Pathology Of Ageing

Question 1

Microscopic evidence of ageing

Answer 1

A cells ability to divide decreases as get older
Telomeres get shorter after each cell division - limiting the amount of division that can occur (hence ageing occurs)

Question 2

Pathology of Ageing

Answer 2

Sarcopaenia - muscle loss
Deafness - due to loss of hair cells in ear
Senile dementia - brain atrophy nerve cells cannot replicate
Cataracts - caused by UV light damage resulting in cross-linking proteins in the eye
Osteoporosis - due to lack of oestrogen and Vit D and calcium
Dermal elastosis - wrinkles caused by UV light damage

Question 3

Accumulating damage of ageing in cells

Answer 3

Cross-linking or mutations of DNA
Cross-linking of proteins
Loss of calcium influx controls
Damage to mitochondrial DNA
Loss of DNA repair mechanism
Peroxidation of membranes
Free radical generation
Time-dependant activation of ageing and death genes
Telomere shortening
Accumulation of toxic by-products of mechanism