PSYC140 / PSYC 140 Module 8 Exam
Questions and Answers | Latest 2026–2027
Update | Developmental (Lifespan)
Psychology | Portage Learning | Verified
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Solutions | Grade A
Q: True or false? Most doctors today define death as occurring when the heart and
lungs have ceased to function.
Answer
FALSE
Q: For the following descriptions, identify the most likely type of neurocognitive
disorder most likely indicated by these symptoms and situations. Vera began drinking
heavily in her early 20s. She continued this pattern throughout her life and is now in her
70s. She has been hospitalized with liver disease. Prior to this hospitalization, her
children noticed some that she's been having trouble dressing herself and is exhibiting
some marked forgetfulness.
Answer
Substance/Medication Induced
Q: True or false? If you live long enough, you will eventually develop a neurocognitive
disorder.
Answer
FALSE
Q: True or false? Alzheimer's Disease can cause personality changes.
Answer
TRUE
Q: Seventy-year-old Elizabeth has trouble remembering how to use her DVR and relies
on her daughter to occasionally help her. Is this most likely a sign of Alzheimer's Disease
or an age-related change?
Answer
age-related change
Q: True or false? If an individual lives long enough with a terminal illness, he will
eventually reach a point of acceptance of the illness.
Answer
FALSE
Q: For the following example, indicate which stage of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's Stage
theory is being depicted. Mandy is very irritable and feels like yelling all of the time.
Answer
Anger
Q: Which of the following individuals is NOT in late adulthood?
Answer
55-year-old-man
Q: Describe 2 symptoms that may indicate that an individual is experiencing memory
loss that is greater than normal.
Answer
Two symptoms that indicate that an individual is experiencing memory loss that is
greater than normal include: having difficulty getting to a location that an individual has
been to many times over their life and losing track of the concept of time (dates and
seasons).
Q: What is hospice? Be sure to discuss the various services given through hospice.
Answer
Hospice is a program that provides services for the terminally ill. These services can
occur at an actual hospice location or event at the patient's house. The services typically
provided include: managing of physical symptoms and allowing for the patient to have
social interaction. Patients are also provided with spiritual/religious services if required.
Q: Describe two reasons that experts give to explain why women typically outlive
men?
Answer
Two reasons that experts give for women outliving men include: genetics, women
typically take better care of their health than men, and women don't partake as
frequently as men do in behaviors that may cause harm (such as drug abuse, drinking,
thrill-seeking activities).
Q: Compare and contrast Activity Theory and Selective Optimization with
Compensation Theory. Be sure to both "compare" and "contrast."
Answer
Activity theory is suggests that older individuals are happiest when they partake in an
activity. These activites can range from: painting, volunteering, or even playing a sport
(e.g. tennis). Selective Optimization with Compensation Theory suggests that as older
individuals suffer from physical and mental decrease, they try to become better at
activities that they are already somewhat proficient in. These theories are similar in that
they both suggest that an activity allows for older individuals to gain satisfaction.
However, they are different in that one suggests taking up a new activity while the other
suggests getting better at an activity that the individual has previously done.
Q: When diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease, why is it important to rule out other
illnesses? Be specific in your answer, indicating what other illnesses and disease may
mirror Alzheimer's symptoms. Finally, describe two types of assessments/tests that
should be conducted when making a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Be sure to
mention the purpose of each assessment.
Answer
It is important to rule out other illnesses because often times other illnesses may invoke
symptoms similar to Alzheimer's (such as memory loss and behavioral changes).
Alzheimer's disease is a severe disease with little to no cure whereas other disease's such
as depression may be curable via antidepressants. Some other illnesses that may mirror
Alzheimer's symptoms include: depression, Parkinson's disease, malnutrition,
substance-induced dementia, or vascular dementia. Two types of assessments that can
be conducted include: a psychiatrist doing a mental health screening and a
nurse/general practitioner doing a physical health screening. The purpose of the mental
health screening is so that the psychiatrist can see if the patient is suffering from
Alzheimer's or if the patient may be experiencing depression. According to the module,
the symptoms for both of these disease's can be similar. The purpose of the physical
health screening is so that the healthcare provider can once again see if the patient is
truly suffering from Alzheimer's or if the patient is suffering from malnutrition.
Malnutrition can induce similar symptoms to Alzheimer's.
Q: do most older adults develop dementia?
Answer
No it is not a normal part of aging
Q: Why do women typically live longer than men?
Answer
Genetics
Mostly environmental
men are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as abusing drugs or alcohol and
being less vigilant about their health
Q: Are memory problems inevitable as we get older?
Answer
sort of, but not to the extent of AD
Q: do most elderly people need to live in a nursing home?
Answer
No only if they can't take care of themselves
Q: primary agin
Answer
genetically influenced and thought to be unavoidable at this point. What triggers this is
up for debate.
