Demographics, Health Literacy, Pharmacology & Physiology of Aging

Question 1

What ages are young-old?

Answer 1

60-75

Question 2

What ages are old-old?

Answer 2

> 85

Question 3

What ages are old?

Answer 3

75-85

Question 4

What age group is growing the fastest?

Answer 4

Old-old due to increasing life expectancies

Question 5

T or F: Older men are the most likely to continue to work longer

Answer 5

False, it is typically older women although everyone is working to an older age

Question 6

What % of older adults are managing 2 or more chronic conditions?

Answer 6

63%

Question 7

Which conditions affect older adults more than the rest of the population?

Answer 7

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Infectious diseases (flu, pneumonia, COVID-19, etc)

Question 8

List the top 5 conditions affecting older adults

Answer 8

1. Hypertension
2. Hyperlipidemia
3. Arthritis (OA)
4. Heart Disease (CHF, CAD, cardiomyopathies, etc)
5. Diabetes (Type II)

Question 9

What are the top behaviours in older adults leading to chronic conditions?

Answer 9

• current/former tobacco use
• poor nutrition
• lack of physical activity

Question 10

Trends in aging:
- Education level
- life expectancy
- gender gap
- poverty

Answer 10

• education level is increasing
• life expectancy up to 79 yo in 2018
• decreasing gender gap
• poverty rate is decreasing

Question 11

What % of aging is based on genetics?
What is the rest based on?

Answer 11

50% is genetics & 50% if lifestyle (immobility, obesity, smoking, ETOH intake, poor diet, etc)

Question 12

Aging & Homeostasis?

Answer 12

We want to increase our range of homeostasis and decrease our inability to adapt to chages

Question 13

What occurs w/skeletal tissue in aging?

Answer 13

• bone mineral density decreases –> concern for osteoporosis

Question 14

What occurs w/body composition in aging?

Answer 14

Lean mass decreases and fat mass increases (mainly in the peritoneum) causing increased risk for heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cancer

Question 15

What occurs w/collagenous tissue in aging?

Answer 15

• Increase in collagen crosslinks = increased stiffness
• Loss of elasticity
• water decreases = cartilage susceptible to breakdown = dec. ability to absorb shock

Question 16

What occurs w/cardiovascular tissue in aging?

Answer 16

• decreased max HR, VO2 max, contractility of heart
• stiffer vascular tissues = higher BP & lower CO

Question 17

What occurs w/nervous tissue in aging?

Answer 17

• slower PNS (loss of myelin)
• Loss of motor units
• slower mvmt & rxn speeds
• autonomic nervous system imbalance –> slower gastric mobility, bladder control issues, poor thermal regulation
• loss of sensory neurons

Question 18

What occurs w/immune system in aging?

Answer 18

• increase in systematic inflammation can lead to: mm wasting, obesity, loss of function & development of other diseases
• inc. in pro-inflammatory cytokines

Question 19

What happens to our hormonal axis aging?

Answer 19

• loss of hormone production & sex hormones leads to dec. mm mass