Question 1

Men who reach the ninth decade of life are often better off mentally and physically than women are.

Accepted Answer

Men tend to have better physical and mental health outcomes than women in later life due to factors such as lower rates of chronic diseases, higher levels of physical activity, and better access to healthcare.

Question 2

Tucker and her colleagues studied the relationship between marital status at midlife and longevity in a sample of men and women in the Terman Life-Cycle longitudinal study initiated in 1921.They found that _______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tucker and her colleagues studied the relationship...

Question 3

Which disease is associated with high blood glucose levels and can lead to complications such as stroke and blindness?

Accepted Answer

Diabetes is associated with high blood glucose levels, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke and blindness if not properly managed.

Question 4

Which of the following is the best example of an activity of daily living (ADL)?

Accepted Answer

Bathing is considered a fundamental activity of daily living (ADL), as it involves personal care and hygiene, which are essential for an individual's daily routine and well-being.

Question 5

Reserve capacity is the extra capacity needed when stressful or demanding situations require more than the normal capacity.With increasing age,the level of this reserve capacity __________.

Accepted Answer

Reserve capacity tends to decrease with age, as the body's systems gradually lose some of their ability to handle additional stress or demand beyond normal levels.

Question 6

As age increases from middle to older adulthood,the volume of the brain _____.

Accepted Answer

As people age from middle to older adulthood, the volume of the brain decreases. This is a natural part of the aging process, associated with a decline in the number of neurons and the size of the brain.

Question 7

According to findings from the Nun Study,it is possible to predict longevity on the basis of the level of positive emotional expression found in autobiographies that the nuns wrote when they were entering the convent as young adults.

Accepted Answer

The Nun Study, a longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer's disease, found that nuns whose autobiographies contained more positive emotional content tended to live longer than those whose writings were less positive. This suggests a link between early-life emotional expression and longevity.

Question 8

According to the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC),the brain cannot adapt to the neural changes that occur with aging and thus shows greater and greater slippage in functioning as time goes by.

Accepted Answer

The Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC) posits that the brain adapts to neural changes associated with aging through compensatory processes, such as engaging additional neural circuits, to maintain cognitive function.

Question 9

Which of the following is the leading cause of death for people age 65+ in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people age 65 and older in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Question 10

Compared with the brains of old rats that live in standard cages with little stimulation,the brains of old rats that live in a complex toy-filled environment ___________.

Accepted Answer

The brains of old rats living in a complex, toy-filled environment show more extensive dendritic branching of neurons compared to those living in standard, less stimulating cages. This is because enriched environments can enhance brain plasticity and cognitive functions, leading to increased neuronal connectivity.

Question 11

Harris surveyed adults from a wide range of ages on their attitudes toward the use of age concealment techniques such as coloring hair or getting a facelift.Harris found that the people in her survey were least likely to be favorably viewed when such techniques were used by _______.

Accepted Answer

The survey found that people were least likely to view age concealment techniques favorably when used by men.

Question 12

Which of the following is the best example of an instrumental activity of daily living (IADL)?

Accepted Answer

Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are tasks that are more complex than basic self-care activities and are necessary for an individual to live independently. Cooking is an example of an IADL because it involves multiple steps, such as planning meals, preparing food, and using kitchen appliances safely, which go beyond basic personal care.

Question 13

Deterioration of the bone structure (brittle and porous bones) is found most commonly in________,who suffer in great numbers from ______.

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by the deterioration of bone tissue, leading to brittle and porous bones, and it is most commonly found in European American women. This demographic has a higher prevalence of osteoporosis compared to others, making this the correct answer.

Question 14

According to the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC),__________.

Accepted Answer

Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC) suggests that the brain compensates for age-related neural decline by recruiting additional neural circuits, a process known as scaffolding.

Question 15

The build-up of plaque that can restrict blood flow is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Atherosclerosis is the condition characterized by the build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls (plaque), which can restrict blood flow.

Question 16

Which technique is used to monitor changes in brain activity as individuals engage in cognitive tasks?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which technique is used to monitor changes...

Question 17

One study described in Chapter 3 found that individuals who have faster reaction times in their 50s live ______________ compared to individuals who have slower reaction times.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with faster reaction times in their 50s tend to live longer, suggesting a correlation between quicker reaction times and increased longevity.

Question 18

Which area of the brain seems to be the most affected by the aging process as far as having tangles,plaques,and widened sulci?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is most affected by the aging process in terms of developing tangles, plaques, and widened sulci. These changes are associated with cognitive decline and are more pronounced in the frontal lobe compared to other areas of the brain.

Question 19

As a cause of death,diabetes is ______ among European American older adults than it is among African American older adults.

Accepted Answer

Diabetes is less frequent among European American older adults than it is among African American older adults, reflecting disparities in health outcomes and access to care among different racial and ethnic groups.

Question 20

"Terminal drop" specifically refers to the fact that ___________.

Accepted Answer

"Terminal drop" refers to the observed decline in cognitive abilities shortly before death, indicating a significant decrease in functions such as memory and reasoning during the final years or months of life.

Quiz 3: Biological Aging and Health