Deck 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

Robert has hearing problems. He has to turn the TV on very loud, and he has a hard time following conversations. He doesn't always hear cars as he is walking in a parking lot, which is embarrassing to him when they yell at him to move. What socioemotional outcome does this cause?

A) Avoidance of doctor appointments
B) Conflict with family members
C) Anxiety disorders
D) Lower self-esteem

Answer 1

Lower self-esteem

Question 2

Why are estimates of life expectancy so much lower in developing nations?

A) The large number of females dying during childbirth alters the data on life expectancy.
B) Individuals in developing nations do not utilize resources provided to them by social services because of stigma.
C) Individuals in developing nations are genetically determined to have lower life expectancy rates based on evolution.
D) Developing nations are subject to high rates of poverty and war.

Answer 2

Developing nations are subject to high rates of poverty and war.

Question 3

What type of cognitive training was given to participants in the Seattle Longitudinal Study that showed improved performance on reasoning tasks?

A) Deductive reasoning
B) Digit span
C) Inductive reasoning
D) Picture completion

Answer 3

Inductive reasoning

Question 4

How would an individual prevent the onset of macular degeneration?

A) Adults can do eye exercises that help the muscles in the eye to stay active and prevent macular degeneration.
B) Adults can wear corrective contact lenses that will prevent the occurrence of macular degeneration.
C) Adults can go for a yearly eye exam to catch any signs of macular degeneration early.
D) Adults should eat a healthy diet including green leafy vegetables high in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as carotenoids.

Question 5

The longest recorded human lifespan is:

A) 105 years.
B) 112 years.
C) 122 years.
D) 131 years.

Question 6

Why do we not see cognitive declines in older adulthood that might be expected because of the brain volume shrinkage that occurs in aging?

A) Older adults compensate for cognitive declines by showing more brain activity and using different brain areas in solving problems than do younger adults.
B) Tests of cognitive ability that are administered to older adults do not measure the same areas of cognitive functioning that are given to younger adults.
C) Individuals in older adulthood are more likely to avoid activities that require cognitive effort.
D) Family members compensate for older adults and perform cognitive tasks for them, thereby reducing their need for performing highly complex cognitive tasks.

Question 7

What type of activity has been shown to restore brain volume, especially in the hippocampus, a brain region closely involved with memory?

A) Spending time with young children
B) A program of aerobic exercise
C) Eating a healthy diet of vitamin D and antioxidants
D) Reading and communicating with others

Question 8

What can be expected in terms of life expectancy for individuals who are currently diagnosed with cancer?

A) We can expect that over two thirds of adults diagnosed with cancer in the United States and Canada will survive.
B) We can expect that cancer deaths will increase because individuals are engaging in behaviors that put them at risk at higher rates than ever before.
C) We can expect that the number of men diagnosed with cancer will surpass the number of women diagnosed with cancer.
D) We can expect that the number of women diagnosed with cancer will surpass the number of men diagnosed with cancer.

Question 9

What supplements counteract potential damage caused by free radicals and promote an effective immune system response?

A) Antioxidant vitamins and trace elements (vitamins C, E, selenium, copper, and zinc)
B) Vitamin A
C) Vitamins B6 and B12
D) Vitamin D

Question 10

Cataracts are associated with all of the following factors except:

A) smoking.
B) diabetes.
C) insufficient diet.
D) oxidative damage.

Question 11

Why has the gender gap in life expectancy shrunk in Western nations?

A) Because genetically men have increased their life expectancy over generations.
B) Because more women in Western nations are dying in childbirth, lowering the average life expectancy for women.
C) Because men are becoming more active than ever before.
D) Because of gains in medical technology and an increased recognition of the effects of lifestyle on health.

Question 12

Which of the following is a benefit of weight-bearing exercise for the oldest-old?

A) Improved blood flow to the muscles and increased muscle size
B) Reduced inflammation of the joints
C) Greater endurance
D) Increased self-esteem

Question 13

Who is at the highest risk for physical and mental health problems?

A) Young-old
B) Old-old
C) Oldest-old
D) Elderly

Question 14

Maria is bilingual. She speaks in Spanish and English on a daily basis. She will receive all of the following cognitive benefits because of her bilingual ability except for:

A) enhanced cognitive control abilities.
B) mental flexibility.
C) being better able to handle tasks involving switching, inhibition, and conflict monitoring.
D) memory improvement.

Question 15

Which of the following is not a reason why hearing aids are underused?

A) Stigma associated with being seen wearing hearing aids
B) The cost of hearing aids
C) Social attitudes that undervalue the importance of hearing
D) Hearing aids do not correct hearing to the degree that most older adults need

Question 16

Ray has begun adding a lot of salt, sugar, and fat into his foods. Since he has hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes, the change in his diet has negatively impacted his health. Why is Ray adding salt, sugar, and fat into his diet?

