[6] Aging of the GI System

Question 1

[Effect of Age]

Taste

Answer 1

Suppressed

Question 2

Which of the tastes are suppressed?

Answer 2

Sweet and Salty

Question 3

[“Maybe” For the Exam Question]

Which of the tastes are enhanced?

Are they truly enhanced?

Answer 3

Sour and Bitter

No, but since the others are diminished it becomes more evident

Question 4

Cause of Halitosis in Older People

Answer 4

Dry Mouth

Question 5

Cause of Bad Teeth in Older People

Answer 5

Normal aging process for teeth to fall out

Question 6

[“Maybe” For the Exam Question]

Describe: Tertiary Contractions of Esophagus

Answer 6

Dysfunctional
Isolated
Non-peristaltic
Simultaneous

Question 7

What is lost in the swallowing phase as you age?

Answer 7

Secondary Peristalsis

Question 8

[“Maybe” For the Exam Question]

What occurs in UES Pressure as you age?
What happens to LES Pressure?

Answer 8

Decrease in UES Pressure

No change in LES Pressure

Question 9

Common Cause of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Elderly

Answer 9

Shorter intra-abdominal Lower Esophageal Sphincter

Question 10

Common Complication of GERD

Answer 10

Reflux Hiatal Hernia

Question 11

Effect on Stomach Emptying Time

Answer 11

Slower

Question 12

What causes Achlorhydria

Answer 12

Decrease in Parietal Cells

Question 13

Common Stomach Disorders in the Elderly

Answer 13

Ulceration and Gastritis

Question 14

Changes in Small Intestine

Answer 14

Decreased Villus Height
Decreased Calcium Absorption

HOWEVER, no Clinically important changes

Question 15

Major Change in Elderly Large Intestine

Answer 15

Decreased muscular strength leading to Diverticula formation

Question 16

Differentiate: True and False Diverticula

Answer 16

True ones would contain all layers of the bowel wall

False ones have no muscular layer, just serosa and mucosa

Question 17

[“Maybe” For the Exam Question]

Which type of Diverticula are weaker and more dangerous?

Answer 17

False Diverticula

Question 18

Changes: Large Intestine

Answer 18

Decreased transit time

Decreased sensation of anorectal distention

Question 19

Common Diseases in the Large Intestine

Answer 19

Constipation

Question 20

[“Maybe” For the Exam Question]

What color does the liver become as you age?
Why?

Answer 20

Brown, because of Lipofuscin

Question 21

How come the liver becomes smaller as you age?

Answer 21

Fibrosis

Question 22

What liver enzyme levels drop as you age?

Answer 22

Bilirubin, everything else is normal

Question 23

[Liver Detoxification]

How do Liver Phase 1 Reactions change as you age?

What about Phase 2?

Answer 23

Phase 1: Linear Decrease

Phase 2: No Change

Question 24

Is there an increase or decrease of gallstone productions as you age?

Answer 24

Increase as a result of lowered amounts of bile acid synthesis

Question 25

Decreased Bile Acid would cause an increase in what cholesterol levels?

Answer 25

LDL

Question 26

Changes of the Pancreas with Age

Answer 26

Pancreatic duct dilation
Lowered weight

No clinically significant changes

Question 27

[“Maybe” For the Exam Question]

Types of Nutrients in Phase 1

Answer 27

Antioxidants

Question 28

Cause of Anorexia of Aging

Answer 28

Poor Taste
Decreased Salvation
Poor Dentition
Depression
Presbyesophagus
Sarcopenia
Decreased Metabolism
Neglect

Question 29

Most Frequent GI Complaint in the Elderly

Answer 29

Constipation

Question 30

Common Medication that Causes Constipation in the Elderly

Answer 30

Aluminum Hydroxide