Question 1

Which vision change is NOT associated with aging?

Accepted Answer

Farsightedness typically worsens with age, while longer adjustment time to darkness, slowed motion perception, and decreased peripheral vision are all associated with aging.

Question 2

In an aging brain _____.

Accepted Answer

As the brain ages, reaction time tends to lengthen due to a decrease in processing speed. This is because the brain cells (neurons) and connections in the brain can slow down or become less efficient with age. A) is incorrect because neurons actually fire more slowly in an aging brain. C) is also incorrect because brain size tends to shrink with age. D) is incorrect because multitasking often becomes more difficult with age.

Question 3

Most adults are not aware of senescence until about age 60 or so due to _____.

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

Marie is 50 years old. Which activity is likely most difficult for her to do?

Accepted Answer

Dancing a waltz requires physical stamina and coordination, which may become more difficult as we age. The other activities listed are typically not affected as much by age.

Question 5

The first visible signs of senescence are usually observed in a person's _____.

Accepted Answer

The skin is often the first visible indicator of aging, showing signs such as wrinkles, age spots, and sagging.

Question 6

Which individual is most at risk for significant brain loss by age 65?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which individual is most at risk for...

Question 7

What are the odds that a person will inherit the dominant gene for Alzheimer disease?

Accepted Answer

The odds of inheriting the dominant gene for Alzheimer's disease are 1 in 1,000, according to the Alzheimer's Association. However, it's important to note that having the gene doesn't necessarily mean a person will develop the disease, and not having the gene doesn't guarantee they won't. Other factors also play a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Question 8

At a recent physical exam, Janet was told that she is an inch shorter than she was five years ago at age 60. What caused her decrease in height?

Accepted Answer

Age-related compression of the spine is the most common cause of height loss in older adults. As people age, the discs between the vertebrae in the spine become compressed and lose fluid, leading to a decrease in height. This is a natural part of the aging process and cannot be reversed.

Question 9

Harold, who is 55 years old, didn't realize how much his physical appearance had changed until he saw a picture of himself taken 20 years ago. Harold's gradual change in physical appearance was due to _____.

Accepted Answer

Senescence refers to the biological process of aging, which includes changes in appearance, physical function, and health status. The fact that Harold's physical appearance has changed over the past 20 years is indicative of the aging process. Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment, while organ reserve refers to the extra capacity of organs to compensate for stress or damage. Allostasis refers to the body's ability to adapt to stress and maintain stability over time. While these concepts may play a role in the aging process, they are not directly related to Harold's change in physical appearance.

Question 10

If he is typical, a 45-year-old man will probably state that he feels _____ his chronological age.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that middle-aged men tend to feel about 5 to 10 years younger than their chronological age.

Question 11

Patricia is in her early 60s and can pick flowers for hours, but can only lift the heavy rocks in her garden for a few minutes. Her inability to lift the rocks for longer is due to a reduction in _____.

Accepted Answer

Type II muscle fibers are responsible for short bursts of strength and power, such as lifting heavy objects. As people age, there is often a reduction in these fibers, leading to decreased ability to perform tasks requiring strength.

Question 12

A group of friends, all about 60 years of age, are playing cards. What characteristic of senescence do they MOST likely have in common?

Accepted Answer

Wrinkles are a common physical characteristic of aging and are often associated with senescence. While some older adults may experience problems with hearing or vision, these are not universal characteristics of senescence and can vary greatly among individuals. Similarly, not all older adults may become unable to drive, as this can depend on factors such as overall health and mobility.

Question 13

Severe brain loss that occurs before late adulthood could be caused by any of these factors EXCEPT _____.

Accepted Answer

Senescence refers to the natural aging process and is not a factor that causes severe brain loss before late adulthood. Poor circulation, genes, and drug abuse are all known risk factors for brain loss.

Question 14

Before the age of 65, _____ percent of individuals experience significant brain loss.

Accepted Answer

Before the age of 65, only about 1 percent of individuals experience significant brain loss.

Question 15

Middle-aged Robert and his adolescent son are sitting at the table reading the newspaper. Robert is holding his section of the newspaper rather far from his eyes. His son asks, "Dad, why are you holding the paper so far away? If I held it that far away I could not read anything!" Robert replies, "I think it is because I am developing _____."

Accepted Answer

Robert's difficulty reading up close suggests that he is experiencing farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, which is a common age-related visual change. This condition makes it challenging to see things up close.

Question 16

Janice, who is 55 years old, needed to get three projects done by the end of the week at work. When she was younger she would have worked on all three projects more or less at the same time. Now that she is older, however, Janice needs to work on one project at a time. Janice's current inability to multitask is due to changes in her _____.

Accepted Answer

As people age, changes in the brain can lead to a decrease in the ability to multitask. This can be due to a decline in cognitive function and working memory, which makes it more difficult to switch between tasks and keep track of multiple things at once. Age-related changes in vision and flexibility could also impact work performance, but they are less likely to directly affect multitasking abilities. Expertise could potentially improve with age, but it is not directly related to the ability to multitask.

Question 17

Once a person has reached adulthood, oxygen dispersal into the bloodstream from the lungs drops about 4 percent _____.

Accepted Answer

Oxygen dispersal into the bloodstream from the lungs drops about 4 percent each decade once a person has reached adulthood.

Question 18

In middle adulthood, a person is MOST apt to lose _____.

Accepted Answer

In middle adulthood, a person is likely to experience a gradual loss in height due to changes in bone density and posture, with men and women both losing about an inch of height on average. While changes in weight and physical abilities can also occur, they may not be as universal as height loss. Loss of the ability to experience orgasm is not a typical age-related change in middle adulthood.

Question 19

Which physical change does NOT typically occur in middle adulthood?

Accepted Answer

The space between the spinal disks actually narrows with age, causing a decrease in height. This is a common age-related change, but it is not typically associated with middle adulthood specifically.

Question 20

Adulthood covers the four decades of life between ages _____ and _____.

Accepted Answer

Adulthood covers the four decades of life between ages 25 and 65.

Quiz 20: Seciton 3: Adulthood: Biosocial Development