Question 1

In women, bone density declines as a function of:

Accepted Answer

Bone density decline is a normal part of aging, but it accelerates during menopause due to the drop in estrogen levels. Therefore, the decline in bone density in women is a result of both normative aging and menopause.

Question 2

In middle adulthood, there remains opportunity to have a positive influence on one's own health by eating healthy and exercising.

Accepted Answer

Middle adulthood is generally considered to be the period between ages 40 and 65, during which individuals may continue to make positive changes to their health by adopting healthy habits such as a balanced diet and regular exercise. While certain health conditions become more common during this stage of life, such as arthritis or menopause, taking care of one's physical and mental health can still have significant positive effects on overall well-being.

Question 3

During middle adulthood, individuals begin to experience sarcopenia, age-related _______________________ loss.

Accepted Answer

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that begins to occur during middle adulthood. Bone loss (osteoporosis) is also a common age-related condition, but it typically affects women more than men and is not specifically related to middle adulthood. Flexibility and range-of-motion may decline with age as well, but these are not synonymous with sarcopenia.

Question 4

Decreases in white matter in middle adulthood indicate a reduction in neural:

Accepted Answer

White matter in the brain is responsible for connecting different areas and facilitating communication between neurons. A decrease in white matter, therefore, indicates a reduction in neural connectivity in middle adulthood, which can lead to slower processing speed and cognitive decline.

Question 5

Living at home after he graduated college, John wondered whether his mother was experiencing cognitive aging because she often:

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed are potential signs of cognitive aging, and John's mother is exhibiting multiple symptoms. Difficulty with multitasking, decision making, and memory can all be indicative of cognitive decline.

Question 6

Poor health habits, for example, smoking, are associated with _______________ brain shrinkage in brain matter volume during middle adulthood.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Poor health habits, for example, smoking, are...

Question 7

Many middle-aged adults don't feel that they have a great deal of extra time, but they can achieve health benefits via weight-bearing exercise, such as:

Accepted Answer

Doing yard work involves physical activity such as lifting, pushing, pulling, and bending which provides weight-bearing exercise and can improve overall health. It is also a practical way to get exercise while completing necessary household tasks. Other options listed, such as working from home, aqua aerobics, and cycling to work, may also provide health benefits but may not necessarily provide weight-bearing exercise.

Question 8

If developmentalists can learn how to stimulate neurogenesis in middle adulthood, we may be able to find new ways to _________________ cognitive diseases, such as, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Accepted Answer

By stimulating neurogenesis in middle adulthood, we may be able to prevent cognitive diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Question 9

Compared to women, men maintain higher levels of bone density in middle adulthood because they achieve greater bone density prior to middle adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that men typically achieve greater bone density than women by early adulthood, and this advantage persists throughout middle age. However, after menopause, women may experience a more rapid decline in bone density due to hormonal changes.

Question 10

____________ in middle adulthood is a health risk factor associated with cognitive aging.

Accepted Answer

Obesity has been linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of cognitive impairment in middle age and beyond. Studies have shown that obesity is associated with structural and functional changes in the brain, as well as an increased risk of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Other health risk factors that can impact cognitive aging include smoking, alcohol use, and poor diet.

Question 11

In middle adulthood, bone loss begins to outpace bone repair.

Accepted Answer

In middle adulthood, bone loss begins to exceed bone formation, resulting in a gradual decrease in bone density. This process is known as osteoporosis and affects both men and women as they age.

Question 12

Brain scans through middle adulthood show evidence of decreases in:

Accepted Answer

Brain scans through middle adulthood show evidence of decreases in white matter volume, gray matter volume, and total brain volume. These changes are part of the normal aging process and can affect various cognitive functions.

Question 13

Muscle strength, particularly when measured by _______________, is an indicator of general health in middle adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Grip strength is the most accurate measure of overall muscle strength and has been found to be a strong predictor of overall health, mortality, and risk of chronic disease in middle-aged and older adults. Bench press, push-ups, and core strength may be important indicators of strength in specific muscle groups, but they are not as comprehensive or reliable as grip strength for assessing overall muscular fitness.

Question 14

Most people show some signs of physiological decline in their brain ________________ middle adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that most people start experiencing some signs of cognitive decline during middle adulthood, typically in their 40s or 50s. This includes changes in working memory, processing speed, and attention. While there may be individual differences in the exact timing and severity of such declines, the consensus is that middle age marks the beginning of a gradual decline in cognitive functioning for most people.

Question 15

The ages that correspond with middle adulthood are different between countries due to the fact that there are extreme differences in ___________________ between countries.

Accepted Answer

Middle adulthood is typically defined as the period of life between early adulthood and old age, usually ranging from 40 to 65 years of age. However, life expectancy varies greatly between countries due to a range of factors such as access to healthcare, nutrition, education, and socioeconomic status. Therefore, the age range for middle adulthood will differ between countries depending on their average life expectancy.

Question 16

While middle-aged adults may lose concentric strength, they may actually gain:

Accepted Answer

Middle-aged adults tend to experience a decrease in muscle mass and strength, especially in concentric strength (the ability to lift or contract a muscle). However, they may actually gain flexibility, as they tend to prioritize stretching and mobility exercises to counteract the loss of strength. Therefore, the correct answer is B) flexibility.

Question 17

An example of the type of activity that has the greatest potential to reduce bone density loss in middle adulthood is:

Accepted Answer

Weight-bearing activities such as running and jogging have been shown to have a positive effect on bone density, particularly in the hip and spine where fractures are most common. Cycling and swimming are both low-impact activities and have not been shown to have a significant impact on bone density. Therefore, running is the best choice for reducing bone density loss in middle adulthood.

Question 18

In middle adulthood, _________________ facilitates brain recovery following insult, such as mild stroke.

Accepted Answer

Neurogenesis is the process of generating new neurons in the brain. Research has shown that neurogenesis can facilitate brain recovery following an insult, such as mild stroke, in middle adulthood. This is because the brain's ability to generate new neurons can aid in repairing damaged tissue and improving cognitive function.

Question 19

Following the principle, "last to develop, first to disappear" adults who lose more brain volume in middle adulthood are most likely to show declines in:

Accepted Answer

Executive functioning skills are the cognitive abilities related to planning, organizing, decision-making, and goal-directed behavior, which are more vulnerable to decline in middle-aged adults who experience greater brain volume loss. Regulatory functions (such as emotional regulation), language, and creativity are also important cognitive abilities that may decline with age, but they are not necessarily the first to be affected by age-related brain changes.

Question 20

Middle adulthood refers to the midpoint of one's life expectancy, the average number of years a person can expect to live.

Accepted Answer

Middle adulthood is typically defined as the period of life between young adulthood and old age, roughly between the ages of 40 and 65. It is usually considered to be the halfway point of a person's life expectancy, which can vary by country and demographic factors.

Quiz 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood