Introduction to Ageing and Disease

Question 1

Which age group is the fastest growing segment?

What is the Survival curve?

Why has the UK become an Ageing population?

What are examples of Chronic disabling diseases that come with age?

Answer 1

• 85+ yrs
• Graph showing population survival with age
• Decreased infant mortality, Improved standard of living, Sanitation, Public health, and Diet
• Stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, OA

Question 2

What’s the definition of Ageing?

What’s the definition of Frailty?

What is Physical Frailty?

Answer 2

• Non-focal (not localised), Symptom-free
  o Progressive, generalised impairment of function → Loss of adaptive stress response and increased risk of age-related disease
• A physiological syndrome characterised by decreased reserve and resistance to stressors due to decline across multiple physiological systems
• Combination of weight loss, fatigue, impaired grip strength, diminished physical activity, slow gait

Question 3

STREHLERS CONCEPT:
What’s it for?

What’s the 1st process involved? What does it mean? Give an example?

What’s the 2nd process involved? What does it mean? Give an example?

What’s the 3rd process involved? What does it mean? Give an example?

What’s the 4th process involved? What does it mean? Give an example?

Answer 3

• True ageing process
• Universal - Identifiable in entire population e.g. loss of calcium from bones
• Intrinsic - Restricted to changes of endogenous origin e.g. hair loss
• Progressive - Changes progressively over time e.g. loss of muscle power
• Deleterious - Eventually harmful to the individual e.g. loss of hearing/acuity