Chapter 24: Late Adulthood - Cognitive Development Flashcards
Which of the following is true of how the brain changes with age?
A. Dendrites grow with new experiences.
B. It increases in size.
C. Processing speeds up.
D. Production of neurotransmitters increases.
A. Dendrites grow with new experiences.
The neurological evidence of major depression suggests that dendrite \_\_\_\_\_ in the adult brain \_\_\_\_\_ depression. A. growth; increases B. growth; reduces C. reduction; reduces D. reduction; increases
B. growth; reduces
Connections between which brain areas are particularly disturbed during the period of late adulthood?
A. parietal and frontal lobes
B. occipital and temporal lobes
C. occipital and frontal lobes
D. frontal lobes and somatosensory cortex
B. occipital and temporal lobes
Which of the following types of memory shows the least decline with age? A. explicit memory for things like names B. prospective memory C. working memory D. implicit memory
D. implicit memory
Brain diseases that affect a person’s ability to remember, analyze, plan, or interact with other people are known as \_\_\_\_\_. A. psychosomatic disorders B. neurocognitive disorders C. autism spectrum disorders D. mild cognitive impairment
B. neurocognitive disorders
_____ is a reversible condition that is most commonly mistaken for major neurocognitive disorder (NCD).
A. Lewy body disease B. Malnutrition
C. Depression
D. Polypharmacy
C. Depression
A neurocognitive disorder with symptoms that include visual hallucinations, loss of attention, falling, and fainting is \_\_\_\_\_. A. Parkinson’s disease B. vascular disease C. Alzheimer’s disease D. Lewy body disease
D. Lewy body disease
Which of the following activities is NOT associated with a reduced incidence of neurocognitive disorder in the elderly? A. education B. regular exercise C. taking Saint-John’s-wort every day D. healthy diet
C. taking Saint-John’s-wort every day
\_\_\_\_\_ is characterized by gradual deterioration of memory and personality and marked by the formation of plaques of beta-amyloid protein and tangles of tau in the brain. A. Vascular disease B. Parkinson’s disease C. Lewy body disease D. Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
D. Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, what stage characterized by aesthetic, creative, philosophical, and spiritual understanding, is reached by many older individuals? A. safety and security B. love and belonging C. esteem D. self-actualization
D. self-actualization
Stacy wants to use ecological validity when evaluating cognition in older adults. Which of the following approaches would you recommend?
A. giving a written assessment of vocabulary
B. administering a cognitive test assessing problem-solving skills
C. doing a verbal recall test of memory
D. observing ability to solve problems during daily life and realistic settings
D. observing ability to solve problems during daily life and realistic settings
Gina, who is 70, is engaging in a game that requires problem-solving skills. How is she likely to complete this exercise?
A. with slow analysis and forethought
B. with prior knowledge and rules of thumb
C. with a recently learned principle
D. quickly and logically
B. with prior knowledge and rules of thumb
Larissa had a series of small, minor strokes, which led to major neurocognitive disorder. Which of the following describes the primary cause of this disorder? A. Alzheimer’s disease B. vascular disease C. formation of plaques and tangles D. frontotemporal degeneration
B. vascular disease
Marian has been experiencing tremors and muscle rigidity, and recently she found herself unable to initiate movement. Which of the following is Marian likely to be diagnosed with? A. Alzheimer’s disease B. vasculardisease C. Parkinson’sdisease D. frontotemporal lobar degeneration
C. Parkinson’sdiseas
Jacob, an elderly individual, is writing an account of his personal lifelong journey; he tells stories of his personal experiences to the younger members of his family and community so they know their history. What is Jacob engaging in? A. life scrutiny B. life examination C. life evaluation D. life review
D. life review
an examination of one’s own role in the history of human life, engaged in by many elderly people
life review
the final stage in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, characterized by aesthetic, creative, philosophical, and spiritual understanding
self-actualization
Refers to a situation in which elderly people are prescribed several medications. The various side effects and interactions of those medications can result in dementia symptoms.
Polypharmacy
deterioration of the amygdala and frontal lobes that may be the cause of 15 percent of all major neurocognitive disorders
Frontotemporal NCDs
A chronic, progressive disease that is characterized by muscle tremor and rigidity and sometimes major NCD; caused by reduced dopamine production in the brain.
Parkinson’s disease
A form of major neurocognitive disorder characterized by an increase in Lewy body cells in the brain. Symptoms include visual hallucinations, momentary loss of attention, falling, and fainting.
Lewy body disease
Formerly called vascular or multi-infarct dementia, vascular disease is characterized by progressive loss of intellectual functioning caused by repeated infarcts (strokes), or temporary obstructions of blood vessels.
vascular disease
The most common Cause of major NCD, characterized by gradual deterioration of memory and personality and marked by the formation of plaques of beta-amyloid protein and tangles of tau in the brain.
