CHAPTER 2
PHYSICAL CHANGES
CHAPTER OUTLINE
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Theories of Primary Aging
o Oxidative Damage
 Free Radicals
 Antioxidants
o Genetic Limits
 Replicative Senescence
 Hayflick Limit
 Telomeres
o Caloric Restriction
o A Word on Theories of Primary Aging
Physical Changes during Adulthood
o Outward Appearance
 Weigh and Body Composition
 Skin and Hair
o The Senses
 Vision
 Hearing
 Taste and Smell
o Bones and Muscles
 Osteoporosis
 Osteoarthritis
o Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
o Brain and Nervous System
 Neurogenesis
o Immune System
 B Cells
 T Cells
o Hormonal System
 Climacteric
Changes in Physical Behavior
o Athletic Abilities
o Stamina, Dexterity, and Balance
o Sleep
 Sleep Apnea
 Insomnia
o Sexual Activity
 Erectile Dysfunction
 Sexual Desire
Individual Differences in Primary Aging
o Genetics
o Lifestyle
o Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Group
 Food Deserts
Can We “Turn Back the Clock” of Primary Aging?
An Overview of Physical Changes in Adulthood
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Summary
Key Terms
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
BOOKSHELF
Doll, G. A. (2011). Sexuality & long-term care : Understanding and supporting the needs of older adults.
Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press.
This book addresses the very real need for information about how to respect the
sexuality of elderly residents of long-term care facilities.
Edelman, S. (2010). Change your age: Using your body and brain to feel younger, stronger, and more fit.
Cambridge, MA: De Capo Press.
Dr. Edelman is a psychologist who uses CBT as a self-help tool, and in this book
encourages movement and exercise of the brain as a means to feel forever young.
Markides, K. S. & Miranda, M. (Eds.). (2007). Minorities, aging, and health. Thousand Oaks, CA:
SAGE Publications.
This text examines the needs of special populations among the elderly.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION OR REVIEW
 Oxidative Damage and Aging. We cannot turn on the television or go to a grocery store without
being bombarded with claims of “powerful antioxidant” properties. But do our students understand
the concept of what free radicals are and what they do? An in-class review and discussion of the
scholarly literature and scientific experimentation that demonstrates oxidative damage would help
make the point in a meaningful manner.
 Theories of Primary Aging. The newer work on telomeres seems very exciting, as does the research
on free radicals. Both lines of work offer at least the eventual possibility of genetic engineering to
extend the life span still further. An interesting assignment is to have students research the moral and
practical ramifications of extending the life span by 20 or 30 percent, in terms of overall health,
socioeconomic status, support services, and relationships with family members.
 Sports and Aging. As our population ages and continues in relative good health, we are led to
consider the motivation that older adults have for remaining physically active at an extreme,
competitive level. Dionigi’s research (2006), published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity,
investigates the motivation of older athletes in masters age groups, which can begin at age 30. The
research focuses on those age 55 and older and calls attention to the need for further inquiry in this
area. A corollary assignment is to ask students to interview an older adult who is physically active in
some way – across a spectrum from daily walking to something as challenging as ice climbing – and
ask them firsthand their motivation for engaging in their sport, and what the psychological benefits
may be.
 Eyesight and Aging. Trying to convince students of the fragile and deteriorating condition of their
own visual acuity is an amusing exercise. After all, aging is something affects the elderly. Table 2.3
on page 46 of the text lists the risk factors for the three main conditions that affect eyesight as we age.
Here’s a literal eye-opening exercise for your students: Have them pose two simple questions to
friends and relatives across the aging spectrum (perhaps someone in each decade starting with the
30’s). The first question is: Has your eyesight worsened in the past ten years? Second: Do you know
anyone who has cataracts, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration? The answers will surprise
them, and can lead to honest and engaging class discussion.
 Changes in Sexual Activity. Delameter and Moorman (2007) used AARP’s Modern Maturity
Sexuality Survey to study the spectrum of sexual activity, and specifically looked at some of the
factors involved in varying levels of activity, namely physical ability, sexual desire, and
nontraditional ways of being sexually intimate. For younger college students, who don’t like to think
that anyone over the age of 30 experiences sexual desire, this is a necessary conversation, though
admittedly they will be resistant to engaging in sincere discussion about adult sexuality. Press on; it’s
worth it.
 Socioeconomic Impact on Aging. As we concentrate more on issues of diversity, and attempt to
insert diversity discussions into every course we teach, please engage your students in the important
discussion about how different the aging process is for the population that is economically
disadvantaged. What factors contribute to this disadvantage, and how does lower socioeconomic
status affect health, lifestyle, and longevity?
SELECTED REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER TWO
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2011a). Retrieved May 5, 2012, from
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00389
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2011b). Retrieved May 5, 2012, from
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00377
DeLamater, J., & Moorman, S. M. (2007). Sexual behavior in later life. Journal of Aging and Health, 19,
921–945.
Dionigi, R. (2006). Competitive Sport and Aging: The need for qualitative sociological research. Journal
of Aging and Physical Activity, 14, 365-379.
Klempin, F., & Kempermann, G. (2007). Adult hippocampus neurogenesis and aging. European Archives
of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 257, 271–280.
