Question 1

With age:
A) brain weight decreases; brain volume does not decrease.
B) brain volume decreases; brain weight does not decrease.
C) both brain weight and brain volume decrease.
D) neither brain weight nor brain volume decreases.

Accepted Answer

Both brain weight and brain volume decrease with age, reflecting changes such as loss of neurons and shrinkage of brain tissue.

Question 2

According to the evolutionary theory of aging, why hasn't natural selection eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults?
A) Natural selection is closely linked with reproduction in young adulthood.
B) Cultural variation overwhelms natural selection.
C) It is abnormal for humans to live as long they do not.
D) Synthetic foods have disturbed the evolutionary process.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection primarily affects traits that influence reproductive success. Since older adults have typically passed their reproductive years, natural selection has less impact on eliminating harmful conditions that manifest later in life.

Question 3

Which of the following biological theories of aging states that people age because their cells' normal metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules?
A) Cellular clock theory
B) Free-radical theory
C) Telomerase-injection theory
D) Hormonal stress theory

Accepted Answer

The free-radical theory of aging suggests that aging occurs due to the accumulation of damage caused by oxidative stress from free radicals, which are unstable molecules produced as a byproduct of cellular metabolism.

Question 4

In 2013, the life expectancy for men was _____ and for women was _____.
A) 88.3; 94.7
B) 94.7; 88.3
C) 76.4; 81.2
D) 81.2; 76.4

Accepted Answer

In 2013, the life expectancy for men was 76.4 years and for women was 81.2 years.

Question 5

Greta, 75 years old, has noticed that when she is outside in bright sun, and then comes in the house, it takes a long time for her eyes to adjust. When she went in for an eye exam she mentioned this to the doctor. Based on data, his response was that her experience is:
A) typical and expected for her age.
B) unusual but nothing to be concerned about.
C) something to pay attention to because it could signal a larger problem.
D) a sign of trauma and she should go to the hospital immediately.

Accepted Answer

As people age, the eyes' ability to adjust to changes in light levels can slow down, making Greta's experience typical and expected for her age.

Question 6

What is the main difference between the way younger people and older people respond to stress?
A) Younger people have a slower restorative process after a stressful episode.
B) Younger people have better coping strategies for dealing with stress.
C) The process of aging increases the pituitary gland's response to stress, making it work harder.
D) Older people keep stress hormones in their system for longer periods.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that older people keep stress hormones in their system for longer periods, leading to a higher risk of health problems associated with chronic stress.

Question 7

The New England Centenarian and Supercentenarian studies found all of the following expect that:
A) participants had a low rate of age-associated diseases.
B) "the older you get, the sicker you get."
C) most participants had good mental health.
D) most participants were women.

Accepted Answer

The study found that "the older you get, the healthier you've been," contradicting the statement "the older you get, the sicker you get."

Question 8

What is the average life expectancy for individuals born in 2013 in the United States?
A) 69.3 years
B) 72.3 years
C) 75.3 years
D) 78.8 years

Accepted Answer

The average life expectancy for individuals born in the United States in 2013 was approximately 78.8 years.

Question 9

As Clarence has gotten older he is much slower going down stairs. While his adult children think it is due to his balance, he is actually experiencing the effects of age on his:
A) eye-hand coordination.
B) depth perception.
C) ocular elasticity.
D) color vision.

Accepted Answer

As people age, depth perception can decline, making it more challenging to judge distances accurately, which can affect activities like going down stairs.

Question 10

Telomeres and telomerase are increasingly thought to be key components of the _____ process, providing a possible avenue to restrain cancer and delay aging.
A) hormone production
B) antibody proliferation
C) free radical regeneration
D) stem-cell regeneration

Accepted Answer

Telomeres and telomerase play a crucial role in the process of stem-cell regeneration by maintaining the integrity of the genetic material during cell division. Shortened telomeres have been linked to cellular aging and an increased risk of cancer, making telomerase an attractive target for cancer therapy and anti-aging interventions. Hormone production, antibody proliferation, and free radical regeneration are not as closely related to telomeres and telomerase.

Question 11

According to the cellular clock theory, after about 70 or 80 replications, the cell no longer can reproduce and the _____ are dramatically reduced.
A) mitochondria
B) telomeres
C) chromosomes
D) sperm cells

Accepted Answer

The cellular clock theory states that after about 70 to 80 replications, the telomeres (the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes) become shorter and eventually lead to cell senescence (unable to divide further). Therefore, choice B, telomeres, is the best answer.

Question 12

Mason, 75 years old, has noticed that when he's driving at night, especially if it is raining, it is very distressing. He finds it hard to see and to judge distance from other cars. He asked his doctor about it when he went in for an eye exam. Based on data, the doctor's response was that his experience is:
A) typical and expected for his age.
B) unusual but nothing to be concerned about.
C) something to pay attention to because it could signal a larger problem.
D) a sign of trauma and he should go to the hospital immediately.

