Question 1

Why aren't people in late adulthood often included in surveys of sexual behavior?

Accepted Answer

The common stereotype that people in late adulthood no longer have any interest in sexual activity may lead researchers to exclude them from surveys of sexual behavior.

Question 2

Hot flashes,sleep disturbances,and vaginal dryness are symptomatic of:

Accepted Answer

Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and vaginal dryness are all common symptoms of menopause, which is a natural part of aging in women. Androgyny refers to a combination of masculine and feminine qualities or characteristics, and a midlife crisis is a psychological phenomenon that occurs in some individuals during middle age. Progeria is a rare genetic disorder that causes premature aging in children.

Question 3

In your volunteer work,you spend time with older adults at the senior citizens center.You notice that these adults show a decline in memory function.Specifically,what type of decline do you notice in these healthy older adults?

Accepted Answer

Memory function decline in healthy older adults is usually observed in all three areas - memorizing a list of words, recalling specific information, and encoding information. This is due to natural aging processes and may not necessarily indicate a cognitive disorder.

Question 4

Regarding the effect of aging on sexual activity,it is the case that:

Accepted Answer

There is a decrease in sexual responsiveness due to physiological changes associated with aging, but this does not necessarily interfere with sexual activity. Individuals can still engage in and enjoy sexual activities, adapting to these changes.

Question 5

Grandpa Percy is trying to remember the details of a newspaper article he read recently.Grandpa Reggie is trying to remember the same article.Grandpa Percy is using both brain hemispheres to remember the details and this will lead to:

Accepted Answer

Using both brain hemispheres for memory retrieval is known as dual coding, which can enhance memory recall and improve encoding of the information. Therefore, both Grandpa Percy and Grandpa Reggie are likely to have better recall of the article.

Question 6

Researchers have found that declines in speed of performance are due to:

Accepted Answer

The study shows that the decline in speed of performance is due to the slowing down in mental processing, which is a normal part of aging. Disuse, Alzheimer's, and high blood pressure can impact cognitive function, but they are not specifically linked to declines in speed of performance.

Question 7

A 20-year-old and a 50-year-old are discussing various topics,including growing old.What advice does the 50-year-old correctly tell the 20-year-old to help with age-related memory changes?

Accepted Answer

Physical and mental exercise have been shown to improve memory and cognitive function. Taking ginkgo biloba has not been proven to be effective and accepting age-related memory changes without taking any action is not helpful. Focusing on the big picture and ignoring details may not be a practical solution in everyday situations where details are important.

Question 8

Carmen is at the age where she is likely to experience menopause.What variable is likely to greatly affect her experiences with menopause?

Accepted Answer

Carmen's expectations are likely to greatly affect her experiences with menopause. Research has shown that women who hold negative expectations about menopause (e.g. believing it will lead to decreased quality of life) tend to experience more severe symptoms than women who hold positive expectations. Therefore, it is important for Carmen to approach menopause with an open and positive mindset. While social support, exercise, and health can all play a role in menopause experiences, they are not as strongly linked to expectations as a variable.

Question 9

Changes in memory in older adults are most likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Loss of brain cells in the prefrontal lobe is a common cause of memory problems in older adults.

Question 10

Your great Aunt Lorelii says to always focus on the good things about a person.This best illustrates:

Accepted Answer

Aunt Lorelii's advice to focus on the good things about a person is an example of positivity bias, which is a tendency to focus more on positive information and give less weight to negative information. This bias can sometimes lead to unrealistic or overly optimistic assessments of people or situations.

Question 11

One of the downsides to aging is loss of processing speed,but on the other hand:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that as people age, the communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain improves, leading to better integration of information and cognitive processing. This can help counterbalance the loss of processing speed that typically comes with aging. Options A and B are not supported by scientific evidence, and option D is not a reliable compensatory mechanism.

Question 12

What was the result of research examining the effects of ginkgo biloba on memory?

Accepted Answer

Research examining the effects of ginkgo biloba on memory has found that it does not improve memory in healthy adults.

Question 13

Compared to older adults,younger adults are better at:

Accepted Answer

Younger adults tend to have better memory capabilities, allowing them to recall many details more effectively than older adults. This is attributed to cognitive functions that are generally more efficient in younger individuals.

Question 14

Your grandmother pays less attention to negative information and more attention to positive information.What is this called?

Accepted Answer

This is called positivity bias, as individuals tend to focus more on positive information and disregard negative information.

Question 15

Grandmother forgets a name and worries that she is "losing it"-you should reassure her that:

Accepted Answer

It is important to reassure the grandmother that normal changes in cognitive speed and memory are a part of the aging process, and that forgetting a name does not necessarily mean she is "losing it" or developing Alzheimer's disease.

Question 16

What piece of advice would you give young adults about what they can expect in the future regarding cognitive skills?

Accepted Answer

Evidence suggests that while older adults may experience some decline in cognitive abilities such as memory and processing speed, they are still capable of understanding complex concepts and making decisions based on them. It is important for young adults to maintain their cognitive health through continued learning and challenging activities. However, forgetting unimportant information is a common phenomenon that is not necessarily indicative of cognitive decline.

Question 17

Compared to younger adults,older adults are better at:

Accepted Answer

As people age, they generally develop better skills at interpreting complex information and understanding underlying meanings. This is due to increased experience, knowledge, and wisdom gained over time. However, older adults tend to have some decline in their ability to recall many details and memorize long lists of words compared to younger adults. Additionally, their perceptual speed may also decrease.

Question 18

George,who is in his 50s,has committed himself to physical and cognitive exercise.Based on research,his memory can improve ______.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that physical and cognitive exercise can improve memory by 30%-40% in people over 50.

Question 19

Men reaching late adulthood generally experience:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Men reaching late adulthood generally experience:
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Question 20

About when does menopause occur in most women?

Accepted Answer

Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age being around 50.

Quiz 18: Adolescence and Adulthood