12) Adulthood and the Elderly (Part I) Flashcards
When does young adulthood occur?
Between 20 to 35 years old
When does middle adulthood occur?
50 to 69 years old
Define adulthood.
The stage at which growth and sexual maturity are complete
When is sexual maturity reached? When is physiological maturity reached?
- Sexual maturity: teenage years
- Physiological maturity: early 30s
What is physiological maturity?
The achievement of maximum height and the formation of peak bone mass
How does muscle mass vary throughout an individual’s life span?
Increases until 30s, then gradually declines
When does the loss of trabecular bone mass begin?
In an individual’s 30s
How does anabolism compare to catabolism prior to adulthood, during adulthood, and after the age of 30?
- Prior to adulthood: anabolism > catabolism
- Adulthood: anabolism = catabolism
- After the age of 30: catabolism > anabolism
When are maximal strength, endurance and agility reached?
Five years after reaching maximum height
What may aid in slowing down catabolism related to aging?
Physical activity
Why is there an increased propensity of accumulating body weight and fat during middle adulthood?
- A decrease in muscle mass decreases BMR
- A decrease in BMR decreases caloric requirements
- An adjustment to caloric requirements must be made
In both sexes, the average body weight increases until reaching their ___.
60s
Weight gain (accelerates/decelerates) with age.
accelerates
How do obesity rates vary throughout the life span?
Increase until 65 years old, then subsequently decline
What is a greater waistline associated with?
An increased risk of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease
Which sex is at a greater risk of obesity? Why?
Women due to a greater fat mass and lower lean-body mass
Which sex actually possesses a lower obesity rate? How does that vary across the life cycles?
- Women possess a lower obesity rate
- Except when they hit 75 years old
A BMI greater than __ is the upper limit beyond which the morbidity of obesity becomes a concern due to weight-related diseases.
25
Give examples of weight-related diseases.
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypertension
- Liver disease
- Certain cancers (prostate, colon, breast)
Which diseases does the diet contribute significantly?
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Diabetes
Which diseases are there a strong, but not clearly identified, nutrition effects?
- Osteoporosis
- Dementia
- Hypertension
What are the effects of our society’s shift from our natural diet? What is the composition of our current diet?
- Greater intake of animal fats
- Decreased quantities of complex carbohydrates and fiber
- These diets are linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and dental caries
What was the purpose of the Mozaffarian (2016) study?
Combined several meta-analyses to determine the effects of certain foods on death from coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes
What is the relative risk?
The ratio of the probability of an event occurring (i.e. disease) in an exposed group (consuming the food) to the probability of the event occurring in a comparison, non-exposed group
What does a relative risk lower than 1 indicate?
Individuals consuming the food have a LOWER risk than individuals not consuming the food
What was the purpose of the Micha & al. (2010) study?
Analyzed the risk of coronary heart disease associated with the quantity of red meat and processed meat
What was the conclusion of the Micha & al. (2010) study?
- Red meat does not have an effect on the risk of CHD
- Processed meat does have an effect
How does the nutritional content of red meat and processed meat differ?
Processed meats are higher in sodium and nitrate-derivatives
What harmful effect does grilling red meat produce?
Linked with the production of heterocyclic amines, producing a carcinogenic effect
Which foods are harmful to cardio-metabolic health?
- Refined grains
- Starches
- Sugars
- Processed meats
- High sodium foods
- Industrial trans fats
Which foods are beneficial to cardio-metabolic health?
- Fruits
- Nuts
- Fish
- Vegetables
- Vegetable oils
- Whole grains
- Beans
- Yogurt
How does following a low-fat diet and a Mediterranean diet differ in terms of the incidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes?
- Low-fat diet: no significant effect
- Mediterranean diet: clinical benefit
- The quality of fat consumed is more effective than the total amount
An insufficient intake of _________ is related to an increased disease risk.
fruits and vegetables
What are two significant aspects that accelerate aging and the risk of chronic disease? (2)
1) Diets that are high in saturated fat, alcohol, sodium, sugar and low in fiber
2) Lifestyles that include smoking, little exercise and high stress
Why is it vital to educate individuals in their middle years about exercise and food habits? (3)
- Allowing for the delay of the onset of aging and chronic disease
- An increase in optimal function for a longer period of time
- An increase in the quality of life in the present
Which organizations participated in the development of the Unified Dietary Guidelines?
- American Heart Association
- American Cancer Society
- American Dietetic Association
- National Institutes of Health
What are the six Unified Dietary Guidelines? (6)
- Eat a variety of foods
- Choose most of what you eat from plant sources
- Eat greater than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
- Eat greater than 6 servings of bread, pasta and cereal grains daily
- Eat high-fat foods sparingly, especially those from animal sources
- Keep your intake of simple sugars to a minimum
What are the causes of the aging population?
- Gradual increase in overall life expectancy
- Declining birth rates
What is the ratio of women (mostly widowed) to men (mostly married) over 85 years of age?
2:1
What is usual aging?
- The process that is accelerated by diet and lifestyle factors
- Ex: poor exercise habits, tobacco abuse
What is successful aging?
- Age-related changes that are not increased due to lifestyle or disease
- Characterized by sound nutritional habits, regular exercise and good blood pressure control
What are causes of death of successful aging?
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer
- Infection
What is immunosenescence?
Age-related alterations in immune response
What is the best-characterized feature of immunosenescence?
Decline in T-cell function
Is immunosenescence preventable? How?
- Yes
- Multi-vitamin and mineral supplements may halve the infection rate
What are the effects of vitamin E on macrophages?
- Inhibits PGE2 production in macrophages, which reverses the altered cytokine profile of T-cells
- Allows for the Th-1 response to occur
What are the effects of PGE2 on the Th-1 response?
In high concentrations, PGE2 inhibits T-cell proliferation and the Th-1 response
Differentiate the Th-1 response and the Th-2 response.
- Th-1 response: more effective at getting rid of intracellular pathogens
- Th-2 response: more effective at atopic reactions (eczema or allergies)