According to the Seattle Longitudinal Study, middle age is generally characterized by which of the following?

• A. A rapid decline in all cognitive functions
• B. The onset of severe memory loss in most individuals
• C. Stability or improvement in cognitive abilities such as verbal memory and reasoning
• D. Complete stagnation in intellectual growth

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the Seattle Longitudinal Study, which investigates cognitive changes across the adult lifespan, focusing on various mental abilities over time.
2. Identify the key cognitive functions typically measured in the study, such as verbal memory, reasoning, spatial orientation, and numeric ability.
3. Recall that the study found middle age is often marked by stability or even improvement in certain cognitive abilities, rather than a rapid decline or severe memory loss.
4. Compare the given options with the study's findings: rapid decline and severe memory loss are not characteristic of middle age according to the study, nor is complete stagnation.
5. Conclude that the correct characterization of middle age, based on the Seattle Longitudinal Study, is stability or improvement in cognitive abilities like verbal memory and reasoning.