Laumann, E. O., Das, A., & Waite, L. J. (2008). Sexual dysfunction among older adults: Prevalence and
risk factors from a nationally representative sample of men and women 57–85 years of age.
Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5, 2300–2311.
SELECTED KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS FOR CHAPTER TWO
B cells: cells produced in bone marrow that make antibodies
Body mass index (BMI): an evaluation of body composition which compares height to weight at a given
age
Climacteric: the reduction of hormones that results in loss of reproductive ability
Cyclic GMP: a substance that is released by the brain during sexual arousal, allowing the penis to become
engorged and erect by acting to increase blood flow to the penis
Hayflick limit: number of divisions a species will undergo before reaching replicative senescence
Macular degeneration: an age-related disorder of the retina, causing central vision loss
Neurogenesis: growth of new neurons
Osteoarthritis: a condition that occurs when the soft cartilage that covers the ends of the bones wears
away with use and age
Osteoporosis: a condition marked by severe loss of bone mass
Presbyopia: reduced acuity and loss of near vision
Primary aging: the gradual, inevitable changes that will happen to most of us as we go through adulthood
Replicative senescence: the point at which the body’s cells cease replication
Secondary aging: aging as a result of changes that happen more suddenly and that are usually the result of
disease, injury, or some environmental event
Sensorineural hearing loss: the type of hearing loss marked by the loss of loud-soft discrimination
T cells: cells produced in the thymus gland that reject and consume harmful or foreign cells, such as
bacteria and transplanted organs
Test Bank
Chapter 2 QUICK QUIZ
2-1. (factual-36-38) Beta-carotene and vitamin E are examples of________.
a. telomeres
b. resveratrol
c. free radicals
d. antioxidants
2-2. (conceptual-37) The number of divisions a species will undergo before reaching replicative
senescence is known as its_______.
a. resistance limit
b. telomere limit
c. oxidative limit
d. Hayflick limit
2-3. (factual-60) Research on sexual activity of older adults shows that
a. the four stages of sexual response are a little slower and a little less intense compared to their
younger counterparts.
b. the lack of desire is by far the most common complaint of men.
c. the desire to have sex is highest in middle adulthood.
d. sexual desire is driven by testosterone for men, but not for women.
2-4. (conceptual-36) Which of the following is the CLEAREST example of primary aging?
a. the decline in neuronal speed with age
b. the increase in the rate of heart disease with age
c. the increase in the rate of cancer with age
d. the loss of muscle tissue with age as a result of a sedentary life style
2-5. (conceptual-36) When some body change is linked to age but appears to be the product of
environmental influences or health habits, it is an example of _______.
a. maturation
b. the impact of free radicals
c. primary aging
d. secondary aging
2-6. (applied-45) Your 70-year-old father recently mentioned to you that he no longer enjoys driving at
night because of glare from the headlights of oncoming traffic. Having taken this course, you are not
surprised. Based on the information in the text, what other activities may prove problematic for him?
a. reading road signs at night
b. finding a seat at the afternoon softball game
c. ordering at McDonald’s
d. all of the above
2-7. (factual-46–47) Research on hearing has shown that
a. hearing loss typically begins in the 30s.
b. hearing loss is more noticeable for lower tones.
c. sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the hammer and anvil.
d. by age 65, about 10% of adults have some significant hearing impairment.
2-8. (factual-48) The loss of calcium in the bones that occurs in many adults with aging is called _______.
a. osteopathy
b. osteoporosis
c. calcification
d. climacteric
2-9. (factual-58–59) Which of the following is NOT a change in sleep patterns with increasing age in
adulthood?
a. reduction in the number of hours of deep sleep
b. reduction in the total number of hours of sleep needed
c. increase in breathing disturbances
d. waking earlier in the morning
2-10. (applied-45) Bernice is suffering from __________, the most common eye disorder found in
adulthood.
a. cataracts
b. glaucoma
c. macular degeneration
d. a detached retina
ANSWER KEY: Chapter 2 QUICK QUIZ
1. Answer: d
Page in text: 36-38
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: moderate
2. Answer: c
Page in text: 37
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: moderate
3. Answer: a
Page in text: 60
Topic: Changes in Physical Behavior
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: difficult
4. Answer: a
Page in text: 36
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: difficult
5. Answer: d
Page in text: 36
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: moderate
6. Answer: d
Page in text: 45
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: moderate
7. Answer: a
Page in text: 46–47
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: moderate
8. Answer: b
Page in text: 48
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: easy
9. Answer: b
Page in text: 58–59
Topic: Changes in Physical Behavior
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: easy
10. Answer: a
Page in text: 45
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: moderate
CHAPTER 2
PHYSICAL CHANGES
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
2-1. (conceptual-36) The aging process has been a matter of interest and a subject of research for
centuries. This research has established a(n) _______.
a. empirically documented single theory of aging
*b. diversity of current propositions about the aging process, most supported by some empirical
evidence
c. diversity of empirical evidence, all pointing to 4 primary theories of aging
d. unified theory of aging at the cellular level
2-2. (conceptual- 36) Fruits and vegetables that contain beta carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C are
recommend because they are high in ________.
