Psychology 220 - Final Exam - Full
Review
CHANGES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE BRAIN ACROSS THE LIFESPAN - CORRECT
ANSWER--white matter increases to middle adulthood then starts to decrease
-grey matter declines from childhood then level's off
-CSF increases steadily
THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - CORRECT ANSWER-Climacteric - refers to the
years of middle adulthood in both men and woman during which reproductive capacity
declines or is lost
Male Climacteric:
-In men, the climacteric is extremely gradual, with a slow loss of reproductive capacity
Menopause:
-The cessation of monthly menstrual cycles in middle-aged women
-The average age of menopause is roughly age 50
MENOPAUSAL PHASES - CORRECT ANSWER-Premenopausal phase:
-estrogen levels fall somewhat, menstrual periods are less regular, and anovulatory
cycles (cycles without ovulation) begin to occur
Perimenopausal phase:
-estrogen and progesterone levels are erratic, menstrual cycles may be very irregular,
and women begin to experience symptoms such as hot flashes
Postmenopausal phase:
-a woman is postmenopausal when she has had no menstrual periods for a year or
more
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MENOPAUSE - CORRECT ANSWER-Experts have
reported NO connection between menopausal status and major depressive disorder
Negativity during menopause may stem from a woman's overall negativity and life
stressors before entering menopause
Individual differences: Women with significant symptoms, and whose symptoms last the
longest, experience the most depression and negative moods
,Sleep deprivation from symptoms may be misdiagnosed as anxiety (with similar brain
activity!)
SEXUAL ACTIVITY - CORRECT ANSWER-The great majority of middle-aged adults
remain sexually active; the frequency of sex declines
A biopsychosocial view of sexuality and aging is now used to examine how factors
interact to predispose us to problems with sexual functioning as we age
-Chronic conditions and overall poorer health
-Sexual expectations and mental disorders
-Partner expectations
PHYSICAL CHANGES - CORRECT ANSWER-Changes or declines in many physical
functions occur very gradually through the 40s and 50s
Among adults who are otherwise healthy, the amount of loss is far less than folklore
would have us believe
This period of life may be the intellectual and creative peak
For a few physical functions, however, change or decline is already substantial in the
middle adult years
THE BRAIN & NERVOUS SYSTEM - CORRECT ANSWER-White matter volume crests
during middle adulthood, while grey matter volume continues its decline that began in
childhood and does not level off until about age 60
New synapses are continuing to form in middle age, BUT more synapses are lost than
are formed
The general rule: areas of the brain that develop last are the ones that begin to decline
first, namely areas located within the frontal and parietal lobes
-More loss than maintenance
-Last thing to develop, is the first thing to decline
Behavioural choices and mental health affect the adult brain
Cognitive tasks activate a larger area of brain tissue in middle-aged adults than they do
in younger adults
In everyday situations requiring intense concentration and rapid judgments (for example
when driving a car), middle-aged adults perform better than younger adults
,THE SKELETAL SYSTEM - CORRECT ANSWER-Osteoporosis - loss of calcium from
bones - begins at about age 30, but in women the process is accelerated by decreasing
estrogen and progesterone levels in menopause
Risk of fractures
Prevention methods
Overall pattern is ageing, amount of loss is variable
RISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS - CORRECT ANSWER-Age
-Risk increases in women over age 65 and men over age 70.
Race
-Caucasians and Asians highest risk Gender Women have considerably higher risk than
men.
Weight
-Those who have small body frames and who are either underweight or obese have
higher risk.
Timing of climacteric
-Women who experience early menopause and postmenopausal women are at higher
risk, presumably because their follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels become
elevated and estrogen levels decline.
Family history
-Those with a family history of osteoporosis are at higher risk.
Diet
-A diet low in calcium and vitamin D during adolescence and early adulthood results in
lower peak levels of bone mass and hence greater risk of falling below critical levels
later.
Gut microbiota
-Dysbiosis (imbalance) in the gut microbiota can be a risk factor for osteoporosis.
Health habits
-Smoking and alcohol use are linked to higher risk.
Exercise
-Those with a sedentary lifestyle are at higher risk. Prolonged immobility, such as
bedrest, also increases the rate of bone loss. Regular physical activity and exercise
reduces the rate of bone loss
VISION & HEARING - CORRECT ANSWER-Presbyopia:
, -Normal loss of visual acuity with aging, especially the ability to focus the eyes on near
objects
-decreases rapidly after 40s and 50s
Presbycusis:
-Normal loss of hearing with aging, especially of high-frequency or very low-frequency
tones
-accelerates after age 55
-progresses slowly compared to vision
-both are signs or primary aging
HEALTH TRENDS AT MID-LIFE - CORRECT ANSWER-Most 40-year-old Canadians'
health-related quality of life (HRQL)—a measure of physical, mental, and social
health—remains relatively high and stable through to roughly age 70, when it begins to
decline
During middle adulthood, there is an increase in:
-Frequency of annoying aches and pains
-The number who are unhappy with their bodies
-Chronic diseases and disabilities
-Disease-related death
Physical activity can promote longevity, as well as the reverse
-more disease-related deaths begin in middle adulthood
-the more exercise = the lower the mortality risk
CANCER - CORRECT ANSWER-Cancer is the leading cause of death in middle
adulthood and old age in Canada
The lifetime probability of Canadians developing cancer is 50% for men and 46% for
women
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in Canada
Risk factors shared with cardiovascular disease
Several cancers caused by infectious agents
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD) - CORRECT ANSWER-Atherosclerosis:
narrowing of the arteries caused by deposits of a fatty substance called plaque
Significant arterial blockage results in a heart attack or stroke
Result of lifestyle factors, not normal aging
Review
CHANGES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE BRAIN ACROSS THE LIFESPAN - CORRECT
ANSWER--white matter increases to middle adulthood then starts to decrease
-grey matter declines from childhood then level's off
-CSF increases steadily
THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - CORRECT ANSWER-Climacteric - refers to the
years of middle adulthood in both men and woman during which reproductive capacity
declines or is lost
Male Climacteric:
-In men, the climacteric is extremely gradual, with a slow loss of reproductive capacity
Menopause:
-The cessation of monthly menstrual cycles in middle-aged women
-The average age of menopause is roughly age 50
MENOPAUSAL PHASES - CORRECT ANSWER-Premenopausal phase:
-estrogen levels fall somewhat, menstrual periods are less regular, and anovulatory
cycles (cycles without ovulation) begin to occur
Perimenopausal phase:
-estrogen and progesterone levels are erratic, menstrual cycles may be very irregular,
and women begin to experience symptoms such as hot flashes
Postmenopausal phase:
-a woman is postmenopausal when she has had no menstrual periods for a year or
more
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MENOPAUSE - CORRECT ANSWER-Experts have
reported NO connection between menopausal status and major depressive disorder
Negativity during menopause may stem from a woman's overall negativity and life
stressors before entering menopause
Individual differences: Women with significant symptoms, and whose symptoms last the
longest, experience the most depression and negative moods
,Sleep deprivation from symptoms may be misdiagnosed as anxiety (with similar brain
activity!)
