Aging Flashcards
What are ADL’s?
Activities of Daily Living
Bathing, Dressing, Feeding, Hygiene, Transferring, Toileting
What are iADL’s?
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Housework, Medications, Money, Shopping, Telephone and Technology, Transportation
What are some body composition changes associated with aging?
Brittle Bones Decreased lean muscle mass Increased abdominal fat Decreased subcutaneous fat Decreased total body water Decreased blood protein
What leads to frailty in older adults?
Impaired homeostatic mechanisms
Increased sympathetic nervous system tone –> Increased Cortisol –> impaired immune system
Decreased neuroendocrine function –> muscle and bone weakness
Brain is more sensitive to medications
What is “normal” cognitive decline associated with aging?
Speed of Retrieval - Motor speed and response times decrease
“Naming” decreases with aging
What is Dementia?
Significant deficits in two or more areas of cognition (memory, abstract thinking, judgment, language, visuospatial functioning)
Deficits have to be severe enough to effect normal day to day functioning
What are the common causes of dementia?
Secondary to Alzheimer’s Disease –> Vascular Dementia –> Lewy Body Dementia**
Largest risk factor is aging**
What is Alzheimer’s Dementia?
Steady decline in cognition over several years with deficits in language, naming, and memory most prominent. Can have VH
What is Lewy Body Dementia?
VHs, change in level of consciousness, falls, Parkinsonism
What is Vascular Dementia?
Vascular risk factors or evidence of ischemic changes on imaging. Can be multi-infarct dementia or small vessel vascular dementia “Binswangers disease”
What are some treatments for dementia?
Proper support system for patient
AChE inhibitors
Working closely with family
Preventing delirium
Treat psychiatric symptoms
What are some causes of the increased rate of falls associated with aging?
Neurological Problems
Cardiovascular causes
Medical illness
Environmental factors
Medications
What are medications that can contribute to falls?
Sedating meds: (benzos, narcotics, barbiturates, anti convulsants
Anticholinergics: Diphenhydramine, antihistamines, urinary incontinence meds
Polypharmacy
How does sleep change with aging?
Nocturnal sleep time decreases, while nocturnal wake time increases
Deep sleep is reduced, decreased REM
Increased sleep latency and fragmentation
Describe urinary incontinence in aging
Can be age related, genitourinary tract abnormalities
Coexisting illness
Can lead to infection