Ageing: Biological and Psychological Perspectives

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Questions and Answers

What best describes ageing?

A gradual and continuous process that begins in early adulthood. (correct)

An unpredictable series of events influenced by lifestyle choices.

A reversible condition influenced by diet and exercise.

A rapid and sudden process occurring in late adulthood.

What is a primary disadvantage of longitudinal studies?

They can only be conducted on a small number of age groups.

They yield results that are difficult to replicate.

They risk participant dropout rates increasing over time. (correct)

They require a large number of participants at one time.

Which statement is true regarding cross-sectional studies?

They require extensive resources to follow changes over time.

They collect data from the same participants over an extended period.

They efficiently gather data at a single time point across different age groups. (correct)

They are particularly good at controlling for cohort effects.

What is a notable advantage of longitudinal studies?

They allow researchers to control cohort effects by studying the same group. Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge associated with cross-sectional studies?

Finding suitable matching age groups can be difficult. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect makes longitudinal studies potentially resource-intensive?

The need to conduct studies over long periods of time. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using cross-sectional studies in ageing research?

They may not accurately reflect differences due to historical or environmental factors. Signup and view all the answers

Why might participant dropout rates be a concern specifically in longitudinal studies?

Long studies can lead to biased data if key subjects leave the study. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge in studying ageing according to the considerations mentioned?

Distinguishing between cohort effects and age effects Signup and view all the answers

Which design is useful in separating cohort effects from age effects?

Sequential longitudinal design Signup and view all the answers

What type of data is primarily collected in accelerated longitudinal designs?

Longitudinal data from the same participants over time Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of longitudinal studies in aging research?

They often require significant time and resources Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the impact of life events on older individuals?

Older people have generally experienced more life events than younger individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What can be a non-psychological factor that impacts psychological outcomes in aging studies?

Changes in attention capacity Signup and view all the answers

In the context of ageing studies, what defines cohort effects?

The unique experiences shared by individuals born in the same time period Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider economic and public health factors when studying aging?

They influence the life events experienced by different age groups Signup and view all the answers

What accounts for cognitive decline during normal ageing?

Increased synaptic changes and dendritic alterations Signup and view all the answers

Which pathological feature is associated with both ageing and dementia-causing diseases?

Neurofibrillary tangles Signup and view all the answers

What is oxidative stress primarily caused by?

Accumulative damage from free radicals Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the brain's response to ageing?

Shrinkage of dendrites and reduced complexity Signup and view all the answers

How does systemic inflammation change with ageing?

Characterized by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the occurrence of beta amyloid plaques in ageing from that in Alzheimer's disease?

They are present in smaller amounts and more diffusely located Signup and view all the answers

What is neuroplasticity in the context of ageing?

The brain's ability to adapt its structure and functions with age Signup and view all the answers

What impact does oxidative stress have on the brain with age?

Causes DNA damage and inhibits DNA repair processes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of microglia upon activation?

To produce pro-inflammatory cytokines Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with reward and motivation?

Dopamine Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is identified as the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

Glutamate Signup and view all the answers

What cognitive function does episodic memory primarily involve?

Memory for personal experiences Signup and view all the answers

Which age-related change is primarily attributed to cognition?

Decline in memory functions Signup and view all the answers

How do changes in neurotransmitter systems relate to therapeutic targets for ageing?

They may stabilize or enhance impaired brain functions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant outcome of genetic research on human ageing?

It indicates that lifespan has a genetic component. Signup and view all the answers

What is cognitive or 'brain' training primarily aimed at achieving?

Maintaining or improving cognitive abilities Signup and view all the answers

Which method is used by tDCS to stimulate cortical targets?

Weak electrical current Signup and view all the answers

What kind of physical activity is suggested to enhance cognitive function in older adults?

Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise Signup and view all the answers

What do older individuals generally show slower performance in compared to younger individuals?

Conjunction search tasks Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Hasher and Zacks (1988) propose regarding aging?

Inhibition decline affects performance differences Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following senses is reported to be the least understood in relation to aging?

Touch Signup and view all the answers

What age-related change affects the auditory experience of older adults?

Declines in both the ear and brain Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cognitive functions may benefit from neuromodulation techniques in older adults?

Cognitive functioning overall Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason for the decline in attentional processes in older adults?

Sensory changes due to aging Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ageing: A Biological and Psychological Perspective

Ageing is a gradual, continuous process beginning in early adulthood, characterized by natural and inevitable changes.
Methodological considerations:
- Longitudinal studies are resource-intensive, but reduce cohort effects.
- Cross-sectional studies are efficient, but difficult to match age groups and may be influenced by cohort differences.
- Sequential designs combine longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches, offering advantages of both but are complex to plan.
- Accelerated longitudinal studies recruit a wide age range and follow each group for a few years, providing longitudinal data within a shorter time frame, but do not completely avoid cohort effects.
Biological Basis of Ageing:
- Ageing involves changes in physical, biochemical, vascular, and psychological systems.
- MRI studies show decreases in both grey and white matter in the brain, impacting cognitive function.
- Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to adapt and modify its structure and function.
- Synaptic changes: Age-related cognitive decline involves dendritic alterations, including shrinkage, reduced branching, and loss of dendritic spines.
- Cellular and Physiological Changes:
  - Beta-amyloid (Ab) plaques: Contribute to cell death and disruption in neuronal function, with a higher concentration in dementia-causing diseases like Alzheimer's.
  - Neurofibrillary tangles: Associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
  - Oxidative stress: Damage caused by free radicals. The brain is vulnerable to oxidative stress, increasing DNA damage and inhibiting repair processes.
  - Inflammation: A persistent level of systemic inflammation, characterized by increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of microglia.
Neurotransmitter Changes:
- Dopamine: Plays a neuromodulatory role in CNS functions, including executive function, motor control, motivation, and reward. Levels decline with age.
- Serotonin: Acts as both an inhibitory neurotransmitter and a hormone.
- Glutamate: Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS. High glutamate levels contribute to neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative disorders.
Ageing and Genetics:
- Duration of lifespan is, at least in part, genetically determined.
Changes in Cognitive Systems:
- Memory: Ageing has a greater effect on episodic memory (memory for personal events) than other types.
Strategies to Promote Healthy Cognitive Ageing:
- Cognitive training: Regular mental activities can maintain or improve cognitive abilities.
- Neuromodulation: Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (tDCS and rTMS) can improve cognitive function in older adults.
- Physical activity: Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise preserves and enhances cognitive function.
Attentional Control:
- Cue-based responses slow down with age.
- Sensory changes influence age-related attentional decline.
- Visual search tasks demonstrate slower performance in conjunction search (combining features) compared to feature-based search.
Inhibition:
- Age-related decline in inhibition underlies differences in performance between older and younger adults.
Sensory Changes with Age:
- Vision: Age-related changes in the eye and visual pathways in the brain lead to vision decline.
- Hearing: Similar to vision, age affects both the ear and brain, causing hearing loss.
- Touch: Least understood sense concerning age-related changes.
- Taste and Smell: Decline with age, impacting quality of life and health.

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Description

Explore the intricate processes of ageing from both biological and psychological perspectives. This quiz covers various methodological approaches to studying ageing, the biological changes that occur, and their impacts on cognitive function. Delve into the complexities of age-related studies and their findings.