c1 - the physical changes of ageing Flashcards
1
Q
degeneration of nervous tissue
A
- senses depend on nervous tissue which allows an individual to receive stimuli and process information
- as the ageing process happens, brain function declines
- blood flow to the brain decreases as well, which may result in the loss of brain cells and could impair mental function and increase the risk of dementia
- having very high blood pressure or cholesterol can speed up the age-related decline in the brain function, but exercise may slow this down
- nervous tissue degeneration also occurs because impulses become slower and age-related fiction changes become more noticeable when the nerves are injured
- the self-repairing process in cells slows down which makes older people more vulnerable to injury and illness
2
Q
degeneration of the sense organs - sight
A
- at around 45 years old, the eye’s ability to focus weakens, by 65 there may be little focusing strength left which make small print difficult to read
- cataracts result from changes to the lens of the eye, lenses can become hard and cloudy which can blur vision , may start forming from 50-60 but may take time to develop and cause symptoms
- glaucoma is an increase of fluid pressure in the eye and can affect eyesight in later life with symptoms such as hazy or blurry vision or eye pain and a sudden loss of vision
3
Q
degneration of the sense organs - hearing
A
- older people may experience an increase in wax in the outer ear which can block sound transmission to the sensory nerves
- difficulty in hearing higher frequencies increases as the sensitivity of nerve cells decreases
- may experience partial or complete hearing loss
- can lead to social withdrawal or isolation, fewer job opportunities
4
Q
degeneration of the sense organs - smell
A
- higher risk of consuming gone off food, injury from not being able to smell burning or smoke etc.
- less mucus production, loss of nerve endings
5
Q
degeneration of the sense organs - taste
A
- number of taste buds decreases as we age
- may not be eating as much of a balanced diet due to not being able to properly taste or enjoy food
6
Q
degeneration of the sense organs - touch
A
- inability to feel pain properly, individuals may not know how serious their pain is or if it even is there
- can lead to future problems if not appropriately treated
- lack of physical interaction which can affect mental health
7
Q
cardiovascular disease
A
- risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age
- many older people develop narrowing of arteries and other blood vessels due to fats such as cholesterol being laid down in vessel walls (atherosclerosis)
- this can result in higher blood pressure and heart attacks
8
Q
dementia
A
- more common in older people, 5% of people over 65 and 20% of people over 80 are affected
- majority of people who live to extreme old age will never develop dementia
- brain disorder, affects individual’s ability to carry out daily tasks and activities
- will likely experience problems with understanding what is happening around them, and with communicating, reasoning, finding their way and remembering events
- two types - alzheimers disease and vascular dementia
9
Q
alzheimers disease
A
- most common form of dementia
- onset is usually slow, initially involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language
- will have trouble with stm and recalling names of people they know
- usually begins after age of 60, risk of developing it rises as person gets older
10
Q
effects of illness that are common in ageing
A
- each condition brings own symptoms, effects can have wider impact on individual
- having a chronic disease in addition to other effects of ageing can lead to stress, depression and isolation
- social life can also be restricted due to losing mobility, which can cause further emotional stress
- degeneration of senses also impacts this as it can cause issues with communication
