Chapter 16: aging Flashcards
What is aging?
Aging is the process of becoming older, influenced by genetics and environment.
How can optimizing wellness during young adulthood affect aging?
Optimizing wellness during young adulthood allows greater control over the physical and mental aspects of aging.
Define life expectancy.
Life expectancy is the average length of time a person is expected to live.
What is the life expectancy for Canadian men?
The life expectancy for Canadian men is approximately 80 years.
What is the life expectancy for Canadian women?
The life expectancy for Canadian women is approximately 84 years.
By how much is the older adult population in Canada expected to grow in 20 years?
68%
What is lifespan?
Lifespan is the theoretically projected length of life based on the maximum potential of the human body in an optimal environment.
What factors contribute to determining an individual’s lifespan?
Several factors contribute to determining lifespan, including genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, access to healthcare, and advancements in medical technology.
Does lifespan guarantee a high quality of life throughout its duration?
No, lifespan focuses on the duration of life rather than ensuring a high quality of life, and it doesn’t guarantee overall well-being.
What is health span?
Health span is the period of life when a person is generally healthy and free from chronic or serious disease.
What factors influence health span?
Lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, stress management, and preventive healthcare measures, along with genetics, play a crucial role in determining health span.
How does health span differ from lifespan in terms of focus?
Health span is more concerned with the individual’s well-being and functionality, emphasizing the importance of maintaining good health and preventing chronic illnesses for a higher quality of life.
What is the relationship between lifespan and health span?
There is an overlap between lifespan and health span, with the goal being to extend both. A longer lifespan is more meaningful when accompanied by an extended period of good health.
What percentage of healthcare services in Canada was spent on adults aged 65 and above in 2021?
45% (or $139 billion) of healthcare services in Canada was spent on adults aged 65 and above.
What is the estimated percentage of Canada’s population aged 65 and above by the year 2051?
It is estimated that 25% of Canada’s population (~12 million people) will be aged 65 and above by the year 2051.
What do gerontologists study?
Gerontologists study the biological, psychological, and social phenomena associated with aging and old age.
What is the role of geriatricians?
Geriatricians are physicians specializing in the diseases, disabilities, and care of older adults.
How do physical and mental changes occur as we age?
Physical and mental changes occur gradually over time, much like how a plant grows a little each day.
Why is preparation important for successful aging?
To age well and be happy and healthy, it’s important to plan and take steps ahead of time, similar to preparing for a journey by making choices for a healthier life.
What is the importance of establishing good health habits in teens and twenties for aging?
The habits developed in teens and twenties can have a significant impact on health later in life, laying the foundation for a healthier and more active life as we age.
What lifestyle behaviors can lead to aging?
Smoking, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, and chronic stress are lifestyle behaviors that can lead to aging.
How can everyday actions contribute to age-proofing and improve wellness?
Everyday actions, like eating well, exercising, managing stress, and staying mentally active, contribute to age-proofing and overall well-being.
What is the connection between mental activity and dementia risk?
Older adults who stay mentally active have a lower risk of developing dementia, which is a decline in memory, cognitive function, and daily activities.
How can exercise be beneficial in warding off disease and promoting healthy aging?
Regular exercise is essential for healthy aging, as it enhances both psychological and physical health, helping to prevent the consequences of aging and maintaining overall well-being.
What are some recommendations for a healthy diet and aging?
Eat a varied diet full of nutrient-rich foods, include Vitamin D and calcium for strong bones, and emphasize protein consumption while limiting sodium intake.
Why is maintaining a healthy weight important for aging individuals?
Weight management is crucial for aging individuals, as obesity rates are high, and it helps in avoiding problems associated with aging.
How can alcohol consumption affect aging individuals?
Alcohol abuse can lead to health problems in aging individuals, including misdiagnosis of Alzheimer’s and dementia, emphasizing the importance of moderate drinking.
What are some lifestyle practices for dealing with stress and promoting healthy aging?
Recognizing and reducing stress, inducing stress appropriately, and maintaining consistent healthy behaviors contribute to long and well-lived lives.
How can individuals adapt to social changes in retirement?
Adapting to social changes involves understanding changing roles, building diverse interests, and planning for the economic aspects of retirement.
What physical changes are commonly associated with aging?
Aging individuals may experience hearing loss (presbycusis), vision changes (e.g., cataracts, age-related macular degeneration), and conditions like arthritis, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis.
What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis?
Risk factors for osteoarthritis include age, weight, previous injuries, genetics, and lack of activity, while osteoporosis leads to brittle bones over time with similar risk factors as arthritis.
What is are the three operational points that define sarcopenia?