Accepted Answer

As people age, it is common for them to experience difficulties with night vision and depth perception, especially in challenging conditions like rain.

Question 13

Severe reductions in the production of dopamine have been linked with _____, while reduction in acetylcholine is linked with _____.
A) Parkinson disease; Alzheimer disease
B) Alzheimer disease; Parkinson disease
C) cardiovascular disease; lung cancer
D) lung cancer; cardiovascular disease

Accepted Answer

Severe reductions in the production of dopamine are linked with Parkinson's disease, while reductions in acetylcholine are linked with Alzheimer's disease.

Question 14

According to a study by Coleman that compared the brains of adults at various ages, from the forties through the seventies, the:
A) growth of dendrites increased.
B) growth of dendrites decreased.
C) number of axons increased.
D) number of neurons increased.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to a study by Coleman that...

Question 15

The commonly noticed decrease in working memory and other cognitive activities is likely to be associated with the finding that the _____ shrinks with age.
A) prefrontal cortex
B) amygdala
C) hypothalamus
D) premotor cortex

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is associated with higher cognitive functions, including working memory, and it is known to shrink with age, which can lead to a decrease in these cognitive activities.

Question 16

Which of the following are regions of the adult human brain where neurogenesis has been documented?
A) Amygdala and cerebellum
B) Hippocampus and olfactory bulb
C) Prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus
D) Hypothalamus and temporal lobes

Accepted Answer

Neurogenesis in the adult human brain has been documented primarily in the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. These areas are known for their roles in memory and smell, respectively, and have been shown to generate new neurons throughout adulthood.

Question 17

Gisela is suffering from a condition that involves thickening of the lens of her eyes. This causes her vision to become cloudy or distorted. Identify the condition that Gisela is suffering from.
A) Glaucoma
B) Nearsightedness
C) Macular degeneration
D) Cataracts

Accepted Answer

Cataracts involve the thickening and clouding of the lens of the eye, leading to cloudy or distorted vision.

Question 18

Paige is having a surgical procedure to replace the natural lenses in her eyes with artificial ones. This is a routine procedure, performed to take care of:
A) glaucoma.
B) nearsightedness.
C) macular degeneration.
D) cataracts.

Accepted Answer

Cataract surgery involves replacing the eye's natural lens with an artificial one to treat cataracts, which cause clouding of the lens and impair vision.

Question 19

The tiny bodies within cells that supply essential energy for function, growth, and repair are known as:
A) Lewy bodies.
B) ribosomes.
C) chromosomes.
D) mitochondria.

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria are the organelles responsible for producing energy in the form of ATP. They contain enzymes involved in the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which are critical for cellular respiration. Lewy bodies are abnormal protein deposits associated with certain neurological disorders, ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis, and chromosomes contain genetic material.

Question 20

_____ is the number of years that the average person born in a particular year will probably live.
A) Life expectancy
B) Life span
C) Longevity
D) Life extension

Accepted Answer

Life expectancy is the most appropriate term for the given definition. Life span refers to the maximum potential length of life for a species, while longevity refers to the state or quality of being long-lived. Life extension refers to efforts to increase the maximum potential length of life beyond what is considered normal or natural.

Quiz 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

With age:

According to the evolutionary theory of aging, why hasn't natural selection eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults?

Which of the following biological theories of aging states that people age because their cells' normal metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules?

In 2013, the life expectancy for men was _ and for women was _.

Greta, 75 years old, has noticed that when she is outside in bright sun, and then comes in the house, it takes a long time for her eyes to adjust. When she went in for an eye exam she mentioned this to the doctor. Based on data, his response was that her experience is:

What is the main difference between the way younger people and older people respond to stress?

The New England Centenarian and Supercentenarian studies found all of the following expect that:

What is the average life expectancy for individuals born in 2013 in the United States?

As Clarence has gotten older he is much slower going down stairs. While his adult children think it is due to his balance, he is actually experiencing the effects of age on his:

Telomeres and telomerase are increasingly thought to be key components of the _____ process, providing a possible avenue to restrain cancer and delay aging.

According to the cellular clock theory, after about 70 or 80 replications, the cell no longer can reproduce and the _____ are dramatically reduced.

Severe reductions in the production of dopamine have been linked with _, while reduction in acetylcholine is linked with _.

According to a study by Coleman that compared the brains of adults at various ages, from the forties through the seventies, the:

The commonly noticed decrease in working memory and other cognitive activities is likely to be associated with the finding that the _____ shrinks with age.

Which of the following are regions of the adult human brain where neurogenesis has been documented?

Gisela is suffering from a condition that involves thickening of the lens of her eyes. This causes her vision to become cloudy or distorted. Identify the condition that Gisela is suffering from.

Paige is having a surgical procedure to replace the natural lenses in her eyes with artificial ones. This is a routine procedure, performed to take care of:

The tiny bodies within cells that supply essential energy for function, growth, and repair are known as:

_____ is the number of years that the average person born in a particular year will probably live.