Age Related Changes Flashcards
Cognition: fluid intelligence
Includes: abstraction, calculation, common sense. Breadth of knowledge Prefrontal cortex - depends on persons inherit abilities
- allows someone to draw conclusions about complex relationships
- with age related changes fluid intelligence may decline
Sexual and reproductive changes
- Decrease sexual activity is more situational 2. Drug side effects 3. Decrease in estrogen and testosterone 4. Sexual dysfunction is NOT normal part of aging 5. Decrease ovarian function
Cognition: crystal intelligence
Hippocampus: Congnitive skills, such as vocab, info, verbal comprehension. = wisdom, judgement and life experiences.
Ie. How do I do a dressing change while fluid intelligence is what dressing do I use - cognition skills that are acquired through culture, education, information learning and other life experiences “School smarts”
- does not disapear with age related changes. only speed is affected by age.
What is the mmse good for?
Memory
What is moCa for
Abstract thinking, frontal lobe, fluid intelligence
Cognitive Function: Nursing assessment
- risk factors
- mental status exam
- self perceptions about cognition
age related changes: cognitive function
-↓ number of neurons
-↓ weight of brain
-Histological changes in brain; ↑ intracellular pigment,↓ protein synthesis, **senile plaques **
-↓rate of conduction in peripheral nerves
**Change in sleep patterns
-**Depletion of dopamine and some of the enzymes in the brain
- ↑ accumulation of lipofuscin
-query diminished brain cholinergic reserve
** slower reaction time
Consequences to age related changes in cognition/neuro function
• ↓ Adaptability
• Slower response to stimuli
• ↓ Sensation
• Impaired proprioception
• Gait changes
• ↓ deep tendo n reflexes
• Slower voluntary movement
• Sleep pattern disturbances
• Susceptibility to
environmental temperature
changes
• ↓ short-term memory
Risk factors to age realted changes in cognition
- myths about cognitive aging
- decreased vision and hearing
- adverse effects of alcohol and medications
- diseases (dementia and depression)
- nutritional deficiencies
Nursing intervtions for change in cognition
- teaching about cognition changes in aging
- memory enhancing techniques
- activities to promote brain fitness
- develop strong social netwroks
- physical exercise
- activities where they have a sense of control
what is scaffolding theory of aging?
explains the adaptive response of the brain to the declining nerual structures and function.
Scaffolding is a normal process that involves using ulternate routes in the mind to achieve cognitive goal
Brain and white matter changes
Loss of white matter
Decreased cerebral flow and corticol volume
loss, especially in the frontal lobes
Decreased brain weight
Decreased blood flow
Nerve cell changes
Number of nerve cells (neurons) in the braindecreases
Varies from person to person
Remaining cells do not function as well as they should
Decreased rate of conduction in peripheral nerves
Change in blood flow to the brain
Decreased blood flow to the brain as you age can be caused or cause a stroke or other impairments. Leads to decrease in cognitive ability
Change in Conduction Velocity
Slower conduction along nerve pathways result in decreased reaction time, slower thought processes, etc
Change in reaction time
Decreased rate of conduction in peripheral nerves, along with slower processing time,causes a slower reaction time. Decrease in adaptability
Change in central processing
In ability to learn new things, inability to process new information
change in verbal skills
- Loss of ability to communicate what they are thinking and what they are trying to say
- Visual changes include: yellowing, opacity and rigidity of the lens, decrease pupil size, decreased accommodation, less efficient absorption of intracellular fluid, narrowing of the visual field, decreased lacrimal secretions, decreased number of cones in the retina
- Hearing changes include: decreased number of nerve cells in 8th, Increased production of cermen, Atrophy of rigidity of ossicles. Decreased elasticity of tympanic membrane cranial nerve
what is presbyopia
inability to focus properly
- Distorted depth perception
- Decreased color perception
- Need for stronger light
- Increased sensitivity to glare
- Drier cornea
Presbycusis
- High frequency losses occur first
- Tone discriminating loss
- Difficulty following conversations
- Difficulty following conversations
- Cerumen impaction
- Social isolation
Cranial nerve change
Loss of elasticity can result in a loss of ability to control facial muscles, changes in eyesight, hearing, etc
Change in hypothalamus
Changes in ability to control homeostasis in body can result in heat flashes or feeling cold all the time. Susceptibility to environmental temperature changes
Change in sleep patterns
Less time spent in deep sleep, shorter REM cycles. Waking during sleep very common
Cause of change in personality and emotions
Decrease of dopamine and some of the enzymes in the brain
change in intelligence and intellectual performance
Decreased brain weight and blood flow can cause cognition problems, inability to learn new things, shorter attention span, and memory loss
Change in memory
Slower processing affect, Motivation, expectation, experience, personality may all decrease, Limited memory effortful memories decrease due to limited task demands learning ability, IQ, cognitive ability, background health history, and overall health.
Both primary (short) and secondary (long) memory decline in older adults, however have long term memory storage and a decrease of short term memory.
5 health promotion strategies for promoting neurological health
- Influence positive attitudes toward aging and memory skills, so that memory may improve
- Engage in activities that promote memory skills and brain functions, such a simple word games
and puzzles
- Physical activity can promote brain flow to the brain, and improve thinking and cognition ability
- Stretch and relaxation exercise along with more physical ones
- Eat a healthy diet with foods that promote brain activity
Explain the importance of sensory function and the impact of sensory deficits on older adults
- Performance of many important daily activities like communication, protecting oneself from danger, enjoying music and visual images, food enjoyment and etc depend on healthy sensory activity.
age related changes: hearing
↓ number of nerve cells in 8th cranial nerve
↑ production of cerumen
↑ amount of keratin in cerumen
Atrophy of rigidity of ossicles
↓ elasticity of tympanic
membrane
change in shape and size of pinna