Deck 14: Late Adulthood: Body and Mind

Question 1

A problem with the dependency ratio is that it:

A) assumes that people over age 64 are dependent.
B) demonstrates that people over age 80 are the fastest growing segment of the population.
C) will not be 1:1 until worldwide until 2065.
D) does not account for the children under age 15.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following vocal characteristics is a feature of elderspeak?

A) higher pitch
B) faster speech
C) bigger words
D) gestures

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Individuals classified as oldest-old are usually how old?

A) 65-75
B) 70-85
C) over 85
D) around 100

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What is the fastest-growing age group in the United States?

A) 0-15
B) 20-35
C) 35-65
D) 80 and up

Question 5

The notion that DNA regulates the aging process is referred to as the:

A) cellular accident.
B) error catastrophe.
C) genetic clock.
D) free-radical hypothesis.

Question 6

Caregivers can diminish the independence of the elderly if they:

A) help too little.
B) help too much.
C) encourage physical activity.
D) do not believe in ageism.

Question 7

Inez, age 76, believes she is independent and has personal autonomy. She is likely to be:

A) wrong; no one her age can be autonomous.
B) mentally and physically healthier than people her age who do not share those beliefs.
C) more optimistic than other people her age, but no healthier than them.
D) overstating her sense of well being.

Question 8

At age 75, Martha is typical of people her age. She believes that when compared to others of the same age:

A) everyone is faring quite similarly.
B) they are doing better than she is; she has more problems.
C) she is doing well but they have more problems and are self-absorbed.
D) everyone gets what he or she deserves and she deserves more.

Question 9

In developed nations, the most common living arrangement for people over age 65 is living:

A) in a nursing home.
B) with adult children.
C) with a spouse or alone.
D) with an unrelated age-mate.

Question 10

In the United States, only 4 percent of older people live:

A) at home.
B) in nursing homes.
C) with an adult child.
D) independently.

Question 11

What percent of the United States population is over age 65?

A) 2
B) 13
C) 29
D) 42

Question 12

The wear-and-tear theory of aging is weakened by the fact that:

A) the human body cannot repair itself.
B) many parts of the body wear out from use.
C) many body functions benefit from use.
D) machines cannot grow old.

Question 13

The study of population numbers is called:

A) gerontology.
B) psychology.
C) demography.
D) geography.

Question 14

Which of the following groups makes up the largest group of older adults?

A) young-old
B) old-old
C) oldest-old
D) centenarians

Question 15

The term "ageism" refers to:

A) the veneration of the elderly.
B) judging people on the basis of chronological age.
C) the view of society held by older people.
D) the demographics of the population pyramid.

Question 16

What distinguishes the old-old from the young-old?

A) years of age
B) details of living arrangements
C) degree of positive or negative attitude
D) reductions in physical or mental ability

Question 17

The main reason we may not notice the young-old is that:

A) they do not fit our stereotypes of the elderly.
B) there are relatively few of them.
C) they are a problem-prone minority.
D) they are not integrated into the community.

Question 18

Using elderspeak when engaging in conversation with an older adult:

A) is demeaning.
B) helps the individual comprehend the meaning of the conversation.
C) only makes sense if the individual has a hearing aid.
D) demonstrates respect and understanding.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT true about most elders?

A) Most elders rely on others for basic care.
B) Most elders are caregivers, rather than receivers of care.
C) A minority of elders live with their adult children
D) Ten percent of individuals age 80 or older are in a nursing home or hospital.

Question 20

Ageism impacts the elderly by:

A) empowering them to use their strengths and wisdom in their communities.
B) undermining their feelings of competence and self- esteem.
C) invoking rebellion.
D) creating special opportunities for older adults that would not otherwise exist.

Question 21

The very ends of chromosomes in cells, which may be correlated with longevity, are known as:

A) B cells.
B) T cells.
C) alleles.
D) telomeres.

Question 22

Which of the following strategies is crucial when older people have sensory loss?

A) acceptance
B) isolation
C) compensation
D) retirement

Question 23

According to the information-processing approach to cognition, which of the following is another term for the "sensing" stage of cognition?