A) Because he is rebelling against the doctors telling him what he should eat.
B) Because he has experienced a decline in the sense of taste and smell.
C) Because he thinks it makes his food taste better.
D) Because he doesn't remember how much he added the first time.

Question 17

Margaret is a woman in her early 80s who lives in her own home but needs some assistance with housework and cooking. She has some physical impairments that require her to go to the doctor about once every 2 weeks. How would gerontologists categorize her?

A) Young-old
B) Old-old
C) Oldest-old
D) Elderly

Question 18

What type of exercise has been found to strengthen muscles and offset losses into the 90s?

A) Aerobic exercise
B) Strength training
C) Low-impact exercise
D) Resistance exercise

Question 19

How are cataracts treated?

A) Cataracts are treated through the use of medicated eye drops.
B) Cataracts are treated through a surgical procedure in which the lens is replaced with an artificial lens.
C) Cataracts are treated through laser technology.
D) Cataracts cannot be treated and are a common cause of blindness in old age.

Question 20

Neurogenesis plays a role in all of the following except:

A) physical impairments.
B) emotional responses.
C) stress.
D) cognition.

Question 21

Judy's son has been noticing that his mother has been getting more forgetful and that the forgetfulness began very quickly and is getting worse. She has begun having difficulty with speech, so Judy went to the doctor who diagnosed her with a stroke. What was the doctor's diagnosis regarding her memory loss?

A) Judy experienced irreversible memory loss and is diagnosed with vascular dementia.
B) Judy experienced memory loss due to mini-strokes in the brain, but they are reversible.
C) Judy is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
D) Judy is in the early phases of Parkinson's disease.

Question 22

Low socioeconomic status is associated with greater arthritis-related symptoms, poorer well-being, and greater use of maladaptive coping strategies among which group of people?

A) African Americans
B) All individuals over the age of 65
C) Asian men
D) Caucasian men

Question 23

What are the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

A) Personality changes
B) Problems with concentration and short-term memory
C) Memory problems, specifically episodic memory
D) Impairments in attentional control

Question 24

Why is arthritis classified as a chronic disease?

A) Because individuals have it for a long period of time.
B) Because it is managed, not cured.
C) Because so many people are diagnosed with arthritis.
D) Because it causes chronic stress in individuals.

Question 25

How are the amyloid plaques formed in the brain in patients who have Alzheimer's disease?

A) Beta-amyloid causes the myelin in the brain to harden and deteriorate, creating plaques in the brain.
B) The protein tau creates twisted bundles of threads that occur when neurons collapse.
C) Neurons in the brain combine due to an increase in dopamine in the brain and create blockages between other neurons.
D) Patients experience inflammation that causes the beta-amyloid to accumulate and join with clumps of dead neurons and glial cells.

Question 26

Ron has Alzheimer's disease. He frequently forgets doctor's appointments and almost started a fire in his kitchen because he forgot a pan on the stove. Recently, his son was concerned because Ron blamed him for stealing his car keys when Ron simply forgot where he put them. What phase of Alzheimer's disease is Ron in?

A) Ron is in the early phase of Alzheimer's disease.
B) Ron's Alzheimer's disease has progressed beyond the early phases and he may no longer be able to care for himself.
C) Ron's Alzheimer's disease has progressed to the point that he absolutely cannot care for himself and will need 24-hour assistance.
D) Ron has reached the final phase of Alzheimer's disease.

Question 27

Deaths from unintentional injuries account for _____ deaths per 100,000 in 65-year-old adults.

A) 61.5
B) 23.5
C) 12.3
D) 46.2

Question 28

Which age group has the highest percentage of individuals with Alzheimer's disease?

A) 75 to 84
B) 85 or older
C) 65 to 74
D) Under age 65

Question 29

What happens when older adults experience a decline in the sense of taste and smell?

A) They seek satisfaction through added salt, sugar, and fat.
B) They can take medications to renew their sense of taste.
C) They stop eating because nothing tastes good.
D) They seek out foods with strong odors.

Question 30

Donald has a family history of Alzheimer's disease. What type of diet should he consume in order to reduce his risk for Alzheimer's disease?

A) Diets high in vitamins C and D help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
B) Donald should switch to a vegan diet and consume no animal proteins.
C) Donald should consume moderate amounts of calcium and increase his intake of carbohydrates.
D) Donald should consume a "Mediterranean diet" rich in fish and unsaturated fats such as olive oil and drink red wine.

Question 31

The second most common form of dementia and loss of mental ability in older adulthood is:

A) Alzheimer's disease.
B) reversible dementia.
C) Parkinson's disease.
D) vascular dementia.

Question 32

Reversible dementia can be a result of all of the following factors except:

A) poor nutrition and dehydration.
B) prescription and nonprescription drugs and drug interactions.
C) hormone imbalances.
D) physical illnesses.