*a. antioxidants
b. antiradicals
c. telomeres
d. resveratrol
2-3. (factual-37) Cells of different species, when observed in nutrient solutions, are seen to divide varying
numbers of times, with cells of the most long-lived species dividing more times than the cells of
short-lived species. The total number of divisions for any given species is sometimes referred to as
_______.
a. species replicability
b. the Shock limit
c. the dividing limit
*d. the Hayflick limit
2-4. (conceptual-38-39) One explanation of aging cites our dietary habits as connected to the aging
process. Which statement below is NOT consistent with this theory?
*a. What we eat is the most significant contributor to aging.
b. To receive the maximum benefits of caloric restriction, humans would have to reduce their
caloric intake by 30%..
c. Animal research supports an association between reduced caloric intake and increased
longevity.
d. “Natural” human studies suggest that individuals on restricted diets may live longer.
2-5. (applied-37-38) Which of the following individuals would you expect to have the longest telomeres?
*a. Johanna, who exercises regularly for fun.
b. Marnie, who is obese
c. Emanuel, who experiences a lot of stress at work and worries he will be layed off.
d. Albert, who has heart disease, but has recently begun to eat healthier and exercise.
2-6. (factual-37) Telomeres are:
a. shortened as a result of caloric restriction and aerobic exercise.
*b. lengths of repeating DNA found at the tips of chromosomes.
c. mutated free radicals that shorten the life span.
d. only found in males.
2-7 (factual 37) The suggested mechanism behind the genetic limits theory of aging comes from the
discovery that chromosomes in many human body cells (and those of some other species, too) have,
at their tips, lengths of repeating DNA called _____________.
a. chromosomal lids
b. pelorames
c. genetic signalers
*d. telemores
2-8. (conceptual-36) Which of the following is the CLEAREST example of primary aging?
a. the decline in neuronal speed with age
b. the increase in the rate of heart disease with age
c. the increase in the rate of cancer with age
d. the loss of muscle tissue with age as a result of a sedentary life style
2-9. (conceptual-36) When some body change is linked to age but appears to be the product of
environmental influences or health habits, it is an example of _______.
a. maturation
b. the impact of free radicals
c. primary aging
*d. secondary aging
2-10. (conceptual-36) One indication that some commonly observed physical change linked to age is a
product of secondary aging is that _______.
a. it occurs to some degree in all adults
*b. it does not occur in all adults
c. it is strongly linked to age
d. it is associated with known genetic processes
2-11. (factual-36) A normal chemical process in the body, resulting from exposure to sunlight, X-rays,
and food, creates molecules or atoms that possess an unpaired electron. These atoms and molecules
are called _______.
a. cross-linkages
b. DNA breakages
*c. free radicals
d. antioxidants
2-12. (factual-40) In which parts of the body do fat deposits INCREASE in middle age and old age (past
the age of about 50)?
a. the face and the upper arm
b. the chest and the belly
*c. the belly and the upper arm
d. the face and the chest
2-13. (factual-40) In which of the following age ranges is the average weight at its peak?
a. 20–29
*b. 50–59
c. 60–69
d. 80–89
2-14. (factual-44-45) The thickening of the lens of the eye that results in loss of visual acuity in middle
and older age is part of a process called _______.
a. presbycusis
*b. presbyopia
c. nearsightedness
d. macular degeneration
2-15. (factual-44-45) At about what age does a significant loss of visual acuity begin to be measurable for
most adults?
a. age 30
*b. age 45
c. age 60
d. age 70
2-16. (conceptual-45-46) Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness for all people in the United
States. Which statement below does NOT accurately describe glaucoma?
*a. Two million people in the United States have glaucoma, but most seek medical attention after
noting the early warning signs of the disease.
b. Untreated glaucoma can destroy the optic nerve and lead to blindness.
c. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for African Americans.
d. Successful treatment for glaucoma may be as simple as the application of eye drops in certain
patients.
2-17. (applied-44-45) You notice that your mother, who is 61 years old, begins to complain about her
difficulty seeing while night driving, with the size of the print on her PC screen, with blurry street
signs, and with the dimness of the house living and kitchen lights. She may be experiencing loss of
visual acuity due to ____________.
a. presbyopia
b. dark adaption
c. cataracts
*d. all of the above
2-18. (factual-46–47) The gradual loss of hearing resulting from wear and tear on the auditory nerves and
inner ear structures is called _______.
*a. sensorineural hearing loss
b. presbyopia
c. loud-soft discrimination deficits
d. tone deafness
2-19. (conceptual-44-45, 47) What are the relative ages at which significant losses of vision and hearing
occur, on average, in adulthood?
a. Both changes occur at roughly the same time.
b. Significant loss of hearing occurs earlier, on average.
*c. Significant loss of vision occurs earlier, on average.
d. Both changes occur in only some adults, at widely varying ages.
2-20. (factual-48) Which of the following changes in our senses appears to be a normal part of aging?
a. an increase in the number of odor receptors which interfere with the ability to smell
b. an increase in the ability to taste salty and sweet flavors, causing older people to gain weight
more quickly than they did earlier in the lifespan
*c. a decline in the amount of saliva secreted
d. an increase in the total number of taste buds
2-21. (factual-48) Osteoporosis is the term used to describe _______.
