Late Adulthood

________ involves the storage of information for long periods of time, whereas ________ is a cognitive system with a limited capacity that is responsible for temporarily holding information available for processing and most sensitive to decline in old age.

Long-term memory; Working memory

Which is the best advice for Felicia, who is 81 and healthy, and hoping to continue leading an active life?

remain sexually active, exercise, and have good friends

________ is a type of social structure wherein the power is held by a society's oldest members.

Gerontocracy

If Sandra is 82 years old, which terminology would demographers use to describe her?

old old

Essie is an 86-year-old woman who tries to function independently but has suffered for several years with forgetfulness, especially with recent memories. She has trouble finding her car in the parking lot after grocery shopping. The store managers have called her children to come and help her. She has been known to forget her way home at times. Her children worry that she may have a form of dementia called ________.

Alzheimer's disease

Buddy is an 85-year-old African American male who is demonstrating serious memory loss, lessened intellectual ability, and impaired judgment. What diagnosis is he likely to receive from his doctor?

Dementia

According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic disease is especially a concern in the elderly population in America. It is estimated that at least 80% of older Americans are currently living with some form of a chronic condition, with 50% of this population having two or more chronic conditions. ________ is the leading cause of death from chronic disease for adults older than 65.

Heart disease

Which of the following is a leading cause of death from a chronic condition in elderly people?

Heart disease

Michael is in his mid-60s and beginning to looking back over his life, evaluate it, and come to terms with it. Which psychosocial stage according to Erikson describes what Michael is attempting to accomplish?

Integrity versus despair

Peter is age 65 and was married for 32 years. His spouse died of cancer more than 3 years ago. Gail is also 65 and is now widowed after 40 years of marriage. Her spouse died after a stroke. Which of the two may experience complicated grief, or difficulty because they do have a social network and can take care of their own daily needs?

Peter

Sebastian is age 75 and was married for 42 years. His spouse died more than 3 years ago. Helen is also 75 and is now widowed after 50 years of marriage. Which of the two may experience complicated grief, or difficulty because they do not have an extensive social network or the ability to take care of their own daily needs?

Sebastian

Which of the following is the description used by developmental psychologists to categorize the "oldest old"?

They are frail and in need of care

Which of the following is the description used by developmental psychologists to describe the functional age of the "young old"?

They live independently and are healthy and active

Greg was diagnosed with ________ as a result of his high blood sugar and insulin resistance. His doctor recommended losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating properly to improve his health.

Type 2 diabetes

________ is a form of diabetes characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin.

Type 2 diabetes

According to Salthouse's processing theory of cognitive aging, ________ causes a decline in memory functioning.

a slower processing speed

The ________ suggests that many people are barred from meaningful experiences as they age, but older adults who continue to want to remain active can work toward replacing opportunities lost with new ones.

activity theory

Which vision disease, if diagnosed early, can be treated with medication, lasers, and, possibly, a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins?

age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Denise has been retired for 12 years and is 72 years old. She is having a conversation with her daughter, discussing plans to do different things with each of her grandchildren during the summer vacation. She loves spending time with them and values her friendship with them. What style of grandparenting characterizes the type of grandparent Denise must be?

companionate grandparent

An important conclusion from research on changes in cognitive function as we age is that attentional deficits can have a significant impact on an older person's ability to function adequately and independently in everyday life. Research has shown that divided attention impairments can significantly interfere with which of these activities?

driving

Daisy wants to live much longer than her parents and grandparents, who died of health related issues in their late 60s. What is good advice for Daisy?

exercise, eat more vegetables, and have good friends

Professor Black explains that genetics, diet, lifestyle, activity, and exposure to pollutants all play a role in the aging process, and suggests that processing in all parts of the nervous system, including the brain, are less efficient with age, hence why older people have more accidents. Professor Black is explaining the ________.

generalized slowing hypothesis

The ancient Greek city state of Sparta was ruled by a Gerousia. A Gerousia was a council made up of members who were at least 60 years old and served for life. The political power within the ruling class accumulates with age, making the oldest the holders of the most power. In many preindustrial societies, the elderly still have influence and power and their vast knowledge is respected. This type of political and social structure is known as a ________.

gerontocracy

Which is the best advice for Raul, who is 72 and healthy, and hoping to continue leading an active life?

get vaccinated, exercise, and have good friends

Lorraine is 70 years old and complains that she cannot read or drive as well as she once could because her vision and especially her peripheral vision has decreased. After an eye exam, the Doctor tells her that the fluid in her eyes cannot be drained properly causing too much pressure in the fluid in her eyes. What condition does Lorraine have?

glaucoma

Research has shown that among the elderly, divided attention impairments are significantly associated with ________.

increased automobile accidents in older adults

Jay is 72-years old and is someone who sees himself as having lived a satisfying and successful life. He is grateful to have had a good career at the division of motor vehicles for over 40 years, and even more grateful for the loving family he has. He coached his children and grandchildren in football. Even now, he babysits his great grandchildren and does activities with them as well. His life has been filled with productivity, or according to Erik Erikson, ________.

integrity

Kirk is in his mid 60's and is beginning to look back on his life, evaluate it and come to terms with. Which psychosocial stage describes what Kirk is attempting to accomplish?

integrity versus despair

Stereotypes about people in late adulthood lead many to assume that aging automatically brings ________.

mental decline

Ann is a 76-year-old woman who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoporosis, and she was recently hospitalized for 3 days because of respiratory distress and was diagnosed with Emphysema. She now needs quite a bit of assistance on a daily basis. According to developmental psychologists, which of the following best describes Ann's functional age?

oldest old

Maria is 65 years old. She is retired but worked as weaver—work which is quite physically demanding. Although Maria doesn't practice any sports or go to the gym, she is constantly on the move. She does all household chores alone, mainly because she has no one to help her. She admits, "Two years ago I moved a double mattress on my own and I broke a vertebra, and from then on I had to start taking calcium." Her doctor told her that her bones had become brittle, fragile and thin. The doctor most likely diagnosed Maria with what condition?

osteoporosis

Dr. Miller is giving a lecture on the theories of aging. She explains that genetics, diet, lifestyle, activity, and exposure to pollutants all play a role in the aging process, and suggests that overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system affecting your brain's ability to communicate with your muscles and organs. Dr Miller is explaining the ________.

peripheral slowing hypothesis

The theory suggesting that overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system and that the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and brain become less efficient with increasing age is called the ________.

peripheral slowing hypothesis

Shevanne is 63 years old and complains that high-pitched sounds, such as "s" or "th" are hard to distinguish and conversations are difficult to understand, particularly when there is background noise. Some sounds seem overly loud and annoying. Her doctor tells her that she is suffering from an age related hearing loss due to damage of the cochlea in her inner ear. Her doctor has diagnosed her with the second most common illness in aged people. Which is it?

presbycusis

The term senescence is another name for ________.

primary aging

Anna Mae is 72 years old. She recently became a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity when a project was introduced to her group of friends at the Senior Community Center where she was already involved in tutoring school children in reading and math. This is just an example of how people in late adulthood continue to be ________ in many ways.

productive

Mary worked in customer service for 40 years. She was known to be insightful and able to overcome obstacles that she encountered on a daily basis. She retired from her management position at the age of 65. Now, as a volunteer at a polling bureau, she puts her ability to use common sense and good judgment in making decisions to good use.

wisdom

Which of these cognitive functions is most sensitive to decline in old age?

working memory

Demographers use which terminology to describe people between the ages of 65 and 74 years?

young old