Question 1

Gerontology is defined as the study of human aging and the problems associated with aging.

Accepted Answer

Gerontology is indeed defined as the study of human aging and the problems associated with aging.

Question 2

A period during which function remains at optimal levels or slowly declines defines which stage of aging?

Accepted Answer

The stage during which function remains at optimal levels or slowly declines is maturity, which occurs during mid-life when an individual's physical growth has ceased and they have reached their peak level of functioning. This stage is distinct from senescence, which is marked by a significant decline in physical and cognitive functioning due to aging. Development and puberty both refer to earlier stages of life that are characterized by growth and development rather than aging.

Question 3

was the primary reason that the sciences paid so little attention to the mechanisms of aging and longevity prior to the 1930s?

Accepted Answer

Prior to the 1930s, the general consensus was that aging was simply a natural process and therefore not considered an important problem for biologists to study, as humans had relatively short life spans. It was not until later research showed that aging could be delayed or even reversed that the scientific community began to pay more attention to the mechanisms of aging and longevity.

Question 4

Prior to the beginning of the twentieth century,the primary cause of death in human populations was:

Accepted Answer

Before the 20th century, infectious diseases were the leading cause of death worldwide. This was due to poor hygiene, crowding, and lack of adequate medical care. Infant mortality was also high, but it was largely a consequence of the prevalent infectious diseases. Cancer and heart disease became major causes of death in the later part of the 20th century.

Question 5

The branch of medicine that deals with the problems and diseases of old age and aging people is called geriatrics.

Accepted Answer

Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the problems and diseases of old age and aging people.

Question 6

Biogerontology is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Biogerontology specifically focuses on the biological processes of aging, examining how living organisms age at a cellular and molecular level.

Question 7

Wild animals cannot be used as models for aging research because aging does not occur in the wild.
Definitions of Biological Aging

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Aging does occur in the wild, and wild animals can be used as models for aging research. However, certain factors such as environmental stressors and predation can affect the aging process in wild animals differently than in captive animals or humans.

Question 8

______ is the post-reproductive period and manifests as negative changes in vitality and function.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______ is the post-reproductive period and manifests...

Question 9

A definition of aging such as "biological aging is characterized by an increase in mortality rate" is most useful for:

Accepted Answer

This definition is most useful for large human populations because it allows for the observation of trends and patterns in mortality rates across a broad demographic, which is essential for studying aging at a population level.

Question 10

What characteristic marks the transition from maturity to senescence?

Accepted Answer

The transition from maturity to senescence is marked by the organism or molecule losing the capacity to resist the force of entropy, which is the tendency towards disorder and decay. This can lead to a decline in physical and cognitive function, as well as an increased risk of disease and mortality.

Question 11

creation of which two professional societies marked the beginning of organized aging research in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) was founded in 1945, and the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) was founded in 1947. These two societies are considered to be the beginning of organized aging research in the United States. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) are government agencies focused on biomedical research, but they were not directly involved in the founding of these professional societies.

Question 12

The stage of the life span during which functional change is generally positive is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Development is the stage of the life span during which functional change is generally positive. This includes physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. Maturity may also indicate positive functional change, but it is a more general term that does not exclusively refer to a specific stage of the life span. Senescence refers to the aging process, which is generally associated with declining functional change. Puberty is a specific developmental stage within the life span, but it is not the stage during which functional change is generally positive overall.

Question 13

Finish the sentence: Longevity is ____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Finish the sentence: Longevity is ____________....

Question 14

Degradation of the matter in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity is defined as:

Accepted Answer

The degradation of matter in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity is defined as entropy. Entropy is a measure of the degree of disorder or randomness in a system, and it tends to increase over time. The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the entropy of a closed system will always increase or remain the same, never decrease. This means that the universe is moving towards a state of maximum entropy, where all matter is evenly distributed and there is no more potential for energy to be exchanged or work to be done.

Question 15

What is/are the limitation(s)of functional-based and mortality-based aging definitions?

Accepted Answer

The functional-based and mortality-based aging definitions do not address aging at a cellular level, and they also do not address aging events that occur prior to maturation.

Question 16

Definitions of biological aging that are based on mortality are particularly useful in the science of biodemography.

Accepted Answer

Mortality-based definitions of biological aging are often used in biodemography because they provide a measure of the aging process that can be related to population-level patterns of morbidity and mortality. These definitions usually involve the measurement of age-specific mortality rates, which can indicate the degree to which individuals in a population are experiencing the health-related declines associated with aging.

Question 17

Choose the best statement concerning aging and disease.

Accepted Answer

The process of biological aging follows the normal laws of physiology, meaning it is a natural part of the life cycle of organisms, governed by genetic and environmental factors. Disease, on the other hand, does not necessarily follow these laws, as it can be caused by external factors such as pathogens, and can disrupt normal physiological processes.

Question 18

Choose the best definition of life span.

Accepted Answer

Life span refers to the total length of life of an individual. Choice A refers to maximum life span, choice C refers to average life expectancy, and choice D refers to the concept of life expectancy at the highest age bracket of a population.

Question 19

institute within the National Institutes of Health that is responsible for providing funding for aging research is the:

Accepted Answer

The National Institute on Aging is specifically dedicated to providing funding for aging research, making it the best choice among the options listed. The other options may also have a focus on gerontology and aging research, but they are not specifically responsible for funding these types of studies within the National Institutes of Health.

Question 20

Genes regulate the aging process.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Genes regulate the aging process....

Quiz 1: Basic Concepts in the Biology of Aging