Exam Two

Question 1

Aging and Vision: Lens

Answer 1

elasticity of lens is reduced, and this is seen when trying to focus eyes

Question 2

Aging and Vision: Cornea

Answer 2

can get transparent and flat, seen when things are blurred

Question 3

Aging and Vision: Pupil

Answer 3

changes in autonomic nervous system, seen when dilating the pupil

Question 4

Aging and Vision: Cataracts

Answer 4

cloudy area of lens, decrease the amount of light passing through (bends light)

Question 5

Name two things that happen with olfaction and aging

Answer 5

Amygdala (smell)

Changes is air passages (odor recognition)

Question 6

Give two reasons for hearing loss in aging

Answer 6

Stiffening of the tympanic membrane

Atrophy of small ear muscles

Question 7

Give two age-related changes in touch

Answer 7

Loss of pain receptors

Reduction in number of sensory fibers innervating the skin

Question 8

Psychosocial Theories of Aging: Activity Theory

Answer 8

States that through activity readjustment and life satisfaction can be achieved. We give up roles as we age-retirement, widowhood, drop out of organizations/clubs etc. People construct ideas about themselves from two major sources: the things that they do and the roles that they fill. Optimal aging is by those who stay active and resist withdrawal created by society.

Question 9

Lemon, Bengtson, and Peterson

Answer 9

Distinguished among informal activity (friends), formal activity (participation in voluntary organizations), and solitary activity (maintenance of household).
Found only social activity with friends was significantly related to life satisfaction
Later – others found the formal activity was also a contributor.

Question 10

What is are two problems with the Activity Theory

Answer 10

Assumes that individuals have control over their social situations as they get older or even when they are young
It assumes that people have the capacity to reconstruct their lives by substituting new roles or activities for those that were lost.

Question 11

Psychosocial Theories of Aging: Disengagement Theory

Answer 11

Normal individuals and society mutually withdraw from normal interaction as we age
in a sense agreed upon by individual and society. It’s ‘good’ because we reminisce and review our life as we prepare for ultimate disengagement … death. All social systems, in order to maintain equilibrium, must disengage from the elderly.

Question 12

Name two problems with Disengagement Theory

Answer 12

Tallmer and Kumer in 1970 observed that stress (loss of physical function or social interactions), rather than aging often produces disengagement.
Ignores individual meanings of “disengagement” – some prefer it and what appears disengaged to some may not be to others – some people like to read and reflect in peace and quiet etc

Question 13

Psychosocial Theories of Aging: Continuity Theory

Answer 13

Adults make choices in an effort to preserve ties with their own past experiences – remain ‘continuous’ throughout life

Question 14

Internal Continuity vs. External continuity

Answer 14

Memories of self: ideas, temperament, experiences, preferences, skill etc, we work to maintain ego//Memory of place and environment drives us to maintain our lifestyle as we age

Question 15

How is successful aging defined?

Answer 15

In the end, we must adapt to our changing world due to the these biological, psychological and sociological changes in order to age ‘successfully’

Question 16

Caloric Restriction

Answer 16

Caloric restriction (CR), fed 30%–40% fewer calories than their ad libitum-fed littermates, is shown to extend the maximum life span 30%–50% and to retard both the rate of biological aging and the development of age-associated diseases. Solely on the reduction of caloric intake, rather than intake of specific dietary nutrients. The impact on lifespan occurs because CR attenuates the onset of many age-related diseases, particularly cancer and generally reduces the expression of markers of age-related decline in function. 
Hence, the effect on lifespan is thought to be a consequence of a reduction in the rate of aging. The later the restriction starts, the lower the benefit relative to the same restriction in the same strain and conditions started at weaning.

Question 17

What are two concerns of caloric restriction in humans?

Answer 17

Ethical concerns because it would be involuntary for at least the first decade of life.
An interesting question therefore is whether the hunger eventually dissipates on long-term CR

Question 18

How do animals compensate for loss of energy input?

Answer 18

a combination of reductions in thermogenesis and reductions in activity

Question 19

Caloric Restriction effects on brain

Answer 19

Neuronal function became much more impaired in the models that ate a regular diet compared with restricted eaters

Question 20

Pain in older adults (2)

Answer 20

Depression

Health care costs

Question 21

How does pain stop?

Answer 21

Stopping pain is inhibiting neurotransmission – as opposed to activating something to stop pain, you are inhibiting something that causes pain

Question 22

Gate Control Theory

Answer 22

Say you bump your arm, then you rub it to make it feel better. Pain is perception. The rubbing sensation after is on a myelntated axon, and the pain is unmylenated. When you rub it, the stronger signal is perceived. Basically you closed the pain gate and opened the rubbing gate.
Compare to water flowing in the pipe, the smaller the less info you can pass thro, the bigger the more

Question 23

Pressure and position sensory systems

Answer 23

1. Pricking, -Adelta – fast-myelinated
2. Burning and soreness – C fibers –slow
3. Aching – C fibers - slow

Question 24

Gateway Theory of Pain and fibers

Answer 24

After hitting one’s elbow or head, rubbing the area seems to provide some relief. This activates other sensory nerve fibers that are even faster than A-delta fibers,
A-beta fibers send information about pressure and touch that reach the spinal cord and brain to override some of the pain messages carried by the A-delta and C-fibers.

Question 25

What is Neuralgia

Answer 25

Pain in the peripheral nerve- electric-shock sensation

Question 26

Neuritis

Answer 26

inflammation of nerves

Question 27

Nocieptor

Answer 27

a receptor preferentially sensitive to noxious stimulous

Question 28

Pain Management Principle

Answer 28

1. Hepatic (liver) and renal (kidneys) function decline with age
   Increase peak plasma level
   Longer half-life
   “Start low and go slow”
2. Reassessment
   Need to follow up regularly (particularly early, if situation changes, or dosages are changed)
3. Involve caregivers
   Gatekeepers of medicine
   Keep a closer eye on patient improvement/decline
4. Careful use of standing doses
   Pro re nata (prn) – as needed
   Assumes patient knows when to take
   Can be useful if pain is cyclic/regular/predictable (worse in AM etc.)