A) input
B) erasing
C) reminding
D) priming

Question 24

Which of the following happens to the brain during senescence?

A) neural fluid increases
B) myelination thickens
C) neurotransmitter production decreases
D) the corpus callosum increases

Question 25

As an individual ages, small sensory losses like as a decreased ability to hear nuances of emotion in speech:

A) impair cognition.
B) are noticed immediately by the person experiencing them.
C) are unusual and usually a sign of a serious problem.
D) are sufficiently filled in by the brain.

Question 26

A marked decrease in brain processing and memory in some older adults may be attributed to:

A) the use of both hemispheres of the brain.
B) inadequate control processes.
C) increased production of neurotransmitters.
D) more neural fluid that slows cerebral blood flow.

Question 27

Overall brain slowdown is evident in which of the following ways?

A) faster reaction time
B) slower reaction time
C) faster thinking
D) faster talking

Question 28

Now that Hank is 75, he uses selective optimization with compensation while driving. For example, he:

A) drives only at night when fewer cars are on the road.
B) relies only on rearview and side mirrors so he won't hurt his neck turning his head.
C) drives more slowly.
D) drives fast to get home as soon as possible to avoid accidents.

Question 29

Edna, age 71, has excellent pronunciation but poor spelling. She frequently forgets the word or phrase she is trying to use, telling others that it is "on the tip of her tongue." These characteristics may be the result of:

A) decreased inhibition.
B) poor muscular coordination.
C) inadequate control processes.
D) impaired vision.

Question 30

Otto, age 81, just relayed a news story to his friends over coffee, but cannot remember where he heard or read about the tale. Otto has:

A) sensory threshold.
B) source amnesia.
C) stereotype threat.
D) information processing.

Question 31

Which of the following statements about cellular aging is true?

A) Cells can replicate indefinitely, but errors do occur.
B) Aging may be caused by the inevitable loss of the ability of cells to duplicate perfectly.
C) Damage is caused by free radicals that slow down the cell duplication process.
D) Cells from adults are able to duplicate more quickly and more times than are cells from embryos.

Question 32

The primary reason older people receive less input into their brains is that:

A) they are less interested in new things.
B) their senses decline, reducing the sensory input.
C) their threshold increases, reducing sensory input.
D) they are not able to store information effectively.

Question 33

Delores, age 75, believes her memory is fading with age, and the anxiety this causes her actually diminishes her memory. This is an example of:

A) sensory threshold.
B) source amnesia.
C) stereotype threat.
D) information processing.

Question 34

The Hayflick limit is a natural limit to the:

A) number of times cells can divide.
B) size of the population on earth.
C) number of children born to one set of parents.
D) life span of a victim of genetic disease.

Question 35

Which of the below is NOT true regarding sexuality in late adulthood?

A) intercourse becomes less frequent
B) older women report less sexual desire than older men
C) women stop intercourse earlier than men for biological reasons
D) selectivity decreases as the number of available mates dwindles

Question 36

Elderly drivers have fewer car accidents than young people do because:

A) their reaction time slows, preventing quick responses.
B) strict laws require retesting for drivers over age 65.
C) younger drivers are impaired by poor peripheral and night vision.
D) elderly drivers compensate for deficiencies by driving more slowly and avoiding night driving.

Question 37

Which of the following statements is a possible explanation for greater brain activity in older adults?

A) Older adults compensate for losses by using more parts of their brains.
B) Older adults have increased brain reserves.
C) Older adults use only one hemisphere of the brain.
D) The processing speed of older adults increases.

Question 38

With age, which of the following occurs in the brain?

A) All growth ceases.
B) Activity level always decreases.
C) Using both hemispheres simultaneously becomes more likely.
D) Plaque and tangles form.

Question 39

The concept of aging as a result of cellular duplication errors is based on the fact that the body's ability to make new cells that are exact copies of the original ones:

A) stops at about age 18.
B) stops at about age 80.
C) is altered by mutations as time goes on.
D) continues unchanged throughout life.