SEXUAL ACTIVITY - CORRECT ANSWER-The great majority of middle-aged adults
remain sexually active; the frequency of sex declines
A biopsychosocial view of sexuality and aging is now used to examine how factors
interact to predispose us to problems with sexual functioning as we age
-Chronic conditions and overall poorer health
-Sexual expectations and mental disorders
-Partner expectations
PHYSICAL CHANGES - CORRECT ANSWER-Changes or declines in many physical
functions occur very gradually through the 40s and 50s
Among adults who are otherwise healthy, the amount of loss is far less than folklore
would have us believe
This period of life may be the intellectual and creative peak
For a few physical functions, however, change or decline is already substantial in the
middle adult years
THE BRAIN & NERVOUS SYSTEM - CORRECT ANSWER-White matter volume crests
during middle adulthood, while grey matter volume continues its decline that began in
childhood and does not level off until about age 60
New synapses are continuing to form in middle age, BUT more synapses are lost than
are formed
The general rule: areas of the brain that develop last are the ones that begin to decline
first, namely areas located within the frontal and parietal lobes
-More loss than maintenance
-Last thing to develop, is the first thing to decline
Behavioural choices and mental health affect the adult brain
Cognitive tasks activate a larger area of brain tissue in middle-aged adults than they do
in younger adults
In everyday situations requiring intense concentration and rapid judgments (for example
when driving a car), middle-aged adults perform better than younger adults
,THE SKELETAL SYSTEM - CORRECT ANSWER-Osteoporosis - loss of calcium from
bones - begins at about age 30, but in women the process is accelerated by decreasing
estrogen and progesterone levels in menopause
Risk of fractures
Prevention methods
Overall pattern is ageing, amount of loss is variable
RISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS - CORRECT ANSWER-Age
-Risk increases in women over age 65 and men over age 70.
Race
-Caucasians and Asians highest risk Gender Women have considerably higher risk than
men.
Weight
-Those who have small body frames and who are either underweight or obese have
higher risk.
Timing of climacteric
-Women who experience early menopause and postmenopausal women are at higher
risk, presumably because their follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels become
elevated and estrogen levels decline.
Family history
-Those with a family history of osteoporosis are at higher risk.
Diet
-A diet low in calcium and vitamin D during adolescence and early adulthood results in
lower peak levels of bone mass and hence greater risk of falling below critical levels
later.
Gut microbiota
-Dysbiosis (imbalance) in the gut microbiota can be a risk factor for osteoporosis.
Health habits
-Smoking and alcohol use are linked to higher risk.
Exercise
-Those with a sedentary lifestyle are at higher risk. Prolonged immobility, such as
bedrest, also increases the rate of bone loss. Regular physical activity and exercise
reduces the rate of bone loss
VISION & HEARING - CORRECT ANSWER-Presbyopia:
, -Normal loss of visual acuity with aging, especially the ability to focus the eyes on near
objects
-decreases rapidly after 40s and 50s
Presbycusis:
-Normal loss of hearing with aging, especially of high-frequency or very low-frequency
tones
-accelerates after age 55
-progresses slowly compared to vision
-both are signs or primary aging
HEALTH TRENDS AT MID-LIFE - CORRECT ANSWER-Most 40-year-old Canadians'
health-related quality of life (HRQL)—a measure of physical, mental, and social
health—remains relatively high and stable through to roughly age 70, when it begins to
decline
During middle adulthood, there is an increase in:
-Frequency of annoying aches and pains
-The number who are unhappy with their bodies
-Chronic diseases and disabilities
-Disease-related death
Physical activity can promote longevity, as well as the reverse
-more disease-related deaths begin in middle adulthood
-the more exercise = the lower the mortality risk
CANCER - CORRECT ANSWER-Cancer is the leading cause of death in middle
adulthood and old age in Canada
The lifetime probability of Canadians developing cancer is 50% for men and 46% for
women
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in Canada
Risk factors shared with cardiovascular disease
Several cancers caused by infectious agents
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD) - CORRECT ANSWER-Atherosclerosis:
narrowing of the arteries caused by deposits of a fatty substance called plaque
Significant arterial blockage results in a heart attack or stroke
Result of lifestyle factors, not normal aging
