Aging Flashcards
Describe “aging”
a universal, irreversible progressively cumulative process occuring throughout the lifespan
Acitivty, physiologic function, and incidence of chronic disease decrease as chronologic age increases
What did Fires propose in his Compression of Morbidity Theory?
“if the onset of morbidity and disability could be ‘compressed’ into the last few years of the lifespan, then the quality of life would improve and the need for medical care would be reduced”
What is “successful aging,” and what are the 3 main components?
having a low risk for chronic disease(s), and being “high functioning”
3 main components include: staying engaged in life, avoiding disease and disability, and high cognitive and physical function
What are some of the normal age-related changes one might experience? (cardio/pulmonary)
Decreased Resting Heart Rate (RHR)
Decreased cardiac muscle and heart volume
Decreased elasticity of blood vessels
Increased systolic/diastolic Blood Pressure (BP)
Decreased vital and residual capacity of the lungs
Decreased functional capacity to work
What’s one way to delay some normal age-related changes?
Exercise
More normal age-related changes: (joints and muscles)
Decreased Bone Mineralizaton: can lead to osteoporosis
Increased stiffness of connective tissue
Decreased water content in cartilage
Decreased muscle mass, increased fat
Last group of normal age-related changes (water, skin, nervous tissue and more)
Decreased nerve conduction
Decreased reaction time
Decreased glucouse tolerance and response to insulin
Decreased total body water
How does aging affect the skin?
Skin thins and flattens, becoming more susceptible to shearing forces, increasing the tendency to bruise
Lentigos (age spots) may appear from sun exposure
less sweat production may lead to dry skin
How does aging affect Vision?
Presbyopia (literally “old eyes”): inability to focus on objects cloes by
Cataracts: the lens becomes cloudy or opaque
Glaucoma: damage to the optic nerve from increased intra-ocular pressure
Macular Degenteration: small hemorrhages in or around the Macula of the eye
How does aging affect Hearing and Balance?
Presbycusis (old hearing): hearing loss of the inner ear, specifically the higher pitches- may lead to poor speach discrimination
Prebyastasis: balance problems and dizziness with no other pathology present -may lead to Fear of Falling (FOF)
How can aging affect Specific Mental Functioning?
Can make it difficult to focus on more than one task at a time, or pay attention to one thing for an extended period
may cause difficulties with Short Term and Working memory, as well as with newly learned information
Decrease reaction times and/or speed of performance with new or difficult tasks
Decreased visual tracking skills (oculomotor)
Problems with spatial awareness
Describe some of the Psychosocial characteristics of aging
“Cultural Age Deadlines” like Retirement
Marriage is most satisfactory later in life
Frequent Contact with children and their families
Strong base of social support provide protective health benefits: lowers risk of mortality, Cardiovascular disease, cancer, and functional decline
Widowhood: an extremely sensitive, complex emotional situation for everyone involved- be aware of potential disruptions in functional performance
Loss of function may limit or terminate independence
What pathologies can result from “normal” aging?
Higher blood pressure leads to hypertension, strokes, heart disease, heart attacks
Gluecose Intolerance can lead to Type II diabetes
Muslcle Atrophy: older adults loose muscle from distal to proximal