Question 40

For older drivers, which of the variables below is the strongest predictor of a car accident?

A) age
B) understanding of driving rules
C) poor peripheral vision
D) face-front reading ability

Question 41

The ability to recall a string of digits backward tends to _____ with age, while memory for vocabulary tends to _____ with age.

A) increase; increase
B) stay the same; decrease
C) decrease; decrease
D) decrease; stay the same

Question 42

The idea that cognition should be measured in terms of everyday tasks and circumstances is:

A) priming.
B) recall.
C) recognition.
D) ecological validity.

Question 43

Control processes depend on the _____, which shrinks with age.

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

Question 44

Storage mechanisms, retrieval strategies, selective attention, and problem-solving are all considered:

A) implicit memories.
B) explicit memories.
C) control processes.
D) unconscious processes.

Question 45

The changes of primary aging are:

A) caused by disease.
B) reversible.
C) preventable.
D) universal.

Question 46

Older adults have _____ vocabularies but _____ fluency.

A) extensive; limited
B) extensive; extensive
C) limited; limited
D) limited; extensive

Question 47

One function of working memory is:

A) temporary storage of information for conscious use.
B) long-term storage of unconscious information.
C) storage of visual and auditory afterimages.
D) prevention of memory loss.

Question 48

Nelma is a healthy 70-year-old who would like to learn to play video games with her grandson. According to research on learning late in life, which of the following is most likely TRUE?

A) Nelma is past the age where learning to play video games is possible.
B) Nelma should spend her time doing crossword puzzles instead, as they help prevent dementiB.
C) Nelma could learn to play games if she starts at the easiest level and practices regularly.
D) Nelma could learn to play games in the short term, but would soon forget how and need to be retaught.

Question 49

Ralph was in a minor car accident in the grocery store parking lot. He backed his car into another car that was also backing out of a parking space. The other driver honked but Ralph didn't stop. Why not?

A) Ralph technically had the right-of-way.
B) The honking did not cross his sensory threshold.
C) Ralph became confused by driving backwards, confusing the gas pedal with the brake.
D) His sensory memory perceived the honk but thought it was directed at someone else.

Question 50

According to the Seattle Longitudinal Study, the five primary mental abilities _____ around age 60.

A) start to decline in only one least-used area
B) decline
C) show no change
D) begin to increase

Question 51

The divide between what is sensed and what is not is known as the:

A) input level.
B) sensory threshold.
C) source amnesia.
D) working memory.

Question 52

Loss of working memory is particularly likely to affect the ability to:

A) retain the image of a picture just seen.
B) remember public events of the past.
C) recognize friends on the street.
D) repeat a series of numbers just heard.

Question 53

The irreversible changes that naturally occur with time are called _____ aging.

A) normal
B) primary
C) secondary
D) geriatric

Question 54

Primary aging refers to age-related changes that:

A) inevitably take place as time goes by.
B) occur prior to middle adulthood.
C) take place as a consequence of a person's unhealthy behaviors.
D) are entirely genetic in origin.

Question 55

The consequences of particular diseases are features of:

A) primary aging.
B) senescence.
C) secondary aging.
D) gerontology.

Question 56

According to the Seattle Longitudinal Study, the cognitive decline of late adulthood was most evident in which of the following primary mental abilities?

A) fluid intelligence
B) verbal meaning
C) processing speed
D) inductive reasoning

Question 57

For the average individual in late adulthood, traditional tests of intelligence demonstrate that:

A) cognitive abilities remain stable.
B) cognitive abilities continue to increase.
C) cognitive abilities decline.
D) some cognitive abilities increase and others decline.

Question 58

Which of the following statements is characteristic of the memory of older adults?

A) The spelling of older adults is better than their speech.
B) Older adults are better at recall than recognition.
C) Older adults are less likely to have tip-of-the-tongue forgetfulness.
D) Older adults benefit from learning memory strategies.

Question 59

Control processes depend on which part of the brain?