Alzheimer’s disease
clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid, found in brain tissues surrounding the neurons
plaques
twisted masses of threads made of a protein called tau within the neurons of the brain
tangles
Irreversible loss of intellectual functioning caused by organic brain damage or disease. Formerly called dementia, major NCD becomes more common with age, but it is abnormal and pathological even in the very old.
major neurocognitive disorder (major NCD)
Any of a number of brain diseases that affects a persons ability to remember, analyze, plan, or interact with other people.
neurocognitive disorders (NCDs)
the idea that cognition should be measured in settings that are as realistic as possible and that the abilities measured should be those needed in real life
ecological validity
The part of the information-processing system that regulates the analysis and flow of information. Memory and retrieval strategies, selective attention, and rules or strategies for problem solving are all useful control processes.
control processes
The ability to hold information in memory for a moment before evaluating, calculating, and inferring its significance is known as _____.
working memory
After seeings a specialist, Jack started taking a medicine for his heart that led to digestive problems. He saw a different doctor for that issue and was prescribed another drug, which lead to headaches. Yet another doctor prescribed another drug for his headaches. Jack has just experienced ____________.
A prescribing cascade
Compared to low-SES people, high-SES people tend to________.
Have better medical care
Which of the following is the most important nongenetic factor in preventing the onset of cognitive impairment?
physical exercise
Verna has dementia. Her motor control and memory have been impacted, though their impairment is not the most significant symptom of her condition. The most significant symptom is her loss of inhibition, evident in her chronic gambling. Verna most likely has:
Lewy body dementia
The idea that cognition should be measured in terms of everyday tasks and circumstances is _________.
ecological validity
The estimated number of U.S. residents living with a serious neurocognitive disorder is at around ___________ million
4
Travis, who played soccer in high school, college, and into his early 30’s, received at least 10 head injuries in his athletic career, with 8 causing severe concussions. Now, at age 57, Travis is experiencing memory loss and mood swings. Travis probably has_____________.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Otto, age 81, just relayed a news story to his friends over coffee, but cannot remember where he heard or read about the tale. Otto has:
source amnesia
Delores, age 75, believes her memory is fading with age, and the anxiety this causes her actually diminishes her memory. This is an example of _____.
stereotype threat
stereotype threat
The slowing down of the brain in primary aging may be attributed to:
reduced production of acetylcholine.
A common type of difficulty that older adults have due to brain shrinkage is that it interferes with:
being able to multitask.
Edward is 71 years old and is taking an adult-education Spanish class. He often finds himself in class having difficulty paying attention, daydreaming, and experiencing intrusive memories from his past. Edward did not have these issues when he was a college student in his 20s. Edward’s experience could be explained by which of the following?
inefficient control processes
Some older individuals take longer to perceive and process sensations, which reduces _____ because some items fade before they can be considered.
working memory
Cognitive decline in late adulthood:
has a greater degree of variability from one individual to another than is true for any other age group.
Ecological validity is:
a consideration of subjective variables
The presence of the gene _______ increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
ApoE4
Becky is 70 years old and has Alzheimer’s disease. She requires full-time care, does not recognize her family members, and cannot communicate well. Which stage is she in?
Stage 4
A measure to slow down the onset of major neurocognitive disorder is:
to improve circulation through regular exercise
Maria, age 70, is a self-actualized, gifted artist. In addition to her increased spirituality, Maslow would say that Maria is more likely to:
find life more amusing.
Supat is 86 years old and is examining his role in the history of human life. Some would say that this activity indicates:
life review.
life review.
Researchers have found that cognitive abilities can be improved:
by playing video games
by playing video games
Which of the following statements about the brain in adulthood is true?
New neurons form and new dendrites grow throughout adulthood
Which of the following statements is true about the problem-solving abilities of people in late adulthood?
People in late adulthood are more likely to use more areas of their brains than younger people.
An explanation for an older adult perceiving the words in the ear ants for the word interference is:
reduced sensory input
Susan, 71 years old, has been setting alarms on her cell phone so that she can remember to take her medicine on time. Which type of memory is she compensating for?
prospective memory
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease show _____ cognitive decline compared to those with vascular major neurocognitive disorder, who have _____ decline.
gradual; sudden
With _____, symptoms may vanish quickly and go unnoticed.
transient ischemic attacks
Cases of Lewy body dementia make up _______ of neurocognitive disorders in the United States.
3 percent
Erik Erikson was interested in the _____ of the elderly.
perspective
Which of the following is important to the cognitive gains of older adults, although they do not exist in every nation?
Universities for the Third Age
Which of the following is true about cognition in late adulthood?
Education and intellectual challenge will likely influence cognitive functioning in late adulthood.
Gray matter in the brain, which is reduced as we age, is responsible for:
processing new experiences.
