Old Age

Question 1

What are the types of changes that occur during ageing

Answer 1

Types of changes:
– Biological (anatomy and physiology of different body systems)
– Cognitive (information processing)
– Psychosocial (roles played within family and other social systems)
– Universal ageing features (e.g. menopause, slowing of reaction times, decrease in sensory acuity)
– Probabilistic ageing features (e.g. arthritis, dementia)

Question 2

What is the Social impact of ageing

Answer 2

-Changing place of older generations in the society (e.g. the grey vote)
– Economic impact (e.g. the dependency ratio)
– The challenge of achieving intergenerational solidarit

Question 3

Core findings of Harvard Study of Adult Development (find operational definition of positive ageing) Valliant, 2012

Answer 3

• Several factors which are measurable earlier in life predict
  successful (or otherwise) ageing
  What factors are important depends on the aspect of ageing we measure – E.g. smoking & physical exercise predict physical health and longevity better than subjective well-being.
• Risk factors of poor ageing and premature death tend to be
  comorbid (i.e. they co-occur)
  – E.g. alcohol abuse correlated with smoking – and both correlate with depression
  Different predictors are important at different stages of ageing
  (i.e. at age 80, as opposed to 50) – E.g. high cholesterol level at 50yo is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease at 50-65, but not at 80

Question 4

Can ageing be slowed or reversed

Answer 4

• Diet?
  – Calories restriction?
  – Ensuring essential micronutrients?
• Sleep duration and quality?
• Physical activity?
• Preventative medication

Question 5

What is dementia

Answer 5

Dementia: “global deterioration of intellectual functioning resulting from atrophy of the central nervous system” (Stuart-Hamilton, 2006)
– A symptom, not a disease!
incidence of dementia: 1% at the age of 60, Then it doubles every 5 years
– This doubling seems to stop in late 90-ies – the very old tend to be fairly healthy

Question 6

Most common causes of dementia

Answer 6

– Alzheimer’s disease
– Vascular dementia (aka multi-infarct dementia). Alzheimer’s disease and multiple small infarcts can be asymptomatic!
- Resilience to dementia: the concept of functional reserve
– neuronal and cognitive