EDU120 Old Adulthood Final Exam Review Study Questions/Answers
Graded A+ 2025/2026
Centenarians - people who live to be older than 100 (supercentenarians are those 110
and older)
Sarcopenia - loss of muscle tissue that occurs with age
Cataracts - clouding in the lens of the eye
Age related macular degeneration - loss of clarity in the center field of vision due to
deterioration of the macula (the center of the retina)
Glaucoma - loss of peripheral vision, usually due to buildup of fluid in the eye that
damages the optic nerve
Presbycusis - common form of hearing loss in late adulthood that results in a gradual
loss of hearing
Tinnitus - a ringing, hissing or roaring sound in the ears
Presbyosmia - loss of smell due to aging
Anosmia - total loss of smell
Chronic illnesses - illnesses that are ongoing, generally incurable conditions that require
continuing medical intervention and effect daily life
Osteoporosis - disease that weakens and thins bones to the point that they become
fragile and break easily
Kyphosis - adults gradually lose height and become hunched over due to bones
weakening in the spine
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - progressive lung disease where the
airways become damaged making it harder to breathe
Cirrhosis - disease where the liver becomes scarred and does not function properly
Shingles - disease that affects your nerves; usually leaves a rash and is due to having
chicken pox; more common with increasing age because the body is worse at fighting
off diseases
Key generalizations about physical changes in older people - heart muscles thicken,
arteries become less flexible, lung capacity diminishes, kidneys become less efficient,
bladder loses ability to store urine, brain cell may lose some function
, Changes in body with age - lose lean tissue, and some cells of organs; tissue loss may
cause water loss which could cause a mineral deficiency; body fat goes up (up to ⅓
more than at younger age) builds in center of body
Changes with skin with age - thinner, less elastic, loses fat, veins easier to see, take
longer to heal cuts and scratches; wrinkles, dryness, age spots, cancer; easier bruising
Age spots (liver spots) - flat brown spots usually caused by years in the sun
Skin tags - small flesh colored growths of skin that have a raised surface
Hair loss with age - most people lose hair with age, hair follicles stop producing new
hairs; loss of pigment and greying; growing of coarser facial hair
Nail changes with age - toenails may grow harder with age; ridges may form in
fingernails
Height and weight changes with age - height loss (about ½ inch every 10 years after
age 40); usually gain weight until a certain point and then lose weight
Vision changes with age - very common; cataracts, AMD, glaucoma
Hearing changes with age - declines in frequencies and sounds able to detect;
problems in inner ear can also lead to balance issues
Taste and smell changes with age - sense of taste appears to age well; smell tends to
decrease with issues more prevalent in men than women
Sense of touch changes with age - people may have reduced sensations of vibration,
cold, heat, pressure, or pain (some related to conditions, but sense of pressure tend to
decline in healthy adults)
Sense of pain changes with age - experience chronic pain; afraid of being addicted to
pain meds; think pain normal w aging so put off going to dr
Breakthrough pain - severe pain that comes on quickly while a patient is already
medicated with a long acting pain killer
Nutrition in older adulthood - health diet important in maintaining physical and mental
health; sensory changes might change an individual's motivation to eat healthy
Chronic conditions with age - occurrence of chronic conditions raises with age
Conditions that are the overall leading causes of death - cancer and cardiovascular
disease
Graded A+ 2025/2026
Centenarians - people who live to be older than 100 (supercentenarians are those 110
and older)
Sarcopenia - loss of muscle tissue that occurs with age
Cataracts - clouding in the lens of the eye
Age related macular degeneration - loss of clarity in the center field of vision due to
deterioration of the macula (the center of the retina)
Glaucoma - loss of peripheral vision, usually due to buildup of fluid in the eye that
damages the optic nerve
Presbycusis - common form of hearing loss in late adulthood that results in a gradual
loss of hearing
Tinnitus - a ringing, hissing or roaring sound in the ears
Presbyosmia - loss of smell due to aging
Anosmia - total loss of smell
Chronic illnesses - illnesses that are ongoing, generally incurable conditions that require
continuing medical intervention and effect daily life
Osteoporosis - disease that weakens and thins bones to the point that they become
fragile and break easily
Kyphosis - adults gradually lose height and become hunched over due to bones
weakening in the spine
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - progressive lung disease where the
airways become damaged making it harder to breathe
Cirrhosis - disease where the liver becomes scarred and does not function properly
Shingles - disease that affects your nerves; usually leaves a rash and is due to having
chicken pox; more common with increasing age because the body is worse at fighting
off diseases
Key generalizations about physical changes in older people - heart muscles thicken,
arteries become less flexible, lung capacity diminishes, kidneys become less efficient,
bladder loses ability to store urine, brain cell may lose some function
, Changes in body with age - lose lean tissue, and some cells of organs; tissue loss may
cause water loss which could cause a mineral deficiency; body fat goes up (up to ⅓
more than at younger age) builds in center of body
Changes with skin with age - thinner, less elastic, loses fat, veins easier to see, take
longer to heal cuts and scratches; wrinkles, dryness, age spots, cancer; easier bruising
Age spots (liver spots) - flat brown spots usually caused by years in the sun
Skin tags - small flesh colored growths of skin that have a raised surface
Hair loss with age - most people lose hair with age, hair follicles stop producing new
hairs; loss of pigment and greying; growing of coarser facial hair
Nail changes with age - toenails may grow harder with age; ridges may form in
fingernails
Height and weight changes with age - height loss (about ½ inch every 10 years after
age 40); usually gain weight until a certain point and then lose weight
Vision changes with age - very common; cataracts, AMD, glaucoma
Hearing changes with age - declines in frequencies and sounds able to detect;
problems in inner ear can also lead to balance issues
Taste and smell changes with age - sense of taste appears to age well; smell tends to
decrease with issues more prevalent in men than women
Sense of touch changes with age - people may have reduced sensations of vibration,
cold, heat, pressure, or pain (some related to conditions, but sense of pressure tend to
decline in healthy adults)
Sense of pain changes with age - experience chronic pain; afraid of being addicted to
pain meds; think pain normal w aging so put off going to dr
Breakthrough pain - severe pain that comes on quickly while a patient is already
medicated with a long acting pain killer
Nutrition in older adulthood - health diet important in maintaining physical and mental
health; sensory changes might change an individual's motivation to eat healthy
Chronic conditions with age - occurrence of chronic conditions raises with age
Conditions that are the overall leading causes of death - cancer and cardiovascular
disease