*a. loss of calcium in the bones
b. loss of estrogen at menopause
c. a disease of the joints caused from wear and tear
d. normal hearing loss that occurs with old age
2-22. (factual-48) The loss of calcium in the bones that occurs in many adults with aging is called
_______.
a. osteopathy
*b. osteoporosis
c. calcification
d. climacteric
2-23. (factual-48-49) Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about the pattern of osteoporosis
with age for men and women?
a. It begins in the 30s and continues thereafter.
b. It is greater for women than for men.
c. Among women, it is accelerated by menopause.
*d. It accelerates in men in their 60s.
2-24. (applied-48-50) More women than men in the United States are diagnosed with _______.
a. cardiovascular problems
b. glaucoma
*c. hip fractures
d. hearing loss
2-25. (applied-49–51) Which of the following individuals is LEAST LIKELY to have osteoarthritis?
a. Charlene, an obese middle-age woman who has recently begun an exercise regimen.
b. Anita, a 65-year-old woman.
c. Kyle, a 14-year-old who plays competitive basketball.
*d. Shaniqua, a high school student who has not been involved in sports beyond exposure in gym
class.
2-26. (conceptual-52) Scientific evidence regarding the effects of aging on the nervous system seems to
have changed over the last decade. Which statement below would NOT be supported by today’s
evidence?
a. Neurons are capable of changing with age.
*b. After a person reaches the age of 8, his or her neurons do not grow dendrites to make new
connections.
c. Some neuron pruning in old age may serve the same purpose as pruning in infancy.
d. Scientists’ estimates of daily neuron loss in old age have declined significantly in the last 20
years.
2-27. (factual-52) The finding that neurons are capable of making changes with age demonstrates
_______.
a. replicative senescence
b. the Hayflick limit
c. redundancy
*d. plasticity
2-28. (factual-53) The gland that is the key element in the immune system is the _______.
a. pituitary
b. ovaries or testes
c. thalamus
*d. thymus
2-29. (factual-55) Which therapy provides perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with the
hormones once produced by their ovaries that sharply reduce the symptoms of the climacteric?
a. growth hormone therapy (GH)
b. DHEA therapy
*c. hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
d. HGH treatment therapy
2-30. (factual-50) Which of the following is NOT a major risk factor for severe osteoporosis?
a. being light in weight for height
b. being female
c. early menopause
*d. drinking lots of coffee
2-31. (factual-55) The average age at which women go through menopause about _______.
a. 40
*b. 51
c. 55
d. 60
2-32. (factual-54) The general term used to describe the loss of reproductive capacity among both sexes in
middle and later life is _______.
*a. climacteric
b. menopause
c. testosterone loss
d. desexualization
2-33. (factual-54) Current evidence on age-related changes in levels of testosterone in men indicates that
_______.
a. there is a large and steady decline beginning at about age 40
b. there is a large decline, but it begins only after about age 60
c. there is no decline at all
*d. there is a small and gradual decline from midlife onward
2-34. (factual-54) According to research on normal adult men, which of the following is NOT a major
change in the reproductive system with age?
*a. a major decline in testosterone levels
b. a diminished production of sperm
c. a longer time required to achieve erection
d. shrinkage of the testes
2-35. (factual-54) Premenopausal and menopausal changes in women are triggered by a significant
reduction in the production of which hormone?
a. testosterone
b. androgen
c. thyroxin
*d. estrogen
2-36. (factual-55) The most common symptom associated with menopause is _______.
a. anxiety
b. depression
*c. hot flashes
d. headaches
2-37. (conceptual-60) Which of the following is found only in men?
a. HGH.
*b. cyclic GMP
c. aldosterone.
d. DHEA.
2-38. (factual-58–59) Which of the following is NOT a change in sleep patterns with increasing age in
adulthood?
a. a reduction in the number of hours of deep sleep
*b. fewer daily naps because of less physical activity
c. an increase in breathing disturbances
d. waking earlier in the morning
2-39. (conceptual-59) Which of the following is TRUE of insomnia?
a. It decreases in middle age and later adulthood when stress levels decline for most.
b. It is more common in men.
*c. It can be caused by the use of blue-screen electronic devices before bedtime.
d. It is caused by a constriction of the airway.
2-40. (conceptual-60) One major shortcoming of most of the research on sexual activity is that it
a. focuses primarily on quality of sexual relations at different ages.
b. focuses primarily on many types of sexual expression besides intercourse.
c. focuses only on males.
*d. focuses primarily on frequency counts of sexual activity.
2-41. (factual-60) Medina (1996) suggests that changes in older men’s and women’s sexual responses are
generally _______.
*a. a little slower and a little less intense
b. a little slower, but with no change in intensity
c. a little less intense, but with no change in arousal speed
d. NOT positively affected by an end to concerns about pregnancy
2-42. (conceptual-62) A reasonable inference from the information presented in this unit regarding the
availability of sexual partners for older adults suggests that which older person would have the
LEAST problem locating a sexual partner?
a. an independent single female
b. a female living with her adult children
*c. an independent single male
d. a single male living in a nursing home
2-43. (factual-60) A problem with the results from cross-sectional and longitudinal research on the sexual
activity of adults in the United States is that ___________.
a. the majority are no longer sexually active after midlife
b. the majority are most sexually active in late adulthood, but many die before this part of the life
span
*c. it reduces a complex human interaction to a simple frequency count
d. the data do not allow us to determine the answer to sexual frequency
2-44. (conceptual-64-66) Which statement is FALSE?
a. Some environments may retard the aging process.
b. Some environments may speed up the aging process.
c. The old adage “use it or lose it” seems true when applied to older individuals’ physical and
mental activities.
*d. Twin studies show that rate of aging is highly heritable; only about 5% of aging is caused by
other factors.
2-45. (conceptual-63) Which of the following is the best statement about individual differences in the rate
or pattern of physiological aging?
a. The maturational sequences are very powerful; virtually all adults follow the same sequences at
the same rates.
b. There are significant maturational sequences, although there is room for individual variation
within relatively narrow limits.
*c. There are significant underlying maturational sequences, but there are very wide individual
variations in rate and pattern.
d. There are no shared underlying maturational sequences.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
2-46. List two changes that occur in the cardiovascular system with age and two changes that occur in the
nervous system with age.
2-47. Define the following terms:
climacteric
menopause
osteoporosis
2-48. Discuss two factors that affect the probability of sexual relations in older people.
2-49. For each of the following changes with age, indicate whether the change is most likely primary
aging or secondary aging and why you think so.
 the reduction in efficiency of the immune system
 the accumulation of pigmented material in the eye, leading to nearsightedness
 very noticeable facial wrinkles in a forty-year-old woman.
2-50. List and discuss several factors that appear to contribute to the wide individual variations in rate of
physical aging in middle and late adulthood.
2-51. Discuss one study that has examined telomere length..
2-52. Name one age-related visual condition and at least one risk factor associated with the condition.
ESSAY QUESTIONS
2-53. There is an old adage to the effect that if a married couple put a bean in a jar for each time they have
intercourse during the first year of marriage and take out a bean for every time they have intercourse in
each year after the first, the jar will never become empty. Given the evidence on sexual activity in
adulthood presented in the book, do you think this is true or not? Give specific support for your position.
2-54. Discuss osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and whether there are treatments available for these
conditions.
2-55. One of the common assumptions about midlife is that most (if not all) women experience major
physical and psychological upheaval at menopause. Design a study to examine this assumption.
2-56. Discuss one theory of primary aging and explain whether there is evidence that supports it.
2-57. Discuss the following statement: “There are such wide variations in individual rates and patterns of
aging that it doesn’t make any sense to talk about ‘normal aging.’ There is no such thing.”
2-58. We observe a loss of muscle tissue, with accompanying loss of strength, over the years of
adulthood. What explanations of this phenomenon have been offered? What kind of evidence exists for
and against each explanation? What conclusion do you come to?
2-59. Discuss the two types of hormone replacement therapy that both men and women seem to benefit
from.
2-60. Compare and contrast the climacteric for men and women. Make sure you describe the
physiological changes as well as possible treatments.
2-61. Discuss the impact of socioeconomic status and ethnicity on aging .
2-62. Describe the physical changes of an aging adult, fictitious or real, including height, weight, bone
structure, skin/hair, the senses, and internal systems. Be thorough, and use terminology from your
textbook.
2-63. Compare and contrast two real-life or fictitious adults at age seventy in terms of primary aging. In
your comparison, what factors account for the differences that you portray in your example?
2-64. Primary aging is affected by many individual differences. Illustrate how certain genetic
predispositions might affect your aging process; use at least one member of your family as a comparative
example.
Chapter 2 QUICK QUIZ
2-1. (factual-36-38) Beta-carotene and vitamin E are examples of________.
a. telomeres
b. resveratrol
c. free radicals
d. antioxidants
2-2. (conceptual-37) The number of divisions a species will undergo before reaching replicative
senescence is known as its_______.
a. resistance limit
b. telomere limit
c. oxidative limit
d. Hayflick limit
2-3. (factual-60) Research on sexual activity of older adults shows that
a. the four stages of sexual response are a little slower and a little less intense compared to their
younger counterparts.
b. the lack of desire is by far the most common complaint of men.
c. the desire to have sex is highest in middle adulthood.
d. sexual desire is driven by testosterone for men, but not for women.
2-4. (conceptual-36) Which of the following is the CLEAREST example of primary aging?
a. the decline in neuronal speed with age
b. the increase in the rate of heart disease with age
c. the increase in the rate of cancer with age
d. the loss of muscle tissue with age as a result of a sedentary life style
2-5. (conceptual-36) When some body change is linked to age but appears to be the product of
environmental influences or health habits, it is an example of _______.
a. maturation
b. the impact of free radicals
c. primary aging
d. secondary aging
2-6. (applied-45) Your 70-year-old father recently mentioned to you that he no longer enjoys driving at
night because of glare from the headlights of oncoming traffic. Having taken this course, you are not
surprised. Based on the information in the text, what other activities may prove problematic for him?
a. reading road signs at night
b. finding a seat at the afternoon softball game
c. ordering at McDonald’s
d. all of the above
2-7. (factual-46–47) Research on hearing has shown that
a. hearing loss typically begins in the 30s.
b. hearing loss is more noticeable for lower tones.
c. sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the hammer and anvil.
d. by age 65, about 10% of adults have some significant hearing impairment.
2-8. (factual-48) The loss of calcium in the bones that occurs in many adults with aging is called _______.
a. osteopathy
b. osteoporosis
c. calcification
d. climacteric
2-9. (factual-58–59) Which of the following is NOT a change in sleep patterns with increasing age in
adulthood?
a. reduction in the number of hours of deep sleep
b. reduction in the total number of hours of sleep needed
c. increase in breathing disturbances
d. waking earlier in the morning
2-10. (applied-45) Bernice is suffering from __________, the most common eye disorder found in
adulthood.
a. cataracts
b. glaucoma
c. macular degeneration
d. a detached retina
ANSWER KEY: Chapter 2 QUICK QUIZ
1. Answer: d
Page in text: 36-38
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: moderate
2. Answer: c
Page in text: 37
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: moderate
3. Answer: a
Page in text: 60
Topic: Changes in Physical Behavior
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: difficult
4. Answer: a
Page in text: 36
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: difficult
5. Answer: d
Page in text: 36
Topic: Theories of Primary Aging
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: moderate
6. Answer: d
Page in text: 45
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: moderate
7. Answer: a
Page in text: 46–47
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: moderate
8. Answer: b
Page in text: 48
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: easy
9. Answer: b
Page in text: 58–59
Topic: Changes in Physical Behavior
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: easy
10. Answer: a
Page in text: 45
Topic: Physical Changes During Adulthood
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: moderate
CHAPTER 2
PHYSICAL CHANGES
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
2-1. (conceptual-36) The aging process has been a matter of interest and a subject of research for
centuries. This research has established a(n) _______.
a. empirically documented single theory of aging
*b. diversity of current propositions about the aging process, most supported by some empirical
evidence
c. diversity of empirical evidence, all pointing to 4 primary theories of aging
d. unified theory of aging at the cellular level
2-2. (conceptual- 36) Fruits and vegetables that contain beta carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C are
recommend because they are high in ________.
*a. antioxidants
b. antiradicals
c. telomeres
d. resveratrol
2-3. (factual-37) Cells of different species, when observed in nutrient solutions, are seen to divide varying
numbers of times, with cells of the most long-lived species dividing more times than the cells of
short-lived species. The total number of divisions for any given species is sometimes referred to as
_______.
a. species replicability
b. the Shock limit
c. the dividing limit
*d. the Hayflick limit
2-4. (conceptual-38-39) One explanation of aging cites our dietary habits as connected to the aging
process. Which statement below is NOT consistent with this theory?
*a. What we eat is the most significant contributor to aging.
b. To receive the maximum benefits of caloric restriction, humans would have to reduce their
caloric intake by 30%..
c. Animal research supports an association between reduced caloric intake and increased
longevity.
d. “Natural” human studies suggest that individuals on restricted diets may live longer.
2-5. (applied-37-38) Which of the following individuals would you expect to have the longest telomeres?
*a. Johanna, who exercises regularly for fun.
b. Marnie, who is obese
c. Emanuel, who experiences a lot of stress at work and worries he will be layed off.
d. Albert, who has heart disease, but has recently begun to eat healthier and exercise.
2-6. (factual-37) Telomeres are:
a. shortened as a result of caloric restriction and aerobic exercise.
*b. lengths of repeating DNA found at the tips of chromosomes.
c. mutated free radicals that shorten the life span.
d. only found in males.
2-7 (factual 37) The suggested mechanism behind the genetic limits theory of aging comes from the
discovery that chromosomes in many human body cells (and those of some other species, too) have,
at their tips, lengths of repeating DNA called _____________.
a. chromosomal lids
b. pelorames
c. genetic signalers
*d. telemores
2-8. (conceptual-36) Which of the following is the CLEAREST example of primary aging?
a. the decline in neuronal speed with age
b. the increase in the rate of heart disease with age
c. the increase in the rate of cancer with age
d. the loss of muscle tissue with age as a result of a sedentary life style
2-9. (conceptual-36) When some body change is linked to age but appears to be the product of
environmental influences or health habits, it is an example of _______.
a. maturation
b. the impact of free radicals
c. primary aging
*d. secondary aging
2-10. (conceptual-36) One indication that some commonly observed physical change linked to age is a
product of secondary aging is that _______.
a. it occurs to some degree in all adults
*b. it does not occur in all adults
c. it is strongly linked to age
d. it is associated with known genetic processes
2-11. (factual-36) A normal chemical process in the body, resulting from exposure to sunlight, X-rays,
and food, creates molecules or atoms that possess an unpaired electron. These atoms and molecules
are called _______.
a. cross-linkages
b. DNA breakages
*c. free radicals
d. antioxidants
2-12. (factual-40) In which parts of the body do fat deposits INCREASE in middle age and old age (past
the age of about 50)?
a. the face and the upper arm
b. the chest and the belly
*c. the belly and the upper arm
d. the face and the chest
2-13. (factual-40) In which of the following age ranges is the average weight at its peak?
a. 20–29
*b. 50–59
c. 60–69
d. 80–89
2-14. (factual-44-45) The thickening of the lens of the eye that results in loss of visual acuity in middle
and older age is part of a process called _______.
a. presbycusis
*b. presbyopia
c. nearsightedness
d. macular degeneration
2-15. (factual-44-45) At about what age does a significant loss of visual acuity begin to be measurable for
most adults?
a. age 30
*b. age 45
c. age 60
d. age 70
2-16. (conceptual-45-46) Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness for all people in the United
States. Which statement below does NOT accurately describe glaucoma?
*a. Two million people in the United States have glaucoma, but most seek medical attention after
noting the early warning signs of the disease.
b. Untreated glaucoma can destroy the optic nerve and lead to blindness.
c. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for African Americans.
d. Successful treatment for glaucoma may be as simple as the application of eye drops in certain
patients.
2-17. (applied-44-45) You notice that your mother, who is 61 years old, begins to complain about her
difficulty seeing while night driving, with the size of the print on her PC screen, with blurry street
signs, and with the dimness of the house living and kitchen lights. She may be experiencing loss of
visual acuity due to ____________.
a. presbyopia
b. dark adaption
c. cataracts
*d. all of the above
2-18. (factual-46–47) The gradual loss of hearing resulting from wear and tear on the auditory nerves and
inner ear structures is called _______.
*a. sensorineural hearing loss
b. presbyopia
c. loud-soft discrimination deficits
d. tone deafness
2-19. (conceptual-44-45, 47) What are the relative ages at which significant losses of vision and hearing
occur, on average, in adulthood?
a. Both changes occur at roughly the same time.
b. Significant loss of hearing occurs earlier, on average.
*c. Significant loss of vision occurs earlier, on average.
d. Both changes occur in only some adults, at widely varying ages.
2-20. (factual-48) Which of the following changes in our senses appears to be a normal part of aging?
a. an increase in the number of odor receptors which interfere with the ability to smell
b. an increase in the ability to taste salty and sweet flavors, causing older people to gain weight
more quickly than they did earlier in the lifespan
*c. a decline in the amount of saliva secreted
d. an increase in the total number of taste buds
2-21. (factual-48) Osteoporosis is the term used to describe _______.
*a. loss of calcium in the bones
b. loss of estrogen at menopause
c. a disease of the joints caused from wear and tear
d. normal hearing loss that occurs with old age
2-22. (factual-48) The loss of calcium in the bones that occurs in many adults with aging is called
_______.
a. osteopathy
*b. osteoporosis
c. calcification
d. climacteric
2-23. (factual-48-49) Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about the pattern of osteoporosis
with age for men and women?
a. It begins in the 30s and continues thereafter.
b. It is greater for women than for men.
c. Among women, it is accelerated by menopause.
*d. It accelerates in men in their 60s.
2-24. (applied-48-50) More women than men in the United States are diagnosed with _______.
a. cardiovascular problems
b. glaucoma
*c. hip fractures
d. hearing loss
2-25. (applied-49–51) Which of the following individuals is LEAST LIKELY to have osteoarthritis?
a. Charlene, an obese middle-age woman who has recently begun an exercise regimen.
b. Anita, a 65-year-old woman.
c. Kyle, a 14-year-old who plays competitive basketball.
*d. Shaniqua, a high school student who has not been involved in sports beyond exposure in gym
class.
2-26. (conceptual-52) Scientific evidence regarding the effects of aging on the nervous system seems to
have changed over the last decade. Which statement below would NOT be supported by today’s
evidence?
a. Neurons are capable of changing with age.
*b. After a person reaches the age of 8, his or her neurons do not grow dendrites to make new
connections.
c. Some neuron pruning in old age may serve the same purpose as pruning in infancy.
d. Scientists’ estimates of daily neuron loss in old age have declined significantly in the last 20
years.
2-27. (factual-52) The finding that neurons are capable of making changes with age demonstrates
_______.
a. replicative senescence
b. the Hayflick limit
c. redundancy
*d. plasticity
2-28. (factual-53) The gland that is the key element in the immune system is the _______.
a. pituitary
b. ovaries or testes
c. thalamus
*d. thymus
2-29. (factual-55) Which therapy provides perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with the
hormones once produced by their ovaries that sharply reduce the symptoms of the climacteric?
a. growth hormone therapy (GH)
b. DHEA therapy
*c. hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
d. HGH treatment therapy
2-30. (factual-50) Which of the following is NOT a major risk factor for severe osteoporosis?
a. being light in weight for height
b. being female
c. early menopause
*d. drinking lots of coffee
2-31. (factual-55) The average age at which women go through menopause about _______.
a. 40
*b. 51
c. 55
d. 60
2-32. (factual-54) The general term used to describe the loss of reproductive capacity among both sexes in
middle and later life is _______.
*a. climacteric
b. menopause
c. testosterone loss
d. desexualization
2-33. (factual-54) Current evidence on age-related changes in levels of testosterone in men indicates that
_______.
a. there is a large and steady decline beginning at about age 40
b. there is a large decline, but it begins only after about age 60
c. there is no decline at all
*d. there is a small and gradual decline from midlife onward
2-34. (factual-54) According to research on normal adult men, which of the following is NOT a major
change in the reproductive system with age?
*a. a major decline in testosterone levels
b. a diminished production of sperm
c. a longer time required to achieve erection
d. shrinkage of the testes
2-35. (factual-54) Premenopausal and menopausal changes in women are triggered by a significant
reduction in the production of which hormone?
a. testosterone
b. androgen
c. thyroxin
*d. estrogen
2-36. (factual-55) The most common symptom associated with menopause is _______.
a. anxiety
b. depression
*c. hot flashes
d. headaches
2-37. (conceptual-60) Which of the following is found only in men?
a. HGH.
