Aging Flashcards
What does ‘getting old’/aging mean (3 points)
- Aging is the the normal progressive decline in function & ability to respond to stimuli
- decreasing function -> loss of viltaity of cells, tissues and organs funct. less efficiently
- decr. capacity in homeostatic control mechanism response to internal (inflammation) & external (infection, surgery) stimuli & accelerated environmental stresses; increased susceptibility to diseases
Theories of developmental changes of aging: Molecular-DNA repair
Theory #1: repair system failure: decline in the ability of cells to repair the damaged DNA in cells; genes can’t regulate other processes
Theories of developmental changes of aging: Cellular- Cell senescence (programmed)
Cells wear out from repeated use
Theories of developmental changes of aging: Cellular-
free radicals
Organs become less efficient over time due to normal product of metabolism, 02 which oxidizes and damge protein molecules over time.
Theories of developmental changes of aging: connective tissue stiffening
Aging increases collagen cross-linking; connective tissues, the most common tissue in a body made of collagen and elastin becomes more rigid & stiff
Integumentary system (skin): Increase the risk of skin tearing, why? 2 reasons
- decrease fibroblast in the skin (most common type of cell in connective tissue)
- decrease elastin; less elastic
* watch out for sharp edges
Integumentary system (skin): Less bone protection, why
decrease fat under the skin,
*feel colder
Integumentary system (skin): can't regulate temperature as well e.g through sweating, why
decrease activity of oil/sweat glands; drier skin
*can’t feel the need for water
Musculoskeletal systems (skeletal muscle):
muscle mass
Atrophy (the shrinkage of the cell); decrease muscle mass-> deacreas motoe neuroms what synapse wirh muscle fibre; decrease muscle strength
- play instrum. over a table
- can be increased w/ diet & exercise
Musculoskeletal systems (bones): Why more prone to fracture?
After age 40, estrogen depletion -> decreased calcium absorption->more porous, brittle bones-> decrease bone density
- women lose more
- mindful of what & how they play instruments
Musculoskeletal systems (joints): What happens to the joints in aging? (2points)
- increase fibrosis = More rigid collagen->decrease the flexibility of joints->cartilage wears down
- decrease lubricating fluid; joints are stiff, more difficult/painful to move
What happens in the respiratory system when aging? (4 points)
- Increase stiffness in thoracic walls, which increase susceptibility to infection
- decrease lung tissue elasticity -> decrease in max. oxygen uptake-> shortness of breath on exertion
- decrease the activity of the cilia ->less effective cough reflex->risk aspiration (choking)
- decrease respiratory muscle strength; less strong cough
* can’t sing/dance too long, don’t eat while singing
* move to the limit, don’t overtax
Cardio-vascular system (heart): Why does the cardiac muscle and pumping of the heart become slightly weaker? (2 points)
- weaker pumping; caused by Increase fibrosis (rigid collagen) & atrophy (shrinkage of cells) of heart muscle fibers
- decrease heart rate & exercise tolerance; caused by decrease responsiveness to symp. ns.; -> Results in decreased blood & O2 to muscles and other tissues -> Risk postural hypotension due to decrease baroreceptors to control blood pressure
* needs more regular rest, look for signs of panting
Cardio-vascular system (blood vessels): why is it normal for blood pressure to increase somewhat with age?
- Atherosclerosis: bl. vessel stiffen by more rigid collagen & bl. vessel walls thickened by fibrosis/calcium/fatty deposits; increase resistance to bl. flow from the heart; increase cardiac work
* lifestyle choices, decreased fat increased exercise, maintain C-V system
brain; Nervous system (principal regulatory system of the body) (2 points)
- mass shrinks 10% by 80 y/o from cell atrophy
2. decrease bl. flow to the brain; slightly increased time to learn new/complex info
neurons; Nervous system (principal regulatory system of the body)
decreased number of neurons; modest decrease in S.T.M (short term memory), balance & gait changes
axons; Nervous system (principal regulatory system of the body)
lose a significant amount of myelin sheath; 10% decrease in nerve impulse conduction velocity; maybe responsible for slowed reaction time &, decrease & slower reflecxes & coordinatino
neurotransmitters; Nervous system (principal regulatory system of the body)
decrease in dopamine; declines in cogn. & motor
dendrites; Nervous system (principal regulatory system of the body)
connections in nerves get impaired due to decrease in dendrites; less synapse with declining neurotransmitter signals
neurofibrillary tangles; Nervous system (principal regulatory system of the body)
tangled clumps in neurons and beta-amyloid clotlike plagues containing protein-found in all elderly
mental processes; Nervous system (principal regulatory system of the body) (3 points)
- Most do not decline, still intellectually capable
- LTM intact, STM loss start after age 60
- takes longer to process new/complex info, ex: cope w/ new gadgets
* brain starts w/ excess neurons, continued new learning some neurons produce new dendrites & new connections (axonal sprouting)
Vision; Sensory organs (less efficient in detecting stimuli): (5 points)
- farsighted -> eye lens less elastic/flexible
- lens gradually becomes more opaque (severe=cataracts)
- decrease visual acuity & night vision (sharpness) -> rod & cone function *risk of isolation
- decrease dept & color sensitivity & increased falls -> ciliary muscle atrophy *need good lighting
- dry eyes ->decrease tear production
hearing; Sensory organs (less efficient in detecting stimuli): (3 points)
- hearing loss 40% older than 63
- progressive hearing loss, M > F ->loss of auditory neurons *risk of isolation
- harder to hear consonants -> selective loss of high frequency
sense of taste & smell; Sensory organs (less efficient in detecting stimuli)
loss of taste buds, decreased saliva, dry mouth -> loss of olfactory nerve fibres
*risk poor nutrition
sense of pain; Sensory organs (less efficient in detecting stimuli)
decrease; risk of danger
what happens in the reproductive system in ag.? (5 points)
- both sexes retain the capacity for sexual response
- decrease estrogen/progesteron trigger menopause in 40-50 years F, decreased lubrication of vaginal walls
- decrease testosterone causes decrease fertility in M
- M after 50 takes longer to achieve an erection
- over 50% of M have urinary frequency, age-related enlargement of the prostate gland
What happens in the immune system? (3 points)
- Risk infection -> decrease T cells, less active B cells
- More risk cancer -> increase DNA errors in cell repair
- slower response to anemia & blood loss -> decrease speed production of red blood cells
* more prone to auto-immune disease
what happens in the digestive system? (3 points)
- decrease appetite & malnutrition -> loss of taste buds & possible loss of teeth
- increase transit time & risk constipation -> degeneration of the mucous lining
- drugs remain in body longer -> liver’s decreased blood flow, mass, & ability to detoxify
Urinary system: what happens to kidneys? (2 points)
- Risk dehydration & decrease bl. volume -> decrease bl. flow, mass & ability to regulate water balance
- affected rate of drug excretion resulting in increase bl. drug levels -> decr. glomerular filtration rate
Urinary system: what happens to the bladder?
Decr. capacity, incr. residual urine (left in bladder) & freq. of involuntary bladder contractions -> decr. muscle strength
Urinary system: what happens to the bowel & bladder (B&B)? (2 points)
- incr. stiffness, decr. flexibility of muscular walls of large intestine, bladder, urethra (severe=incontinence (lack of urination control)
- incontinence: F; predisposed stress incontinence -> pelvic floor muscles laxity (post-partum; loose), M; prostate enlargement
* losing urine when laughing, sneezing, surprised (loud sounds)
* plan ahead, pee breaks & reminders
What happens in the endocrine system (2nd major regulatory system)? (3 points)
- risk of decr. responsiveness to insulin & possible decr. glucose tolerance -> decrease metabolic rate
- decrease growth hormone -> decrease thyroid
- decr. ability tolerate stressors (ex: surgery) -> changed hormone levels
what are anatomical changes?
progressive I& gradual change sin structure (mass)
what are physiological (organ changes)?
gradual decr. in organ efficiency/reserve capacity
Aging, so what?
Function is what matters: depends on: rate of deterioration, coping mechanisms, environmental context, stress vs. normal situation, level of performance needed
