Question 1

Heart disease and vision loss are caused by antioxidant deficiencies.

Accepted Answer

While antioxidants play a role in maintaining overall health, heart disease and vision loss are caused by a variety of factors, including lifestyle choices, genetic factors, and medical conditions. Antioxidant deficiencies may contribute to these issues, but they are not the sole cause.

Question 2

In Canada, the fastest-growing segment of the population is the oldest old.

Accepted Answer

According to Statistics Canada, the fastest-growing age group in Canada is those over the age of 85. This group is referred to as the "oldest old."

Question 3

Socioeconomic status is a cause of the reduced atrophying of the cerebral cortex.

Accepted Answer

Socioeconomic status is not a direct cause of the reduced atrophying of the cerebral cortex; rather, it can influence factors such as access to healthcare, education, and nutrition, which can impact brain health and development indirectly.

Question 4

In Canada, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease.

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

Recent studies indicate that the majority of elderly adults in Canada have no difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living.

Accepted Answer

Recent studies do indicate that the majority of elderly adults in Canada have no difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living.

Question 6

The number of telomeres remaining in a 70-year-old is considerably lower than the number found in a 5-year-old.

Accepted Answer

Telomeres shorten every time a cell replicates, and as we age, the number of cell replications increases leading to a lower number of telomeres remaining in older individuals compared to younger ones.

Question 7

Among older adults, auditory problems are more likely to be experienced by women than men.

Accepted Answer

Men are generally more likely to experience hearing loss than women, partly due to higher exposure to occupational noise and lifestyle factors that contribute to hearing impairment.

Question 8

The skin of elderly adults is less responsive to cold and heat.

Accepted Answer

As people age, their skin becomes thinner and loses some of the fatty layer that helps insulate the body. This makes elderly adults less sensitive to changes in temperature, and they may not feel as cold or hot as they once did.

Question 9

Age-related physical changes that cause a general slowing down are responsible for diverse behavioural effects, such as taking longer to tie one's shoes, decrements in word skills, or driving problems.

Accepted Answer

Age-related physical changes can cause a general slowing down, which can lead to various behavioural effects such as difficulty in physical tasks like tying shoes, cognitive declines in skills like word recall, and difficulties in activities like driving.

Question 10

Cross-linking occurs more often in cell proteins of older adults than in those of younger adults.

Accepted Answer

Cross-linking is a process where proteins become tangled and stiff, leading to tissue damage and age-related diseases. Research has shown that cross-linking occurs more frequently in the proteins of older adults, particularly in collagen-based tissues like skin and bone, compared to younger adults.

Question 11

Neurologists have determined that older adults who have higher levels of education show less atrophy of the cerebral cortex than those who have fewer years of schooling.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that higher levels of education are associated with a reduced risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia. One reason for this may be that education provides a cognitive reserve, allowing the brain to compensate for age-related changes and damage.

Question 12

The ability to taste the four basic flavours (salty, bitter, sweet, and sour) does not appear to decline throughout the lifespan.

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

Burns are far more common in late adulthood because the neurological message travels more slowly than in young or middle-aged adults.

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

The health habit that is most important predictor of longevity and health in late adulthood is physical exercise.

Accepted Answer

Regular physical exercise has been shown to have numerous health benefits and is consistently identified as one of the most important predictors of longevity and health in late adulthood. Studies have found that exercise can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve cognitive function, enhance mood and well-being, and increase overall physical function and independence.

Question 15

Free radicals occur less frequently in older than in young persons' bodies.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not true. Free radicals can occur in anyone's body, regardless of age. In fact, the aging process can sometimes lead to an increase in free radical damage due to factors such as decreased antioxidant activity and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Question 16

According to the Hayflick Limit, there may be a minimum number of telomeres for every individual. When the total falls below that number, then disease or death comes fairly quickly.

Accepted Answer

The Hayflick Limit states that there is a limit to the number of times a cell can divide before it reaches senescence or cell death. This is due to the shortening of telomeres, which protect the ends of chromosomes during replication. When telomeres become too short, cells can no longer divide and may become dysfunctional, leading to disease or death. However, there is no specific minimum number of telomeres for every individual, as telomere length can vary based on factors such as genetics, age, and environmental factors.

Question 17

Late adulthood vision problems may occur because of atherosclerosis, resulting in an enlarged "blind spot" on the retina and a reduced field of vision.

Accepted Answer

Atherosclerosis can cause damage to blood vessels and affect the retina, leading to visual impairments such as an enlarged "blind spot" and reduced field of vision.

Question 18

Those with hearing loss, whether mild or more severe, tend to be perceived as being disoriented or suffering from poor memory.

Accepted Answer

This is true because hearing loss affects communication and the ability to receive and process information, which can lead to misunderstandings and even confusion. As a result, individuals with hearing loss may be wrongly perceived as disoriented or forgetful.

Question 19

As adults get older, their life expectancy decreases.

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

The maximum human lifespan is approximately 100 years.

Accepted Answer

While some individuals have lived beyond 100 years, the maximum recorded human lifespan is currently 122 years and 164 days. However, such extreme longevity is extremely rare and most humans do not live beyond 80-90 years.

Quiz 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood