Question 1

Age spots that look like brown areas of pigmentation are popularly called:

Accepted Answer

Age spots are commonly referred to as liver spots, although they have nothing to do with liver function or health. They are caused by years of exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays and are most commonly found on areas of skin that have received the most sun exposure, such as the face, hands, and shoulders. They are harmless and do not require medical treatment, but can be unsightly for some people.

Question 2

Suppose you are conducting research at a nursing home populated by older adults. About two-thirds of these adults complain that they suffer from sleep problems. Generalizing from research presented in the text, you should conclude that the proportion of adults in this facility with sleep problems is:

Accepted Answer

The text reports that about half of the people over age 65 who live at home and about two-thirds of those in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities suffer from sleep problems. The people in this nursing home, thus, are about average in the proportion that report sleep problems.

Question 3

Marion feels tired because his breathing pauses or stops frequently while he is sleeping, waking him up gasping for breath, and being unable to fall back asleep again. This condition is called:

Accepted Answer

Sleep apnea is a condition involving repeated waking due to interruptions or pauses in breathing.

Question 4

If you conducted a survey of older adults who live in their own homes, you would expect that about ____ would report that they suffer from sleep problems of one sort or another.

Accepted Answer

The text reports that about half of the people over age 65 who live at home and about two-thirds of those in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities suffer from sleep problems.

Question 5

As we age and enter older adulthood, which of the following changes is LEAST likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

As we age, the function of our immune system declines, leaving us less protected from infection and disease. The other changes listed are all noted in the textbook as common age-related changes.

Question 6

According to the text, which of the following senses is LEAST affected by advanced age?

Accepted Answer

The text states that taste is the least affected sense by advanced age, meaning it is affected the least compared to the other senses listed (hearing, visual acuity, visual attention and integration).

Question 7

Which of the following is the BEST example of a pathological aging factor?

Accepted Answer

Pathological aging factors refer to the cumulative effects that result from earlier events and lifestyle choices-accidents, previous illnesses, or bad health habits-that may accelerate aging.

Question 8

For most people age-related changes in the skin are most likely the result of:

Accepted Answer

Exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun is known to be a major cause of aging skin. The sun's rays can damage collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, leading to wrinkles, sagging, and age spots. This damage is cumulative over time and can be exacerbated by factors such as smoking and pollution. Vitamin D and A deficiencies or liver dysfunction may contribute to other health issues, but are not directly linked to age-related changes in the skin.

Question 9

Jack is 67 years old and is dying from liver disease that has resulted from his long and heavy over-consumption of alcohol. The term that best captures the idea that Jack's illness results from poor lifestyle choices is:

Accepted Answer

Pathological aging factors refer to the cumulative effects that result from earlier events and lifestyle choices-accidents, previous illnesses, or bad health habits-that may accelerate aging.

Question 10

Older adults sometimes suffer from a condition that makes their bones more hollow and more brittle and may lead to a bent or stooped posture. This condition is called:

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis is an age-related condition where bones become weaker, more hollow, and more brittle. This condition makes bones more likely to fracture and take longer to mend and is often the cause of the bent or stooped posture that some people develop as they age.

Question 11

Judy is upset because her doctor has just put her on medication because her blood pressure is too high. Judy suffers from :

Accepted Answer

Hypertension is the technical term for high blood pressure.

Question 12

Part of the reason why a large proportion of older adults report sleep problems is that they spend _______ time sleeping and spend _______ time in deep sleep, compared to younger adults.

Accepted Answer

Older adults often experience changes in their sleep patterns, including spending less time sleeping overall and less time in deep sleep stages compared to younger adults.

Question 13

In general, what has been the effect of high-intensity physical exercise programs for the elderly?

Accepted Answer

The age-related decline in strength and mobility often can be delayed or partially offset by high-intensity exercise training. In one study, those who engaged in muscle-building exercises were able to double and even triple their strength and, for the first time in years, perform many strength-related tasks without assistance.

Question 14

According to text, why do older adults typically keep their houses warmer than younger adults do?

Accepted Answer

Older adults have a decreased ability to regulate their body temperature and may have diminished reserve capacity in their organ systems. Therefore, they typically prefer to keep their houses warmer than younger adults.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one of the changes normally associated with aging?

Accepted Answer

Blood vessels actually become less elastic with age, contributing to conditions such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. B, C, and D are all changes commonly associated with aging.

Question 16

What percent of the U. S. population age 85 and older is comprised of women?

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women make up about 70% of the population aged 85 and over in the United States as of 2021. This is likely due to a combination of factors such as longer life expectancies for women and higher rates of illness and disability among men at older ages.

Question 17

Frank reports that he just can't get to sleep, and if he does fall asleep, he can't stay asleep. His condition would be called:

Accepted Answer

Insomnia refers to the inability to sleep in general.

Question 18

Which of the following women has the HIGHEST likelihood of having osteoporosis?

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis generally develops in older adulthood and White and Asian women are especially likely to develop this condition.

Question 19

According to research presented in the text, older adults typically sleep about _____ hours a night, although they stay in bed about ____ hours per night:

Accepted Answer

Research presented in the text suggests that older adults typically sleep about 6 to 6½ hours a night, although they stay in bed about 8 hours per night.

Question 20

If Tom and Betty are typical adults and both are 6 feet tall at age 25, about how tall would you expect them to be at age 80?

Accepted Answer

Older adults are usually an inch or more shorter than they were in early adulthood as a result of the compression of cartilage in the spine, which is a long-term effect attributable to the effects of gravity.

Quiz 16: Older Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development