Psychology and physiology of ageing

Question 1

This type of intelligence is the ability to solve unfamiliar problems; biology based. Gradually and steadily declines from 30’s-40’s and onwards.

Answer 1

Fluid intelligence

Question 2

This is the ability to use existing knowledge and skills, more knowledge based rather than biology based

Answer 2

Crystalised intelligence

Question 3

Which type of intelligence tends to decline more with age?

Answer 3

Fluid intelligence

Question 4

This concept refers to the overall reduction of time spent in poor health

Answer 4

compression of morbidity

Question 5

Healthcare expenditure is principally determined by proximity to death rather than _____.

Answer 5

age

Question 6

Why is “the demographic time bomb” a myth?

Answer 6

Healthcare expenditure is principally determined by proximity to death rather than age, so this explains why living longer does not necessarily mean a longer period in ill health- related to the conept of COMPRESSION OF MORBIDITY.

Question 7

Describe the age-related gradient in depression rates in older people

Answer 7

Depression symptoms are more common amongst those aged 85+ than those aged 65-85. (So more depression in the “old old.”

Question 8

Anxiety related disorders are more common in what settings (affecting older people?)

Answer 8

care home setting

Question 9

Alcohol misuse is becoming increasingly common in which demographic?

Answer 9

Older women

Question 10

What factor contributes to increased risk of mental and physical health problems, as well as depression and risk of suicide in older people?

Answer 10

Lonliness

Question 11

What is the difference in years of age of death when comparing wealthy people with more disadvantaged cohorts?

Answer 11

Disadvanted people tend to die about 10 years younger than their wealthier counterparts

Question 12

Patients with negative views about ageing had a correlation of increased rates of _______ loss.

Answer 12

hearing

Question 13

Effect of ageing on the skeletal muscles?

Answer 13

Decreased force and elasticity of the skeltal muscular system

Question 14

Effect of ageing on the kidneys?

Answer 14

Lower filtration rate

Question 15

Effect of ageing on the lungs?

Answer 15

Lower pulmonary ventilation

Question 16

Effect of ageing on the heart?

Answer 16

Lower maximal blood flow through the heart

Question 17

Effect of ageing on blood sugar regulation

Answer 17

Glucose intolerance

Question 18

Physiological effect of ageing includes the _______ or degeneration of most organs

Answer 18

atrophy

Question 19

Definition of pathological ageing: Physiological upset prevents the body’s ability to maintain _________, resulting in disease.

Answer 19

homeostasis

Question 20

This term refers to the loss of muscle mass and reduced function of skeletal muscle in the elderly

Answer 20

Sarcopenia

Question 21

What physiological process leads to loss of strength, increased likelihood of falls which further leads to reduced function in muscle in the elderly?

Answer 21

Sarcopenia

Question 22

Physiological changes in lung function in the elderly:

___________ forced vital capacity

Answer 22

reduced

Question 23

Physiological changes in lung function in the elderly:

___________ force expiratory volume

Answer 23

reduced

Question 24

Physiological changes in lung function in the elderly:

____________ residual volume

Answer 24

increased

Question 25

A loss of elastic recoil in the lungs, dilation of the alveoli, and loss of supporting structures for the peripheral airways result in what physiological changes in lung function? (3) hint: FVC, FEV, RV

Answer 25

reduced FVC
reduced FEV
increased RV

Question 26

What is the effect of ageing on mitochondria?

Answer 26

Mitochondrial dysfunction results in falling energy outputs

Question 27

What happens to stem cells with age?

Answer 27

They become exhausted

Question 28

Genomic ________ is one of the molecular characteristics of ageing

Answer 28

instability

Question 29

What is meant by “telomere attrition?”

Answer 29

The wearing down of telomeres with age

Question 30

__________ __________ is the result of telomere shortening that ultimately triggers apoptosis.

Answer 30

Replicatic senescence

Question 31

The condition or process of deterioration with age is known as

Answer 31

senescence

Question 32

What does the “Hayflick limit” refer to?

Answer 32

The number of times most cells can divide before becoming terminally arrested/apoptotic (about 50 times).

Question 33

There is an association between having _______ telomeres and cancer, as the cell continues to divide for longer without providing apoptotic signals.

Answer 33

long

Question 34

Senescent cells have an absence of ___________ markers

Answer 34

proliferative

Question 35

Senescence is associated with beta-___________ activity (the enzyme responsible for digestion of lactose)

Answer 35

galactosidase

Question 36

Senescent cells secrete a range of signalling molecules- mainly __________

Answer 36

inflammatory

Question 37

This refers to the epigenetic modifications to DNA that are critical to the control of gene expression

Answer 37

Molecular sensescence

Question 38

Both DNA _________ and histone modification change with age.

Answer 38

methylation

Question 39

Understanding molecular senescence helps us to understand the molecular targets of ____________ associated with ageing (potential drug targets).

Answer 39

biomarkers

Question 40

What would happen if scientists were to remove all scenescent cells from the body?

Answer 40

Would result in an increased risk of cancer- cells dividing indefinitely

Question 41

What are the best ways to improve life span and health expectancy? (3)

Answer 41

Healthy diet and exercise
Public health promotion
Improving aspects of the environment (such as what children are exposed to)