Question 1

Your grandmother has quite a bit of grey hair. She told you that she first started getting grey hair when she was 52 and it keeps getting greyer each year. What is happening that her hair is getting grey?

Accepted Answer

As people age, they experience a loss of pigment that provides hair color, resulting in grey or white hair. This is due to the decreased production of melanin in the hair follicle. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 2

What is the ratio of the number of persons aged 65 years or older to the number of persons aged 20 to 64 years (number of persons aged 65 years or older/number of persons 20 to 64 x 100) referred to as?

Accepted Answer

The ratio of the number of persons aged 65 years or older to the number of persons aged 20 to 64 years is known as the old-age dependency ratio. This ratio reflects the number of elderly people who are dependent on the working-age population for support. The other options (A, C, and D) are not accurate terms for this ratio.

Question 3

The number of persons aged 65 or older, divided by the number of persons age 20-64, times 100 is known as the _____.

Accepted Answer

The formula described in the question is used to calculate the old-age dependency ratio (OADR), which measures the extent to which a country's working-age population (ages 20-64) must support its elderly population (ages 65 and up). A higher OADR indicates that there are more elderly persons per working-age person, and therefore greater pressure on the working-age population to provide for them.

Question 4

Your grandfather is joking that there are going to be more people over 60 years of age than there will be people under 15 soon. He says that there will not be enough people working to cover the costs of Social Security. By what year will people over 60 years of age outnumber those under age 15?

Accepted Answer

According to the United Nations, they project that by the year 2050, the global population of people over the age of 60 will outnumber those under the age of 15. This trend is especially true in developed countries where birth rates are decreasing and life expectancies are increasing, leading to an aging population.

Question 5

On the skin, many people develop 'age spots', or pools of dark pigment. Age spots are due to the accumulation of _____.

Accepted Answer

Age spots are typically caused by overexposure to the sun over the course of several years. The pigment in the skin known as melanin works to protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays, but prolonged exposure can cause an overproduction and clumping of melanin, resulting in age spots. Calcium, iron levels, stress, and anxiety do not have a significant impact on the development of age spots.

Question 6

In which of the following countries is the ratio of older adults to non-older adults going to be the highest in 2050?

Accepted Answer

Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world and a low birth rate, leading to a rapidly aging population. It is projected that by 2050, approximately 40% of Japan's population will be 65 or older, making the ratio of older adults to non-older adults the highest among the given countries.

Question 7

Your grandmother is 87 years old and she has remarked to you that nearly all of her friends are women. She told you that it is rare to see a man over age 85. Is she correct? Yes, past age 85 years of age, for every 100 men there are ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your grandmother is 87 years old and...

Question 8

Around the world, about how much longer will women at age 65 live longer than men?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Around the world, about how much longer...

Question 9

____ is the inevitable biological ageing that takes place in all members of the human species, as it takes place in all living organisms, whereas ____ is the decline in physical functioning that takes place due to lifestyle behaviours such as unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise and substance use, as well as environmental influences such as pollution.

Accepted Answer

Primary ageing refers to the natural and inevitable biological ageing process, while secondary ageing refers to the decline in physical functioning due to lifestyle and environmental factors.

Question 10

The decline in physical functioning that takes place due to lifestyle behaviours such as unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise and substance use, as well as environmental influences such as pollution, is referred to as _________.

Accepted Answer

Secondary ageing refers to the decline in physical functioning that occurs due to lifestyle and environmental factors. Primary ageing refers to the natural age-related changes that occur in the body, while tertiary ageing refers to the decline in cognitive and psychological functioning that occurs in very old age. Lateral ageing is not a commonly used term in gerontology.

Question 11

The old-age dependency ratio (OADR) is calculated as the number of people who are _____.

Accepted Answer

The old-age dependency ratio (OADR) is calculated as the number of people who are age 65 years or older, divided by the number of people age 20 to 64, times 100.

Question 12

What is the OADR in Japan?

Accepted Answer

The OADR in Japan is 36%, meaning that 36% of the population is over the age of 65. This is a relatively high percentage compared to other countries, and is a result of Japan's aging population and low birth rate.

Question 13

Countries that have a birth rate that is below 2.1 children per woman _____.

Accepted Answer

A birth rate that is below 2.1 children per woman means that the population is not replacing itself, and as a result, there will be a decline in the total population over time.

Question 14

What is the term that is used to describe the decline in physical functioning that takes place due to lifestyle behaviours such as unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise and substance use, as well as environmental influences such as pollution?

Accepted Answer

Secondary ageing refers to the decline in physical functioning that occurs due to lifestyle behaviours and environmental influences. Primary ageing refers to the natural, inevitable aging process that occurs over time, while tertiary ageing refers to the rapid decline in physical and cognitive functioning that occurs near the end of life. Quaternary ageing is not a commonly used term in the field of gerontology.

Question 15

The following description is of an individual in the early stages of ____. 'The hair continues to become greyer and thinner in both men and women. Bones continue to thin, especially in women, which contributes to a stooped posture.'

Accepted Answer

The description of greying and thinning hair as well as thinning bones leading to a stooped posture are characteristic of changes that occur in late adulthood.

Question 16

The inevitable biological ageing that takes place in all members of the human species, as it takes place in all living organisms, is referred to as _________.

Accepted Answer

Primary ageing refers to the natural and inevitable biological ageing that occurs in individuals as they grow older. Secondary ageing, lateral ageing, and tertiary ageing are not commonly used terms in the study of ageing.

Question 17

On what continent is the current life expectancy the lowest?

Accepted Answer

According to the World Bank data, as of 2021, the continent with the lowest life expectancy is Africa, with an average of 63 years.

Question 18

The hair continues to become greyer and thinner in both men and women as they age. Actually, it is not that hair turns grey or white, but that it loses the pigments that had previously made it appear to be other colours. During what stage of life is this loss of pigment the most profound?

Accepted Answer

The loss of pigment that causes grey hair is most profound in late adulthood, typically after the age of 50.

Question 19

What is the term that is used to describe the inevitable biological ageing that takes place in all members of the human species?

Accepted Answer

Primary ageing is the term used to describe the natural biological ageing that occurs in all members of the human species. This process is irreversible and affects all organs and systems in the body, leading to a decline in their function over time. Secondary ageing refers to the effects of environmental factors such as lifestyle and disease on the ageing process, while tertiary ageing refers to the complex interactions between psychological and social factors that can impact an individual's experience of ageing. Quaternary ageing is not a commonly used term in the field of gerontology.

Question 20

In developed countries, what is the life expectancy of a person who is 65 years old?

Accepted Answer

In developed countries, a person who is 65 years old can expect to live an additional 15 to 25 years. This is due to advancements in healthcare, better nutrition, and lifestyle changes. However, this can vary based on individual factors such as genetics and medical history.

Quiz 12: Late Adulthood