Question 33

What happens in Alzheimer's disease when the hippocampus experiences altered neurogenesis and brain functioning declines?

A) Individuals experience a disruption in messages sent from one neuron to the other, resulting in confusion and disorientation.
B) The generation and development of new neurons is impaired, resulting in no new neurons replacing those that have died.
C) The prefrontal cortex compensates for loss of neuronal activity in the hippocampus, resulting in no loss in problem-solving but a greater decline in memory functioning.
D) Individuals experience interference in muscle movement, resulting in jerky, uncontrollable movements.

Question 34

What type of dementia is caused by strokes, or blockages of blood vessels in the brain?

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Reversible dementia
C) Parkinson's disease
D) Vascular dementia

Question 35

Which type of arthritis is an autoimmune illness?

A) Immunity-based arthritis
B) Age-related arthritis
C) Osteoarthritis
D) Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 36

Why are falls such a serious hazard for older adults?

A) Because falls typically involve damage to the brain resulting in an acceleration of cognitive decline.
B) Because the natural loss of bone and high prevalence of osteoporosis increase the risk of bone fractures, especially hip fractures.
C) Because rehabilitation centers do not have enough space for the high numbers of elderly experiencing falls, resulting in longer recovery times.
D) Because falls exacerbate the negative effects of other diseases such as diabetes or arthritis.

Question 37

Ruth is an older adult. She does not eat well, sometimes even forgetting a meal altogether. She also does not drink enough liquids and was recently in the emergency room for dehydration. She has begun to demonstrate symptoms of dementia. Ruth's doctor identified that she was vitamin B12 deficient because of certain medications she was taking. What form of dementia does Ruth have?

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Reversible dementia
C) Parkinson's disease
D) Vascular dementia

Question 38

What are the symptoms associated with the final stages of Alzheimer's disease?

A) Loss of the ability to comprehend and produce speech
B) Problems with concentration and short-term memory
C) Failure to recognize objects and familiar people
D) Impairments in attentional control

Question 39

How is Alzheimer's disease diagnosed in humans?

A) Through exclusion-ruling out all other causes of dementia-because the characteristic beta-amyloid plaques can only be assessed in a postmortem examination of brain tissue.
B) Through a PET scan to see how the brain and its tissues are working because Alzheimer's diseased brains have a characteristic type of functioning.
C) Through an MRI or CT scan to observe the structure of the brain and identify whether the characteristic plaques and tangles are present.
D) Through a series of neurological tests that indicate symptoms of Alzheimer's disease exclusively (not present in other forms of dementia).

Question 40

Mary is a 75-year-old woman who is not as active as she should be. When her doctor asks her why she doesn't go for walks to increase her physical activity, she lists all of the following as reasons why except:

A) fear of falling.
B) not enough time.
C) bad weather.
D) neighborhood safety.

Question 41

Centenarians are able to manage chronic illnesses more effectively than other older adults.

Question 42

Which type of information in working memory does not show a decline in older adults?

A) Abstract thinking
B) Attention-related thinking
C) Emotion-related thinking
D) Concrete thinking

Question 43

Laura is a 70-year-old woman who has cardiovascular disease and diabetes. She retired when she was 67. She has a husband, three children, and six grandchildren. She reports a happy childhood and doesn't have any regrets in terms of her career choice. She is an avid reader and enjoys taking care of her grandchildren. What can we expect regarding her cognitive change as she ages?

A) Laura will not experience much cognitive decline because she retired before she was 70 years of age.
B) Laura will most likely experience some cognitive decline due to her impaired physical health.
C) Laura will most likely experience cognitive decline because she did not continue working into her 70s.
D) Laura will not experience much cognitive decline because she has a husband and family that provide support.

Question 44

Marilyn, an 82-year-old woman, has maintained high cognitive functioning as she has aged. She doesn't spend her time trying to do a wide variety of activities. She realized that when she tried to multitask she had more difficulty, so she has narrowed her goals and selects activities that she enjoys and is good at, like reading in her granddaughter's second-grade classroom. What is Marilyn engaging in?

A) Hypothetical-deductive reasoning
B) Redirected cognitive functioning
C) Selective optimization with compensation
D) Social control theory

Question 45

Expertise in the conduct and meanings of life is called:

A) concrete thinking.
B) abstract thought.
C) wisdom.
D) dialectical thinking.

Question 46

What type of emotion-related information do older adults have a greater capacity for processing as compared to younger adults?

A) Positive information
B) Negative information
C) Nonemotional information
D) Conflictual information

Question 47

Older adults do not have the ability to compensate for cognitive declines as the brain has limited ability for plasticity.

Question 48

What is it called when individuals compensate for declines in cognitive reserve or energy by narrowing their goals and selecting activities that will permit them to maximize their strengths and existing capacities?

