a few more medications.

Question 66

How many people within the elderly population use the Internet and Facebook?

A) tiny percentage (less than 5 percent)
B) small percentage (around 10 percent)
C) quarter (around 25 percent)
D) large percentage (around 60 percent)

Question 67

If you do things during your life that promote physical and psychological well-being,you are engaging in a _____ approach to aging.

A) preventive
B) medical
C) conditional
D) health-maintenance

Question 68

Any biochemical,molecular,gene,or structural characteristic that accompanies a disease is called a(n):

A) vector.
B) biological anomaly.
C) biomarker.
D) epigenetic factor.

Question 69

If a young person is taking a health-maintenance approach to aging,the person would be:

A) buying long-term care insurance.
B) doing things that promote physical and mental health.
C) avoiding negative life events.
D) being sensitive to cultural differences among people.

Question 70

Which therapy is used to treat depression in the elderly after other therapy attempts fail?

A) cognitive-behavioral therapy
B) antidepressant medication
C) electroconvulsive therapy
D) group therapy

Question 71

Ned is extremely sad and has difficulty sleeping.He also experiences very low self-esteem that seems to be steadily getting even lower.These are features of:

A) depression.
B) schizophrenia.
C) bipolar disorder.
D) Alzheimer's disease.

Question 72

If you had a PET scan at a relatively young age to predict your likelihood of developing Alzheimer's,you would be most disturbed if you had:

A) higher activity in the gray matter than in the white matter.
B) reduced hippocampus activity.
C) normal levels of zinc.
D) activity in the subcortical structures.

Question 73

Regarding old age,stress,and illness,which of these statements is NOT true?

A) Most people over age 65 have two or more chronic illnesses.
B) A large percentage of elderly people suffer from insomnia or other sleep problems.
C) Elderly people often contend with significant losses (such as death,sense of purpose,sensory ability).
D) Most people over age 65 develop psychological disorders due to the stressors in their lives.

Question 74

Recent research shows that developing Alzheimer's disease is related to:

A) lower hippocampus activity earlier in a person's life.
B) higher hippocampus activity earlier in a person's life.
C) abnormalities in corpus callosum development in a person's childhood.
D) abnormalities in corpus callosum development in a person's early adulthood.

Question 75

A person is experiencing difficulty with long-term memory.In what area of the brain is a problem likely?

A) prefrontal lobes
B) temporal lobes
C) parietal lobes
D) occipital lobes

Question 76

Alessandro suddenly finds it hard to concentrate.He also finds it very difficult to think in a clear and organized manner.What is he is most likely suffering from?

A) delusional disorder
B) delirium
C) Alzheimer's disease
D) dissociative disorder

Question 77

Compared with people closer to age 55,people older than 85 are _____ as likely to experience delirium.

A) about twice
B) about three times
C) about ten times
D) more than ten times

Question 78

Which approach to treating Alzheimer's disease is comparable to an approach used to treat schizophrenia?

A) day care
B) halfway houses
C) cognitive-behavioral therapy
D) antipsychotic medication

Question 79

An elderly person has been diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder,but the disorder is not Alzheimer's disease.Among the elderly,such a diagnosis is:

A) very rare-only about 2 percent of neurocognitive disorders are not Alzheimer's disease.
B) unusual-only about 10 percent of neurocognitive disorders are not Alzheimer's disease.
C) common-about a third of neurocognitive disorders are not Alzheimer's disease.
D) very common-about half of neurocognitive disorders are not Alzheimer's disease.

Question 80

Lewis often drinks alone.When he drinks,he blacks out occasionally and falls a lot.These characteristics are:

A) more than twice as common in young alcohol abusers than in elderly alcohol abusers.
B) slightly more common in young alcohol abusers than in elderly alcohol abusers.
C) slightly more common in elderly alcohol abusers than in young alcohol abusers.
D) more than twice as common in elderly alcohol abusers than in young alcohol abusers.