Ageing

Question 1

Define Primary and Secondary Ageing

Answer 1

Primary Ageing
- Inevitable natural deterioration
due to - tissue repair slows and is less effective
- function is then impaired by changes in structural & chemical composition
Secondary Ageing
- Resulting from poor health or disease (often preventable to some degree
due to smoking/sedentary lifestyle/poor nutrition accelerating degradation

Question 2

Ageing changes in appearance

Answer 2

Skin

• Epidermis and Dermis are thinner (connective tissue becomes thinner and weaker)
• Less vitamin D and hormones are produced/released
• Reduced blood supply
• Skin is drier/weaker/worse at repair

Hair
- Hair loss and greying (reduction in melanin)

Question 3

Ageing changes in Musculoskeletal system

Answer 3

Bone - Decreased mineral content
- Osteoporosis/curvature of spine
Teeth - Damage to enamel
- Receding gums
- Reduced salivary production - bacteria stay put
- Tooth decay/disease is more likely
Joints - Reduced level of joint fluid
- Cartilage starts to break down
- Osteoarthirits/reduced RoM
Ligaments/tendons - reduced collagen levels
- decreased water content
- break easier
Muscles - No. + size of fibres decrease
- Less able to cope with bi-products
- Less flexible
- Weaker/Fatigue faster/more likely to tear

Question 4

Ageing changes in immune system

Answer 4

• Reduced B & T cell levels
• Skin is weaker
  Reduced capacity to detect and prevent infection

Question 5

Ageing changes in endocrine system

Answer 5

• Hormone production decreases (particularly HgH/sex hormones/melatonin)
• Reduced Sleep & Metabolism levels
• Receptors become less sensitive

Question 6

Ageing changes in the cardiovascular system

Answer 6

Heart
- Cardiac output decreases - weaker contraction and less elastic muscle (less o2 and nutrients accelerate tissue degradation)
- Changes in conducting cells (arrythmia = more likely)
Vascular
- Decrease in haematocrit (proportion of RBC)
- Atherosclerosis - build of plaque in vessel wall
- Aneurysm - Thickening of capillary wall make more likely to burst
- Decrease function of vein valves: more likely to clot/varicose veins
- Higher blood pressure due to stiffer vessels and less sensitive barometers

Question 7

Ageing changes in the respiratory system

Answer 7

• Ribcage = stiffer
• Diaphragm and intercostals are weaker
• Alveoli begin to lose shape
• Airways close more easily
• Reduced vital capacity

Question 8

Ageing changes in the neurological system

Answer 8

Brain 
- decrease in weight and size
- loss of neurons and neurotransmitters
- decreased blood flow
- waste material build up
common conditions = memory less/anterograde amnesia/dementia/alzheimers

Nervous system
- Nerves conduct slower (slower motor skills/reduced reaction times)

All together leads to reduced mobility and more sedentary lifestyle = faster degradation

Question 9

Ageing changes in the digestive +urinary systems

Answer 9

Liver 
- Can't deal with toxins as well 
- Can't repair as fast
Kidney 
- Reduction in no. of nephrons
- Harder blood vessels
- Filtration is slower and kidney disease = more likely
Bladder
- Muscles weaken
- Walls are less elastic
- Blockage/weaker control/infection is more likely
Gastrointestinal
- Peristalsis is slower (more water reabsorbed)
- Reduced taste/smell (hunger/full/thirsty = less accurate)
- Altered hormone production
- Reduced appetite 
- Constipation is more likely