Betty, 78 years old, is experiencing senescence. Which of the following is she most likely to demonstrate?
increased reaction time
Information must cross what in order to be perceived?
the sensory threshold
An older person’s saying “I know but I just can’t remember” indicates a problem with:
retrieval
A major threat to elderly cognition and learning is:
stereotype threat.
Cases of Lewy body dementia make up _______ of neurocognitive disorders in the United States.
3 percent
Medication, such as _____, is effective in slowing down the progression of neurocognitive disorder due to stroke.
those that reduce cholesterol levels
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
The rate of decline in neurocognitive disorders can be treated.
Which of the following is not an example of an elderly person engaging in a life review?
Barbara is reading a book about traveling the world.
Due to the shrinkage of the prefrontal cortex as we age, which of the following behaviors might you see in late adulthood?
occasional inappropriate responses
Which type of information is the most likely to decline with age?
recalling names and new words
recalling names and new words
If Hortensia expects to lose her intellectual power as she ages, she is demonstrating the influence of:
stereotype threat
A type of neurocognitive disorder that begins with impairments in motor control but not impaired thinking is:
stereotype threat
An autopsy that finds massive plaques and tangles proves that a person had Alzheimer’s disease. However, between 20 and 30 percent of cognitively typical elders have extensive plaques in their brains at autopsy. What of the following may explain this phenomenon?
Cognitive reserve enables some people to bypass the disconnections caused by plaques
Maslow believed that as people got older they were more likely to:
reach self-actualization
Which of the following is TRUE regarding wisdom?
Humor, perspective, and altruism increase over the decades
One research study described in the text had older adults play a video game for 20 hours to see whether training could improve their:
control processes
Which of the following is the possible intellectual ability that is expected to underlie all other aspects of intelligence and is a focus of studies on intelligence in late adulthood?
processing speed
Processing information in the conscious mind is to _____ memory as permanent knowledge is to _____ memory.
working; long-term
Which of the following is true about late adulthood and emotions?
Most elderly people are content with their lives.
The average elderly person:
sees a physician eight times a year.
What did Erik Erikson call the people he interviewed who were in their 90s to reflect their awareness of the interdependence of the generations and the human experience?
social witnesses
Researchers have found that it is possible to improve almost any specific cognitive ability in the young-old if:
the training process is targeted to the individual’s motivation and abilities.
Problems with laboratory research on cognition of the elderly include all of the following EXCEPT:
using a familiar setting and memory cues
When Rosemary viciously accused her daughter-in-law of stealing the spatula that she herself misplaced, she was exhibiting the _____ found in frontotemporal lobular degeneration.
impaired social behavior and emotional regulation
Greta is 81 years old and has been experiencing hallucinations. She has some motor difficulty, so she falls frequently. At times she loses attention and behaves inappropriately, as if she has no inhibitions. Which of the following is Greta most likely suffering from?
Lewy body dementia
Which of the following contributes to problems with polypharmacy in late adulthood?
A “prescribing cascade” is more likely in older adults who have more than one health condition.
Walter is 89 years old. He is deeply spiritual, has a surprising sense of humor, cares deeply about his family and community, and loves to spend time painting and writing. Maslow would likely describe Walter as:
self-actualized
Alice, age 75, is a gifted artist who feels that only her _____ has changed as a result of her being older.
ambition
Evidence of an impaired cognitive retrieval strategy is:
less accurate memory for names.
Rates of major neurocognitive disorder in the elderly are _____ percent in those aged 70 to 79 and about _____ percent in those over 90
5; 37
Blockage of a blood vessel in the brain that keeps sufficient oxygen from getting into the brain tissue is a result of:
transient ischemic attacks
One difference between stories told by people in late adulthood and younger people is that older adults often include:
more information about experiences of other family members and cohorts rather than just their own personal experiences.
____ adults are more likely to use more areas of their brains than _____ people.
older; younger
Input, storage, programming, and output are the components that make up the _____ approach.
information-processing
Gray matter in the brain, which is reduced as we age, is responsible for:
processing new experiences.
_____ memory holds information in the mind for a moment before processing.
working
_____ memory entails remembering to do something in the future.
prospective
All of the following are changes in cognitive abilities that are due to the shrinkage of the prefrontal cortex as we age EXCEPT:
reduced ability to smell.
The final step in _____ is output.
information processing
Difficulty planning, reduced ability to multitask, and inattentive listening are behaviors that might be seen in late adulthood due to the shrinkage of the _____ cortex with age.
prefrontal
Late-adult cognition appears to decline because:
the senses miss some of the stimuli.
Which of the following is NOT a contributor to the slowing down of the brain in primary aging?
compensation
What must information cross in order to be perceived?
sensory thershold
Janine is 56 years old and has been told by doctors that she has white matter lesions. Which of the following is NOT true regarding these legions?
The time of transmission from one neuron to another will remain the same.
Sensory deficits:
can be difficult to notice.