A) Hypothetical-deductive reasoning
B) Redirected cognitive functioning
C) Selective optimization with compensation
D) Social control theory

Question 49

Cancer survival rate is defined as living 5 years after diagnosis.

Question 50

What is a strong and consistent predictor of cognitive performance and problem-solving tasks in old age?

A) The size of a person's social network
B) Years of formal schooling and literacy levels on reading tests
C) Mental health factors
D) The degree of contact a person has with family members

Question 51

What form of cognition declines in older adulthood?

A) Fluid intelligence
B) Crystallized intelligence
C) Semantic memory
D) Memory for factual material

Question 52

Which of the following is not a type of long-term memory that shows an age-related decline?

A) Semantic memory
B) Episodic memory
C) Autobiographical memory
D) Memory for experiences

Question 53

In order for an older adult to engage in medical decision making, what should they be able to do?

A) Basic cognitive capacities, as indicated by awareness of the date, year, and surroundings.
B) Ability to read and sign their name.
C) Ability to hear and/or see the document that they need to sign.
D) The ability to regulate emotion and reduce anxiety.

Question 54

Neurogenesis continues throughout life.

Question 55

Cognitive training has consistently been associated with increases in volume in the brain structures thought to be critical to the trained task.

Question 56

How can older adults improve the difficulty they have with multitasking?

A) Older adults cannot have any interruptions while performing tasks or difficulty is inevitable.
B) Older adults can handle two tasks at one time, but when the tasks increase to three or more, they will have difficulty.
C) Older adults need to use other strategies to help with memory when multitasking, such as making lists.
D) Older adults need to slow down to a pace with which they feel comfortable, and then they can show performance on working memory tasks similar to that of young adults.

Question 57

Nancy is an older adult who has led a difficult life. She has overcome many adversities, including growing up during the Great Depression, WWII, and the loss of her spouse in middle adulthood. She has maintained a positive outlook on life, and people come to her for advice. What benefit did her life experiences bring?

A) Nancy is less likely to be diagnosed with any form of dementia.
B) Nancy is considered to be a woman with wisdom.
C) Nancy is better able to interact with others socially.
D) Nancy is less likely to experience proactive interference with respect to memory.

Question 58

What is the term used to describe when information that has previously been remembered interferes with memory for new information?

A) Reactive interference
B) Proactive interference
C) Co-figurative attention
D) Attention inhibition

Question 59

Why do older adults have difficulty in attention-demanding tasks?

A) They experience a decrease in the efficiency of inhibitory mechanisms.
B) Visual sensory deficits cause inattention in older adults.
C) They have a decrease in myelination of the brain causing difficulty in attention.
D) Auditory sensory deficits are the primary cause of inattention in older adults.

Question 60

With age, older adults' hearts experience cell loss and become more rigid, resulting in heart pounding and taking longer to catch their breath after physical activity.

Question 61

Older adults require more calories than younger adults.

Question 62

Factors that prevent cardiovascular disease, such as physical activity and diet, also prevent and slow the progression of vascular dementia.

Question 63

Older adults are less likely to get all of their nutritional needs met through their diet and are therefore at risk for nutritional deficiency.

Question 64

Most healthy older adults have some age-related decline in the ability to efficiently process information.

Question 65

Exercise programs such as tai chi and strength and agility exercises can improve older adults' strength, balance, and confidence.

Question 66

Declines in reaction time account for much of the decline in older adults' driving performance.

Question 67

Interventions that train older adults and encourage them to use cognitive skills can preserve and even reverse some age-related cognitive declines.

Question 68

Parkinson's symptoms appear when 100% of the nerve cells in the substantia nigra are damaged.

Question 69

The age-related loss of muscle mass and strength is called:

Question 70

Language comprehension, the ability to understand spoken or written language and retrieve the meaning of words, shows little to no change with age.

Question 71

Cognitive abilities tend to remain stable, relative to peers, over the lifespan.

Question 72

Beverly is concerned about memory loss. Based on what we know about the hippocampus, what do you think she should do to improve her memory functioning?

Question 73

The ability to make flexible and efficient use of available brain resources that permits cognitive efficiency, flexibility, and adaptability is called:

Question 74

What is the name of the gene that is associated with longevity?

Question 75

Omega-3 is associated with reduced inflammation, reduced degenerative diseases such as arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease.

Question 76

Parkinson's symptoms cannot be treated, leaving individuals who have the disease disabled for the remainder of their lives.

Question 77

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.

Question 78

The average patient progresses to the final stage of Alzheimer's disease over the course of about 5 years.

Question 79

A cause of heart disease in which the arteries stiffen and the walls accumulate cholesterol and fat plaques, which reduces blood flow, is called:

Question 80

Individuals who live past 100 years are called: