3 Ageing and Dementia Flashcards
What tool can we use to assess malnutrition?
MUST tool
Malnutrition universal screening tool
What effects do ageing have on the respiratory system? Why are these significant?
Lung compliance decreases (reduced elastic support)
Oropharynx can collapse- due to lack of elastic tissue
Atelectasis, pulmonary emboli and pneumonia common POST OPERATIVE complications in elderly
Why do we need to be particularly careful if prescribing sedatives/ pain killers to elderly patients?
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Adding insult to injury
What do we need to think about when prescribing drugs to elderly patients in terms of pharmacokinetics?
- Elderly patients have increased sensitivity to CNS depressant drugs
- Reduced hepatic and renal function- slower metabolism and elimination of drugs
- Reduce CO- delayed onset of intravenous anaesthesia
- Reduced total body water and increased adipose- alter volume of distribution
- Plasma proteins reduced- increase free drug availability
What effects does ageing have on the cardiovascular system? (Generally)
Vessels less elastic
Hypertension
LV hypertrophy
Reduced CO- arm brain circulation time slower (eg anaesthesia)
What effects does ageing have on the renal system?
GFR decreased
Prostatism in males- obstructive nephropathy
What effects does ageing have on the CNS?
Neuronal density reduce by 30% by 80 yrs
Cerebrovascular disease= common
What happens to the thermoregulatory control of a patient as a result of ageing?
May be impaired due to fall in metbaolic activity and reduce muscle mass
How is dementia diagnosed?
HISTORY
Examination
Imaging (showing atrophy in brain)