Age related changes III Flashcards
Which NT affects neuronal system which changes with age? [1]
Serotonin system changes
Where is 90% of serotonin found in the body? [1]
Carried in gut
Name 5 peripheral effects of decreased serotonin levels due to old age [5]
- Increased Pain - associated with fibromyalgia
- Less effective coagulation
- Less gut motility
- Decreased vascular tone
- Reduced libido
Name 5 central effects of decreased serotonin levels due to old age [5]
- Depression
- Sleep: longer to fall asleep and reduced total time spent sleeping
- Anxiety
- Agression
- Food intake
- Slowed neuronal transmission
How can you increase serotonin production? [1]
30 mins of exercise, 5x a week induces serotonin production
Effects of ageing on the visual system
What type of eye sightedness do you develop in old age? [1] Why? [1]
Presbyopia (farsightedness) due to continuous growth & hardening of the lenses
Effects of ageing on the visual system
What happens to the size of the pupil with age? [1]
What consequence does this have for eye sight? [1]
Size of the pupil decreases with age:
Focusing becomes less accurate
Effects of ageing on the visual system
What happens to the colour of the lens? [1]
which colours are consequently harder to see? [2]
Lens becomes yellow
Harder to see red and green
Why are you likely to get dry eyes in old age? [1]
lacrimal gland reduced function
Why does the liver become less efficient with age? [1]
Accumulation of lipofuscin (brown atrophy) in hepatocytes: hepatocytes less efficient
(Lipofuscin yellow-brown pigment composed of lipid containing residues from lysomal digestion)
Which enzymes decreae in the liver? [1]
What effect does this have physiologically? [1]
Decline in P450 enzymes with age
Causes altered metabolic clearance of certain drugs
Effects of ageing on the immune system:
Describe the physiological changes caused to neutrophils duet to ageing [3]
- Decreased chemotaxis
- Decreased phagocytosis
- Decreased free radical production
Effects of ageing on the immune system
Describe the changes to phagocytes seen with increased age [2]
- Increase in CD16+ pro-inflammatory population
- Decrease phagocytic ability and less free radicals
Effects of ageing on the immune system
Dendritic cells:
Which anti-inflammatory cytokines are produced less of? [1]
Which TLR subpopulations are decreased? [2]
Make less IL12 (anti-inflammatory cytokine)
Decrease in TLR-7 and TLR-9 subpopulations
Effects of ageing on the immune system
Natural killer cells
have a preserved production of [] ? [1]
Natural killer cells have a decline in [] production [1]
Natural killer cells:
- Preserved production of IFN-ϒ
- decline in chemokine production
(overall function of NK cells decreases, despite increase in number)
Which of following increases with age
Neutrophils
Monocytes
Dendritic cells
Natural killer cells
Which of following increases with age
Neutrophils
Monocytes
Dendritic cells
Natural killer cells - but decline in function
Effects of ageing on the immune system
What happens to cell & humoral reponses with age [1]
Cell mediated responses decrease
Humoral responses decrease
Describe changes seen to T-cell (CD8 & CD4) & B-cell function? [3]
T cells
- CD8+ cells: expansion of CD28 cells
- CD4+ cells: differentiate into TH17 cells
B -cells:
* Reduced antibody production
Overall change in immune system? [1]
Move to an inflammatory environment: increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines
Effects of ageing on the gastrointestinal system
What changes to oral cavity occur with age? [1]
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Effects of ageing on the gastrointestinal system
Specifically which parts of taste are lost with age? [2]
Loss of sweet and salty more than bitter and sour, umami
Effects of ageing on the gastrointestinal system
What physiological & anatomical changes to stomach occur?
- Gastric muscular atrophies
- Gastric mucosa thins
- Submucosa is infiltrated with elastic fibres (replaces SMC)
- Gastric secretion decreases
- Gastric emptying slows
Effects of ageing on the gastrointestinal system
What happens to pH with age? [1]
Explain your answer [2]
pH increases:
Latent H.pylori infection which results in gastric mucosal atrophy and loss of acid producing parietal cells
Why does change of stomach pH with age cause an increase in anaemia? [1]
Increase in pH decreases release of vit. B12 from food
80% of elderly are vit. B12 deficient
Effects of ageing on the gastrointestinal system
Expalin why constipation and fecal incontinence is common with increased age [4]
- Slowed circulation
- reduced thirst
- lessened activity
- decreased tone in stomach and intestines slow peristalsis
Effects of ageing on the gastrointestinal system
The decrease in pancreatic and gastric enzymes impedes the absoprtion of which vitamins and minerals? [4]
- Vitamin D
- calcium
- iron
- folic acid
Effects of ageing on the endocrine system:
Which hormones are decreased with age? [3]
- Glucose tolerance decreases
- Production of sex hormones decreases (Testosterone decreases less than oestrogen and progesterone)
- Growth hormone
Effects of ageing on the endocrine system:
Which hormones increase with age? [2]
Cortisol
Insulin
Which endocrine systems are most effected by old age? [3]
Glucose homeostasis
Reproductive function
Calcium metabolism
What is the physiological consequence of decreased GH with age? [1]
decreased muscle mass and exercise capacity (& to sarcopenia)
Describe why age spots occur on skin with old age [1]
Melanocytes decline in some areas, the remaining ones may become overactive (especially on sun exposed skin)
Describe changes to skin exhibited by old age [5]
- Reduced elasticity
- Thinner skin plus blood vessels in dermis more fragile = easily bruised
- Sebaceous gland less active
- Less subcutaneous fat
- Sweat glands less active
Define sarcopenia [1]
Sarcopenia has been defined as an age related, involuntary loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength
Liver histology
What is the arrow pointing at? [1]
Lipofuscin (age pigment) is a brown-yellow, electron-dense, autofluorescent material that accumulates progressively over time in lysosomes of postmitotic cells, such as neurons and cardiac myocytes