1) Low muscle strength
2) Low muscle quantity or quality
3) Low physical performance
What is sarcopenia?
Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and strength that naturally occurs as you age.
How does sarcopenia affect the functionality of muscles?
Sarcopenia results in muscles becoming smaller and weaker, impacting how well you can move and perform daily activities.
Why is staying active crucial to combat sarcopenia?
Staying active is crucial to combat sarcopenia because exercises involving resistance, such as weight training, can help maintain muscle mass and strength.
How is the functionality of muscles connected to fitness?
helps fight off diseases associated with aging, like arthritis and weakness.
What factors influence sarcopenia, aside from natural aging?
Sarcopenia is influenced by nutrition, hormonal changes, and how the body processes energy.
How is sarcopenia characterized in terms of its impact on independence?
Sarcopenia makes muscles weaker, which can make it harder to perform everyday tasks independently.
Why does muscle mass decrease as we age?
As we get older, we eat less and exercise less – not contributing to anabolic response that keeps muscle mass up.
What contributes to age-associated muscle atrophy?
both individual fiber atrophy, which may be preventable and reversible through exercise, and the loss of muscle fibers, which appears irreversible.
How is muscle atrophy associated with aging?
Muscle atrophy as we age is linked to the loss and atrophy of muscle fibers.
What are the consequences of the loss of muscle fibers with aging?
The loss of muscle fibers with aging increases the risk of slips and falls, weakens muscles, and reduces overall muscle force due to fewer motor units.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a reduction in bone mass and deterioration of bone microstructure, leading to fragile bones and an increased risk of fractures, particularly in older adults.
How is menopause linked to osteoporosis?
Changes in estrogen levels during menopause are closely linked to the development of osteoporosis.
What are osteoclasts and osteoblasts in bone, and how do they contribute to bone health?
Osteoclasts break down bone, and osteoblasts build it back up. The balance between these two cell types is crucial for maintaining healthy bones.
How does osteoporosis affect bone fragility?
Osteoporosis occurs when bones break down faster than they can rebuild, leading to fragile bones that are more prone to fractures.
How does bone density change with age, leading to osteoporosis?
Bones are most dense in young adulthood, but as people age, they start breaking down more, reaching a point known as osteoporosis.
What is the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis?
Osteopenia is a less severe version of osteoporosis, where bone density is lower but not as critically reduced.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed based on bone mineral density (BMD)?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines osteoporosis based on BMD, specifically when it is 2.5 standard deviations below the average for young adults. Testing BMD involves X-rays and densitometry.
What are some problems associated with BMD testing?
specificity to certain populations, overlap in BMD levels between those with and without fractures, and the fact that it only looks at one aspect of bone (quantity).
What does trabecular architecture reveal about osteoporosis?
Trabecular architecture, showing lower density in osteoporotic individuals, indicates a higher susceptibility to falls, especially significant as this bone is mainly around the ends of long bones, making hip and wrist fractures common.
What is postmenopausal (Type 1) bone loss, and who does it mostly affect?
Postmenopausal (Type 1) bone loss is most common in women and is directly connected to changes in estrogen levels that occur after menopause. It develops between the ages of 50 and 70 when the protective effects of estrogen are no longer present in the body.
What is age-related (Type 2) bone loss, and when does it typically occur?
Age-related (Type 2) bone loss, known as senile osteoporosis, occurs later in life, typically in the 70s. It is more common in men and involves a slower and more gradual wearing down of the bones, not specific to gender.
What are the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 bone loss?
Type 1 (Postmenopausal):
- Mostly affects women due to changes in estrogen.
- Rapid onset, especially after menopause.
- Often impacts the spine and wrist.
Type 2 (Senile Osteoporosis):
- Affects both genders but more common in men.
- Develops more slowly, typically in the 70s.
- Affects multiple sites, especially the hip.
What factors contribute to peak bone mass and loss in a multifactorial etiology?
Genetics and ethnicity
Lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking, and drug use
Diet and nutrition
Mechanical usage through physical activity
What are steps to stay on your feet and prevent falls?
- Be active: Engage in weight-bearing exercises like walking and running.
Manage your medicines: Avoid substance abuse. - Manage your health: Focus on diet, exercise, and regular check-ups.
- Improve your balance: Strengthen your balance.
- Walk tall: Maintain good posture.
- Foot care and safe footwear: Pay attention to foot health and wear appropriate footwear.
- Eat well for life: Take control of your nutrition.
- Regularly check eyesight: Ensure good vision.
- Identify, remove, and report hazards: Be aware of potential dangers in your environment.
- Secure rugs: Ensure rugs are safely secured.
- Light up the night: Adequately light your surroundings.
- Plan: Take your time, avoid rushing.
