Psychology Ch. 16

Front 1

the scientific study of aging is called?

Back 1

gerontology

Front 2

self-help tasks such as bathing, dressing, and using the toilet is called?

Back 2

activities of daily living

Front 3

more complex daily living tasks such as doing housework, cooking, and managing money is called

Back 3

instrumental activities of daily living

Front 4

physical changes and declines associated with aging?

Back 4

senescence

Front 5

the view that age-related declines are the result of species-specific genes for aging

Back 5

programmed senescence

Front 6

molecules or atoms that possess an unpaired electron?

Back 6

free radicals

Front 7

subgroup of radicals that enter into many potentially harmful chemical reactions, resulting in irreparable cellular damage that accumulate with age?

Back 7

oxygen free radicals

Front 8

the hypothesis that mental and physical functioning decline drasticallly only in the few years immediately preceding death

Back 8

terminal drop hypothesis

Front 9

a neurological disorder involving problems with memory and thinking that affect an individual's emotional, social, and physical functioning

Back 9

dementia

Front 10

a very severe form of dementia, the cause of which is unknown

Back 10

Alzheimer's disease

Front 11

a form of dementia caused by one or more strokes

Back 11

multiple infarct dementia

Front 12

chronic depressed mood in older adults; typically does not progress to clinical depression and has been found to be related to life stresses

Back 12

geriatric dysthymia

Front 13

a hypothesized cognitive characteristic of older adults that includes accumulated knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge to practical problems of living

Back 13

wisdom

Front 14

The majority of elderly adults have difficulty or no difficulty performing ADLs or IADLs?

Back 14

no difficulty

Front 15

Who are more likely to suffer from arthritis? Men or women?

Back 15

women

Front 16

___ seems to be important in preventing height loss.

Back 16

physical activity

Front 17

FACT: Exercise maintains physical functioning and it also seems to help maintain higher levels of cognitive performance among the elderly.

Back 17

FACT!

Front 18

What are the 4 main changes in the brain during the adult years?

Back 18

1. a redution in brain weight
2. a loss of gray matter
3. a decline in the density of dendrites
4. a slower synaptic speed

Front 19

___ itself is the cause of the reduced atrophying of the cerebral cortex rather than some general factor.

Back 19

edcation

Front 20

With increasing loss of ___, the shortest route may be lost, so ___ decreases and reaction time ___.

Back 20

dendrites, plasticity, increases

Front 21

Declines and symptoms of old is due to what?

Back 21

decrease in dendrites

Front 22

Auditory problems are more likely to be experienced by men or women?

Back 22

men

Front 23

Tinnitus is what?

Back 23

persisten ringing in the ears

Front 24

Presbycusis is what?

Back 24

hearing loss

Front 25

___ is associated with an increase in social or psychological problems, including heightened rates of depression. Select a. or b.

a. severe
b. mild or moderate hearing loss

Back 25

severe

Front 26

The ability to taste the four basic flavors (salty, bitter, sweet, and sour) does or does not seem to decline over the years of adulthood.

Back 26

does not seem

Front 27

The sense of smell does or does not deteriorate in old age.

Back 27

does

Front 28

The loss of sensitivity to odors is far greater among elderly men or women?

Back 28

men

Front 29

Only changes in __ seem to fit the terminal drop pattern.

Back 29

IQ scores

Front 30

Tasks that involve word skills decline a lot or very little with age?

Back 30

very little-they are just done more slowly

Front 31

___% of adults continue to be sexually active in old age.

Back 31

70

Front 32

Does the physiological capacity to respond to sexual stimulation appear to diminish with age?

Back 32

no!

Front 33

___ is the leading cause of institutionalization of the elderly in the U.S.?

Back 33

dementia

Front 34

Does geriatric dysthymia typically progress to clinical depression?

Back 34

no

Front 35

Geriatric dysthymia has been found to be related to ___.

Back 35

life stresses

Front 36

Evidence suggests that true clinical depression is, if anything, less or more common among older adults?

Back 36

less common

Front 37

There are more depressed women or men?

Back 37

women

Front 38

Strongest predictor of depression is?

Back 38

health status

Front 39

Depression in women may more often be the result of?

Back 39

accumulation of everyday stresses

Front 40

___ are more likely to bring on feelings of depression in men.

Back 40

traumatic events

Front 41

Is there an association between health and depression among ethnic groups?

Back 41

Yes-Minorities have poorer health than whites in the U.S.; so on average, most minority groups have higher rates of depression

Front 42

T or F: African Americans are half as likely as whites to be depressed.

Back 42

T

Front 43

___ are more likely to commit suicide than any other group.

Back 43

elderly white men

Front 44

Old old and oldest old show ___ declines on virtually all measures of intellectual skills.

Back 44

average

Front 45

FACT: The young old show little or no average decline in cogntive measures.

Back 45

FACT

Front 46

Does performance on wisdom tasks decline with age?

Back 46

no!

Front 47

Does the speed of accessing wisdom-related knowledge remain constant across adulthood?

Back 47

yes