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

Question 60

All of the following are true about learning late in life EXCEPT:

A) learning new knowledge is possible, but gaining new skills is not.
B) people younger than 80 can learn almost anything if the training is targeted to their ability and motivation.
C) regular practice is key to learning anything new.
D) developmentalists do not discourage older adults from trying to learn new things.

Question 61

Paulo, age 62, has developed heart disease from a lifetime of smoking cigarettes. His heart disease is an example of:

A) secondary aging.
B) primary aging.
C) normal senescence.
D) compressed morbidity.

Question 62

Between 1997 and 2009, the proportion of U.S. elderly with a limitation in activity that interfered with essential functioning:

A) decreased.
B) increased.
C) stayed the same.
D) was not measured. Measurement began in 2010.

Question 63

Approximately what percentage of people between the ages of 60 and 69 have dementia?

A) 1
B) 5
C) 10
D) 14

Question 64

What happens to bones with age?

A) They become more porous.
B) They gain strength.
C) They gain calcium.
D) They become more elastic.

Question 65

A temporary loss of memory and confusion that disappears in hours or days is:

A) delirium.
B) dementia.
C) Alzheimer disease.
D) Pick disease.

Question 66

Developing nations report lower rates of dementia. Which of the following is NOT a likely explanation for this?

A) poorer health care, so dementia not diagnosed
B) people in early stages are not identified and counted in all countries
C) higher levels of physical exercise preserve mental functioning
D) a shorter overall lifespan

Question 67

Which of the following does NOT compress morbidity from osteoporosis?

A) too much alcohol and tobacco
B) not enough weight-bearing exercise
C) faster recuperation after a fracture
D) restricting movement to avoid falls

Question 68

Limiting the time a person spends being ill or infirm is referred to as:

A) compression of morbidity.
B) progeria.
C) dependency ratio.
D) senescence.

Question 69

The condition known as "fragile bones" is called:

A) muscular dystrophy.
B) cerebral palsy.
C) dementia.
D) osteoporosis.

Question 70

Vera was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease while in middle age. Her doctor told her family that compared to the kind of Alzheimer disease the develops in old age, this version:

A) is much more benign.
B) progresses more rapidly.
C) progresses more slowly.
D) has many more symptoms.

Question 71

The estimated number of U.S. residents with living with dementia at around _____ million.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 72

The medication that reduces hypertension in middle- aged adults can _____ for the oldest-old.

A) be counterproductive
B) be more effective
C) cause hallucinations
D) cost too much

Question 73

Dementia is:

A) benign forgetfulness.
B) a problem that affects most of the elderly.
C) a problem that affects only the elderly.
D) the pathological loss of brain functioning.

Question 74

Primary and secondary aging combine to make major body systems:

A) slower.
B) more flexible.
C) more efficient.
D) function better under stress.

Question 75

Osteoporosis not only results from primary and secondary aging, but also from too:

A) much calcium.
B) much exercise.
C) much smoking.
D) few pregnancies.

Question 76

Autopsies show that the brains of Alzheimer victims:

A) have a proliferation of plaques and tangles.
B) exhibit damage from strokes.
C) have shrunk to half of normal size.
D) appear to be normal.

Question 77

Lionel has two biomarkers that are well outside the normal range. He has had a life filled with financial and familial stress, and has not always handled it well, though he has never smoked. As he ages, we can expect that:

A) Lionel's lifelong responses to stress will create a biological burden.
B) Lionel's lifelong responses to stress will better equip him to handle the hardships of old age.
C) Lionel will most likely develop only the secondary, not primary, symptoms of aging.
D) Lionel will most likely develop only the primary, not secondary, symptoms of aging.

Question 78

The leading cause of death for the oldest-old is:

A) cardiovascular disease.
B) cancer.
C) Alzheimer's disease.
D) pneumonia.

Question 79

Death typically comes many years after the first signs of Alzheimer disease?

A) 1-2
B) 3-5
C) 6-9
D) 10-15

Question 80

Len developed Alzheimer disease well before the age of 60; early Alzheimer disease is associated with a condition that Len was born with called:

A) Pick disease.
B) trisomy-21.
C) cerebral palsy.
D) Huntington disease.