Q: Secondary aging
Answer
not inevitable. It is a result of choices that we make and environmental exposure. For
example, smoking cigarettes and frequent sun exposure cause wrinkles.
Q: "Wear and Tear"
Answer
the theory that aging is due to time spent living and exerting oneself.
Q: what are the problems with the wear and tear theory?
Answer
The body does an amazing job of repairing itself under normal circumstances. Also,
individuals who engage in moderate to vigorous exercise and activity are typically
healthier and longer-lived compared to more sedentary individuals.
Q: three types of theories for aging
Answer - cellular theories of aging- programmed cell death theories of aging- rate of living
theories of aging
Q: cellular theories of aging
Answer
We age because our cells age and reach senescence and no longer divide. Then we have
trouble with injury, illness and stress. Hayflick limit & Free Radicals
Q: Hayflick limit
Answer
The limit to a number of times a cell can divide before senescence. Doesn't necessarily
have an impact on one's lifespan. The limit for most human cells is approximately 50
divisions, an indication that the life span is limited by our genetic program.
Q: free radical theory
Answer
A microbiological theory of aging that states that people age because inside their cells
normal metabolism produces unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals. These
molecules ricochet around inside cells, damaging DNA and other cellular structures.
We gradually accumulate free radicals which leads to damaging our DNA - Explains certain cancers and diabetes - Research work modifies this theory
Q: programmed cell death theory
Answer
aging is programmed into the genetic code; cells self-destruct
Q: Parkinson's Disease
Answer
may cause a neurocognitive disorder. Symptoms include anxiety, depression,
hallucinations, and personality changes.
Q: Cognitive declines due to Vascular Disease
Answer
are due to a cerebrovascular event such as a stroke. Risk factors include hypertension,
smoking, obesity and any factors that contribute to cerebrovascular disease.
Q: A Traumatic brain injury
Answer
can result in cognitive impairment such as difficulty concentrating and slowed
processing.
Q: Substance/medication induced neurocognitive disorder
Answer
is due to usually a lifetime of heavy drug use such as alcohol abuse. This may result in
the individual having severe problems with concentrating as well as some motor
problems.
Q: A Prion disease
Answer
is caused by transmissible agents called prions. For example, a form of Creutzfeldt
Jakob disease is known as "mad cow disease." In humans, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is
very rare. While the precise process for developing a prion disease is not well
understood, research indicates that transmission can occur by corneal transplantation,
injection, and possibly physical contacted with contaminated matter.
Q: HIV Infection
Answer
have a neurocognitive disorder that is tied to this disease. Approximately 25% of
individuals with it have symptoms for at least a mild neurocognitive disorder.
Q: Alzheimer's disease
Answer
is the most common type of dementia (60% of cases)
Q: beginning stage of AD
Answer - memory declines - forgetting words, how to do basic activities - can mask this, stop doing activities - social withdrawal - depression
middle stage of AD
Answer - problems with basic activities of daily living - losing independence (otherwise dangerous) - forgetting names of family and friends - unaware of current events - personality change - gait problems, visuospatial problems
end stage of AD
Answer
complete dependence - problems with speaking, walking, eating, using toilet - health problems from being bedridden
three factors associated with AD
Answer - amyloid plaques - NFTs - ACh deficiency
amyloid plaques
Answer
beta-amyloid protein depots that disrupt normal communication b/w neurons
neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs)
Answer
inclusions formed with threads in tau protein twist and tangle, disrupting brain's ability
to transport necessary nutrients
how is AD diagnosed?
Answer
fMRI (brain imaging)
psychologist/psychiatrist screen for mental health
nurse to screen for physical health
social worker to assess memory functioning
three theories of aging
Answer - disengagement - activity - selective optimization with compensation
disengagement theory
Answer
Cumming & Henry (1961)
"it's all down hill from here" approach to aging - older adults should withdraw from society to prepare for death - largely disproven
activity theory
Answer
1960s- more activity is better for older adults. - if someone retires and is more sedentary, it will be detrimental unless they replace it
with another activity
selective optimization with compensation theory
the theory that successful aging is related to three main factors: selection, optimization,
and compensation - older adults must be SELECTIVE in what they choose to do - OPTIMIZATION involves maintaining what you can through practice, even if there are
declines in other areas - COMPENSATION occurs when an older adult simply cannot function as she used to
and must learn to compensate accordingly (such as by resting after physical activity,
driving more slowly, or watching peoples' lips while they talk)
Kubler-Ross stages of dying
Answer
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance (DABDA)
euthanasia
Answer
the act of painlessly killing a suffering person or animal; mercy killing
hospice
Answer
a home providing care for the sick, especially the terminally ill.
palliative care
Answer
Care designed not to treat an illness but to provide physical and emotional comfort to
the patient and support and guidance to his or her family
grief
Answer
psychological reaction to loss (anxiety, sadness, anger)
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