Image: Tim Flach/Getty Images
About This Quiz
Some people pay thousands of dollars to hide the physical effects of aging, but there's no stopping the many changes that affect our bodies as time passes. . Find out how much you know about the often unavoidable symptoms of aging in this quiz.
The progressive loss of bone that often accompanies aging is called:
rheumatoid arthritis
osteoarthritis
osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a painful, disfiguring and debilitating loss of bone that makes fractures more likely to occur.
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Which of the following is not a contributing factor to bone loss?
exercise
Genetics, menopause and bad habits, like smoking and excessive drinking, all play a role in the development of osteoporosis. Exercise can actually help prevent this condition.
menopause
smoking
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What is a major contributor to wrinkles?
lotion
sun exposure
Sun exposure is not only a major contributor to the development of wrinkles but it also causes age spots and skin cancer.
dry skin
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Aging skin can lead to a deficiency in what vitamin?
vitamin A
vitamin B12
vitamin D
Aging skin has a limited capacity to initiate vitamin D production, making vitamin D deficiency more common in older people.
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Excessive pressure inside the eyeball produces:
presbyopia
glaucoma
As people age, their pupils get smaller and the lenses start to accumulate yellow substances, which can predispose them to glaucoma -- the product of excessive pressure inside the eyeball.
cataracts
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Why do many older people have a decreased sense of taste?
because taste receptors break down
because the tongue loses elasticity
because the sense of smell weakens
About half of adults over the age of 65 have a diminished sense of smell, which affects their ability to taste food.
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What is the Use It and Lose It Theory?
a theory for how people age
The Use It and Lose It Theory of aging suggests that use, and overuse, of your organs pushes them to the brink of destruction. A poor diet, too much alcohol and cigarette smoking are thought to accelerate natural wear and tear.
a theory for how to lose weight
a theory for the onset of dementia
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How many inches might people lose in height by the age of 80?
1 inch (2.5 centimeters)
2 inches (5 centimeters)
People are at their tallest by their late forties and then gradually lose up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in height by age 80.
3 inches (7.5 centimeters)
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Pain and stiffness in the joints are referred to as:
arthritis
Aging causes cartilage to lose water, making it more vulnerable to injury and often leading to arthritis.
shin splints
osteoporosis
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What can you do to reduce the natural decline of the kidneys that occurs with age?
eat sugary foods
drink plenty of fluids
Drinking plenty of fluids, controlling high blood pressure and keeping blood glucose levels in check helps to preserve kidney function.
lift weights
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You Got:
/10
Tim Flach/Getty Images
