Question 1

While having a medical checkup, Ayanda is informed that she has extremely high pressure in her eye. This indicates that Ayanda likely has

Accepted Answer

Extremely high pressure in the eye is a symptom of glaucoma, a condition in which increased pressure damages the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss. Presbyopia is a condition where the eyes lose their ability to focus on nearby objects, cataracts refer to clouding of the eye's lens, and macular degeneration is the gradual deterioration of the macula, the central part of the retina, causing loss of central vision.

Question 2

Visual adaptation involves the ability to adjust to changes in

Accepted Answer

Visual adaptation refers to the ability of the eyes to adjust to changes in the level of illumination, such as moving from a bright environment to a dimly lit one. This involves changes in the sensitivity of the photoreceptors in the eyes, as well as the adaptation of the neural pathways that process visual information. Adaptation to changes in an object's position or distance is more related to visual perception and depth perception than visual adaptation per se. Acceleration is not relevant to visual adaptation.

Question 3

Melusi has just been informed that he is a diabetic. As a knowledgeable doctor, he realises that his risk for developing ____ has also increased.

Accepted Answer

Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the retina, causing a condition called diabetic retinopathy. This condition can lead to vision loss and blindness if left untreated. Therefore, the risk for developing retinopathy has increased.

Question 4

For maximum visual acuity to occur, light must be focused directly on the

Accepted Answer

The fovea is the center of the retina and contains a high concentration of cones, which are responsible for color vision and detail. Therefore, when light is focused directly on the fovea, maximum visual acuity occurs.

Question 5

What does not typically happen to the cardiovascular system as people age?

Accepted Answer

As people age, the heart typically becomes less efficient, so it is less likely to pump more blood per minute. In fact, the heart's maximal pumping capacity decreases with age.

Question 6

After a series of strokes, Jerry is unable to recognise family members and has a very difficult time understanding his home language. The most probable diagnosis is

Accepted Answer

Jerry's symptoms are consistent with vascular dementia, which is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain due to a series of small strokes. This type of dementia often affects language and can result in difficulty recognising familiar people or places. Huntington's disease involves progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, neuritic plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and presbycusis is age-related hearing loss and does not cause memory or language problems.

Question 7

The key factor in determining the impact of vascular dementia is

Accepted Answer

The key factor in determining the impact of vascular dementia is which areas of the brain are damaged. Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, resulting in damage to brain cells. The specific areas of the brain that are affected will determine the severity and type of cognitive impairment experienced by the individual. Age, sex, and heart health may also play a role, but the location and extent of brain damage are the most important factors.

Question 8

When visiting their eye specialist, an individual is informed that they have large opaque spots on the lens of their left eye. As a knowledgeable student, they would know that this means that they have

Accepted Answer

Large opaque spots on the lens of an eye indicate the presence of a cataract, a condition where the lens becomes cloudy or opaque, leading to a decrease in vision. Presbyopia is a condition where the eye loses its ability to focus on close objects due to aging. Glaucoma is a condition where increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve leading to vision loss. Myopia is a condition where distant objects appear blurred while close objects are clear.

Question 9

____ occurs when fat deposits build up in the heart and arteries.

Accepted Answer

Atherosclerosis occurs when fat deposits, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the arteries, narrowing and hardening them. This can lead to heart disease, strokes, and other health problems.

Question 10

Which of these is a more common term used to describe a cerebral vascular accident?

Accepted Answer

The more common term for a cerebral vascular accident is "stroke". Parkinson's disease is a progressive movement disorder, presbyopia is a condition where the eyes lose the ability to focus on close objects, and presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs with aging.

Question 11

Njabulo has just suffered an interruption of blood flow to her brain. Her doctor has told her that she has just experienced a(n) ____ and that they should now do what they can to prevent the onset of a stroke.

Accepted Answer

The interruption of blood flow to the brain is often referred to as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke. It is a warning sign that the person is at risk of having a more serious stroke in the future. Preventative measures will need to be taken to lower that risk. Presbycusis is a gradual hearing loss as a result of aging, amyloid is a protein that builds up in the brain and is associated with Alzheimer's disease, and circadian rhythm refers to the internal biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. These are not relevant to the situation described in the question.

Question 12

As he has presbyopia, Vusi has difficulty seeing

Accepted Answer

Presbyopia is the natural aging process of the eye, which causes difficulty in focusing on objects up close.

Question 13

As a typical 80-year-old, Naledi's ____ would have decreased significantly since she was 20.

Accepted Answer

As people age, their lung capacity and ability to take deep breaths typically decrease due to changes in lung tissue and muscle strength.

Question 14

Khetiwe has a very difficult time breathing. Even after walking short distances, she is gasping for air. Khetiwe is exhibiting symptoms of

Accepted Answer

The symptoms mentioned in the scenario are indicative of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a respiratory condition that makes it difficult to breathe due to narrowed airways and damaged lung tissue. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing are typical of COPD.

Question 15

The defining characteristic of a cerebral vascular accident is

Accepted Answer

A cerebral vascular accident, also known as a stroke, is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. This interruption can be caused by a clot or a hemorrhage and can lead to neurological damage or death. Neuritic tangling can be a characteristic of certain diseases, such as Alzheimer's, but it is not a defining characteristic of a stroke. Cessation of respiratory output is not typically a primary symptom of a stroke, although it can occur as a secondary complication.

Question 16

When someone hands Rendani a menu to read, he has to hold it at arm's length in order to be able to see the words well enough to read them. This behaviour indicates that Rendani is experiencing

Accepted Answer

Presbyopia refers to the age-related loss of ability to focus on near objects, leading to the need to hold reading material at arm's length in order to see it clearly. Presbycusis refers to age-related hearing loss, telomeres are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, and neuritic plaques are abnormal clusters of protein deposits in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Question 17

The leading cause of functional blindness in older adults is the result of

Accepted Answer

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of functional blindness in older adults. It is a condition in which the center of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates, leading to blurred or loss of vision. Glaucoma, cataracts, and presbyopia can also lead to vision loss but are not the leading cause among older adults.

Question 18

Nomzamo's doctor has just told her that the fluid in her eyes is not draining properly and that she will have to administer eye drops to prevent experiencing damage from the pressure in her eyes. Nomzamo has most likely been diagnosed with

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are indicating glaucoma, which is caused by increased pressure in the eyes due to improper fluid drainage. This condition can lead to vision loss if left untreated. Diabetic retinopathy involves damage to the blood vessels in the retina due to diabetes, while cataracts result in clouding of the eye's lens. Macular degeneration affects the central vision and can lead to blindness.

Question 19

Which of these is not used as a diagnostic test for vascular dementia?

Accepted Answer

Measurement of neurotransmitter levels is not typically used as a diagnostic test for vascular dementia. Computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be used to identify brain damage or changes in blood flow that are characteristic of the disease, while neuropsychological tests can help assess cognitive function and identify specific areas of impairment.

Question 20

As people grow old, their

Accepted Answer

As people age, the lenses in their eyes can yellow and the muscles controlling the eye can stiffen, affecting vision clarity and flexibility.

Quiz 14: The Personal Context of Later Life: Physical, Cognitive, and Mental Health Issues