*b. cyclic GMP
c. aldosterone.
d. DHEA.
2-38. (factual-58–59) Which of the following is NOT a change in sleep patterns with increasing age in
adulthood?
a. a reduction in the number of hours of deep sleep
*b. fewer daily naps because of less physical activity
c. an increase in breathing disturbances
d. waking earlier in the morning
2-39. (conceptual-59) Which of the following is TRUE of insomnia?
a. It decreases in middle age and later adulthood when stress levels decline for most.
b. It is more common in men.
*c. It can be caused by the use of blue-screen electronic devices before bedtime.
d. It is caused by a constriction of the airway.
2-40. (conceptual-60) One major shortcoming of most of the research on sexual activity is that it
a. focuses primarily on quality of sexual relations at different ages.
b. focuses primarily on many types of sexual expression besides intercourse.
c. focuses only on males.
*d. focuses primarily on frequency counts of sexual activity.
2-41. (factual-60) Medina (1996) suggests that changes in older men’s and women’s sexual responses are
generally _______.
*a. a little slower and a little less intense
b. a little slower, but with no change in intensity
c. a little less intense, but with no change in arousal speed
d. NOT positively affected by an end to concerns about pregnancy
2-42. (conceptual-62) A reasonable inference from the information presented in this unit regarding the
availability of sexual partners for older adults suggests that which older person would have the
LEAST problem locating a sexual partner?
a. an independent single female
b. a female living with her adult children
*c. an independent single male
d. a single male living in a nursing home
2-43. (factual-60) A problem with the results from cross-sectional and longitudinal research on the sexual
activity of adults in the United States is that ___________.
a. the majority are no longer sexually active after midlife
b. the majority are most sexually active in late adulthood, but many die before this part of the life
span
*c. it reduces a complex human interaction to a simple frequency count
d. the data do not allow us to determine the answer to sexual frequency
2-44. (conceptual-64-66) Which statement is FALSE?
a. Some environments may retard the aging process.
b. Some environments may speed up the aging process.
c. The old adage “use it or lose it” seems true when applied to older individuals’ physical and
mental activities.
*d. Twin studies show that rate of aging is highly heritable; only about 5% of aging is caused by
other factors.
2-45. (conceptual-63) Which of the following is the best statement about individual differences in the rate
or pattern of physiological aging?
a. The maturational sequences are very powerful; virtually all adults follow the same sequences at
the same rates.
b. There are significant maturational sequences, although there is room for individual variation
within relatively narrow limits.
*c. There are significant underlying maturational sequences, but there are very wide individual
variations in rate and pattern.
d. There are no shared underlying maturational sequences.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
2-46. List two changes that occur in the cardiovascular system with age and two changes that occur in the
nervous system with age.
2-47. Define the following terms:
climacteric
menopause
osteoporosis
2-48. Discuss two factors that affect the probability of sexual relations in older people.
2-49. For each of the following changes with age, indicate whether the change is most likely primary
aging or secondary aging and why you think so.
 the reduction in efficiency of the immune system
 the accumulation of pigmented material in the eye, leading to nearsightedness
 very noticeable facial wrinkles in a forty-year-old woman.
2-50. List and discuss several factors that appear to contribute to the wide individual variations in rate of
physical aging in middle and late adulthood.
2-51. Discuss one study that has examined telomere length..
2-52. Name one age-related visual condition and at least one risk factor associated with the condition.
ESSAY QUESTIONS
2-53. There is an old adage to the effect that if a married couple put a bean in a jar for each time they have
intercourse during the first year of marriage and take out a bean for every time they have intercourse in
each year after the first, the jar will never become empty. Given the evidence on sexual activity in
adulthood presented in the book, do you think this is true or not? Give specific support for your position.
2-54. Discuss osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and whether there are treatments available for these
conditions.
2-55. One of the common assumptions about midlife is that most (if not all) women experience major
physical and psychological upheaval at menopause. Design a study to examine this assumption.
2-56. Discuss one theory of primary aging and explain whether there is evidence that supports it.
2-57. Discuss the following statement: “There are such wide variations in individual rates and patterns of
aging that it doesn’t make any sense to talk about ‘normal aging.’ There is no such thing.”
2-58. We observe a loss of muscle tissue, with accompanying loss of strength, over the years of
adulthood. What explanations of this phenomenon have been offered? What kind of evidence exists for
and against each explanation? What conclusion do you come to?
2-59. Discuss the two types of hormone replacement therapy that both men and women seem to benefit
from.
2-60. Compare and contrast the climacteric for men and women. Make sure you describe the
physiological changes as well as possible treatments.
2-61. Discuss the impact of socioeconomic status and ethnicity on aging .
2-62. Describe the physical changes of an aging adult, fictitious or real, including height, weight, bone
structure, skin/hair, the senses, and internal systems. Be thorough, and use terminology from your
textbook.
2-63. Compare and contrast two real-life or fictitious adults at age seventy in terms of primary aging. In
your comparison, what factors account for the differences that you portray in your example?
2-64. Primary aging is affected by many individual differences. Illustrate how certain genetic
predispositions might affect your aging process; use at least one member of your family as a comparative
example.