Chapter 18: Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

Question 1

Cognitive mechanics

Answer 1

The “hardware” of the mind, reflecting the neurophysiological architecture of the brain

Involve speed and accuracy of the processes involving sensory input, visual and motor memory, discrimination, comparison, and categorization

Question 2

Cognitive pragmatics

Answer 2

Culture-based “software” of the mind

Reading and writing skills, language comprehension, educational qualifications, professional skills, and self-understanding and life skills

Question 3

T or F
Processing speed is one of the best predictors for living longer.

Answer 3

T

Question 4

T or F
Ability to ignore distractions is stronger in older adults

Answer 4

F

Question 5

Selective attention

Answer 5

Focusing on a specific aspect of an experience that is relevant while ignoring others

Question 6

Divided attention

Answer 6

Focus on more than one thing

Question 7

Sustained attention

Answer 7

Focus for an extended period

Question 8

Executive attention

Answer 8

Aspects of thinking that include planning, allocating attention to goals, detecting and compensating for errors, monitoring progress on tasks, and dealing with novel or difficult circumstances

Question 9

Explicit memory

Answer 9

Memory of facts and experiences that individuals consciously know and can state

Question 10

Implicit memory

Answer 10

Memory without conscious recollection; involves skill and routine procedures

Question 11

Episodic memory

Answer 11

Memory about details of life’s happenings

Question 12

Episodic memory gets _______ with old age

Answer 12

worse

Question 13

Reminiscence bump

Answer 13

Adults remember more events from the second and third decades of their lives

Question 14

Semantic memory

Answer 14

Knowledge about the world

Question 15

Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon

Answer 15

Older adults can’t quite retrieve information

Question 16

T or F
Working memory can be improved in late adulthood through training.

Answer 16

T

Question 17

Source memory

Answer 17

Ability to remember where one learned something

Question 18

Prospective memory

Answer 18

Ability to remember doing something

Question 19

Prospective memory deficits are usually _______ based rather than _______ based.

Answer 19

time, event

Question 20

Executive function

Answer 20

Umbrella-like concept that consists of a number of higher-level cognitive processes linked to the development of the brain’s prefrontal cortx

Question 21

What specific parts of exec. funct. decline in late adulthood?

Answer 21

1. Updating memory representations relevant for the task at hand
2. Replacing old, irrelevant information
3. Varies for everyone, general overall decline

Question 22

Mindfulness can _______ older adults’ cognitive function.

Answer 22

improve

Question 23

Wisdom

Answer 23

Expert knowledge about practical aspects of life that permits excellent judgement about important matters

Question 24

Wisdom peaks in _______.

Answer 24

Middle adulthood

Question 25

Education correlates positively with _______ in late adulthood.

Answer 25

intelligence and working memory

Question 26

Why do modern jobs help older adults maintain intellectual abilities better than older ones?

Answer 26

Emphasis on cognitive tasks, complex information processing

Question 27

"Use it or lose it"

Answer 27

If people do not utilize skills, they lose the ability to perform them

Question 28

Can cognitive skills be retrained?

Answer 28

1. Training can improve the cognitive skills of many adults 2. There is some loss in plasticity in late adulthood

Question 29

Neurocognitive scaffolding view

Answer 29

Increased activation in the prefrontal cortex with aging reflects an adaptive brain that is compensating for declining neural structures and function and declines in various aspects of cognition including working and long-term memory

Question 30

Religious service attendance _______ in late adulthood.

Answer 30

increases

Question 31

Secure attachment to Gd in late adulthood is linked to _______.

Answer 31

increased optimism

Question 32

What can religious communities provide?

Answer 32

Social activities, social support, and opportunities for leadership

Question 33

Older adults' speech is typically _______.

Answer 33

quieter, slower, less precise, and less fluent

Question 34

T or F Discourse is more elaborate in late adulthood.

Answer 34

F, conflicting research results

Question 35

What factors may impact declines in language skills?

Answer 35

Slower info-processing, a decline in working memory

Question 36

T or F Bilingualism delays the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Answer 36

T

Question 37

T or F Retirement age is decreasing.

Answer 37

F

Question 38

Working during late adulthood is _______ for health.

Answer 38

positive

Question 39

Why is retirement a thing at all?

Answer 39

(1935) Social security system

Question 40

T or F There is a dominant pattern of retirement.

Answer 40

F

Question 41

Two main worries when approaching retirement

Answer 41

1. Having to draw retirement income from savings 2. Paying for healthcare expenses

Question 42

Major depression

Answer 42

Mood disorder characterized by unhappiness, demoralization, and boredom

Question 43

Depression is more likely to be _______ in late adults.

Answer 43

chronic

Question 44

T or F Middle adults display more symptoms of depression than late adults.

Answer 44

T

Question 45

Depressed late adults are _______ likely to seek treatment.

Answer 45

less

Question 46

Dementia

Answer 46

Global term for several neurological disorders involving an irreversible decline in mental function sever enough to interfere with daily living

Question 47

Alzheimer disease

Answer 47

Progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by a gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language and eventually, physical function

Question 48

What form as a result of Alzheimer disease?

Answer 48

Amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles

Question 49

Amyloid plaques

Answer 49

Dense deposits of protein that accumulate in blood vessels

Question 50

Neurofibrillary tangles

Answer 50

Twisted fibers that build up in neurons

Question 51

Neurofibrillary tangles consist mainly of a protein called _______.

Answer 51

Tau

Question 52

Oxidative stress

Answer 52

Occurs when the body's antioxidant defenses don't cope with free radical attacks and oxidation in the body

Question 53

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is linked to an increased presence of _______.

Answer 53

plaques and tangles in the brain

Question 54

ApoE4

Answer 54

Allele of ApoE, risk factor for Alzheimer disease

Question 55

Mild cognitive impairment MCI

Answer 55

Represents a potential transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early stages of Alzheimer disease

Question 56

What drugs are used to treat Alzheimer disease?

Answer 56

Cholinesterase inhibitors 1. Aricept 2. Razadyne 3. Exelon Namenda - regulates activity of glutamate

Question 57

Respite care

Answer 57

Services that provide temporary relief

Question 58

Parkinson disease

Answer 58

Chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement, and partial face paralysis