Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

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Study for the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What occurs to serotonin receptors as people age?

They increase with age.
They decrease with age.
They remain constant throughout life.
All receptors die by age 75.

The correct answer is: They decrease with age.

As people age, research indicates that the density and functionality of serotonin receptors can decrease. This reduction has been linked to aging and can have implications for mood regulation, cognitive function, and various neuropsychiatric disorders. The decline in serotonin receptor availability may contribute to the increased prevalence of depression and anxiety in older adults, as serotonin plays a crucial role in mood stabilization and emotional wellbeing. This decline is not uniform across all serotonin receptor subtypes, but there is a general trend towards decreased receptor sensitivity and availability with aging. Factors such as changes in receptor gene expression, neurobiology, and the potential for neurodegeneration could contribute to this phenomenon. Understanding these changes is critical for addressing mental health and cognitive challenges in the geriatric population.