Adulthood & Aging Flashcards
Objectives
- Discuss health factors related to the aging population and the elderly
- Discuss functional implications of age-related changes in skeletal muscles
- Relate age-related changes to the cardiovascular, pulmonary and nervous systems to physical functioning and differences in cognition and motivation
- Explain how changes associated with aging can be challenging for patients and patient’s families or caregivers
fyi
Rate of physiologic function decline is highly variable
Aging
- In 2000, median age rose to highest level ever. 35.3 y/o
- Fastest growing segment of population is those over age 85. In 1995 it was 3.6 million and projected for 2050 at 18.2 million. Those over 100 (1995) were 54,000 and by 2020 it is projected to be 214,000.
- That’s a lot of people to assist out of bed!!
STATS
- The incidence of chronic disease INCREASES with age.
- Disability & need for assistance also INCREASES with age.
- There is a high coorelation between increasing age, decreasing physical activity and increasing disability.
- Inactivity & disuse mimic the physiologic changes observed w/aging. Gilligan et al reported that “disuse accounts for about ½ the functional decline that occurs between 30 & 70, and aging causes the other ½.”
Maladies
Aging study
Rowe & Kahn (researchers) found that successful aging was determined by an?
- active engagement with life
- high cognitive & physical function
- avoiding disease & disability
what increases with age?
- Increased systolic BP
- Increased stiffness
- Increased fat mass
- Increased risk of CVA, HTN, & AMI
- Increase of 30-50% residual capacity
- Increased risk for hypercholesterolemia & atherosclerosis
what decreases with age?
- 2-4 bpm of resting HR
- cardiac heart muscle & volume
- elasticity of blood vessels
- capillary/muscle ratio
- 40-50% vital capacity
- size & # of mitochondria
- bone mineral content
- cartilage water content
- 25-40% muscle mass
- 10-15% NCV
- 15% BMR
- 30-50% renal function
Decreased cardiac output, stroke volume, and max heart rate together w/increased systolic & diastolic BP represent age-related _________ _________changes.
CARDIOVASCULAR CHANGES
OR
CV
Aerobic or functional capacity is greatly affected by age & disease-related processes. The measure of functional capacity is often measured in
METS
(metabolic equivalent units)
1 MET = utilization of 3.5 ml O2 per kilogram of body weight per minute
Example- walking 2 miles per hour requires 2.5 METs
lungs
In the absence of disease, declines in the___________system are not noticeable until the individual reaches 60, 70 or even 80 y/o.
pulmonary
Decreased mobility of the bony thorax can change the resting position of _________ __ _________, therefore influencing function of the lungs
muscles of respiration
Loss of the _______- _______ ________ & increased alveolar size secondary to destruction of the walls of individual alveoli are the major forms of lung deterioration found w/aging.
alveoli-capillary interface
&
increased alveolar size
Lung compliance or ability of lungs to expand, increases w/age & @ same time elastic recoil ?
decreases
- Dehydration, especially during exercise, is common in the elderly
- Electrolyte imbalance associated w/dehydration are also common w/aging
- Less lean body mass & less metabolically active tissue contribute to a decline in metabolic rate & energy requirements of the body.
Body composition
OSTEO JT problems
Osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis.
Cross-linking collagen fibers increases w/loss of motion. If loss of motion, then nutritional exchange of articular cartilage are reduced adding to degenerative changes in _________ _________joints.
weight bearing
- Strengthening the muscles around the joint help resist decrease the risk of injury to the joint by supporting it.
- name 3 forces acting on the bone during normal activity:
Gravity
Weight bearing
Pulling forces of the muscle on the bone