physical changes of ageing Flashcards
what is cardiovascular disease
many older people develop narrowing of the arteries and other blood vessels due to fats such as cholesterol being laud down on the walls of the blood vessels. the process of clogging up us called atherosclerosis. this can result in higher blood pressure and heart attacks
what is the degeneration of the nervous tissue
an individuals senses depend on the nervous system which is composed of nervous tissue. nervous tissue allows an individual to received stimuli and process information. some sensory experiences are positive
what is osteoarthritis
it is a degenerative diesease, a result of wear and tear of the joins and the ageing process. it is one of the commonest types of arthritis is the UK, with lower eight million people suffering from it. it can cause the joints to become painful and stiff, especially the hips, neck, lower back or feet
what is a cartilage
the soft tissue that protects the surfaces of the bone
degeneration of sense organs
sensory awareness gradually decreases, for example an individuals sense of balance can become impaired both hearing and vison may deteriorate, and the ability to taste and smell may diminish. these can all lead to a range of physical problems
changes generally begin at the age of 50 years of age
the reduced absorption of nutrients
energy requirements may change in older age particularly if physical activity is restricted or reduced. as energy requirement decrease, older people may been more protein rich foods in their diet, for example eggs, pulses, dairy foods and lean meat
it is also important that older peoples diets include foods containing vitamins and minerals. minerals such as zinc, calcium and sodium are found in dairy products, meat, eggs, fish, cereals, fruit and vegetables
dementia
dementia is more likely to occur in older people, according to the Alzheimer’s society, more than 5 percent of people over the age of 65 and as money as 20 percent of people over the age of 80 are affected by dementia. however the majority of people who live to extreme old age will never develop dementia
dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects someone’s ability to carry out daily tasks and activities. a person with dementia is likely to experience problems with understanding what is happening around them, communicating, reasoning, finding their way and remembering recent events
Alzheimer’s
this is the diesease is the most commonest form of dementia. the onset of alzheimers disease is usually slow, initially involving moving parts of the brain controlling thought, memory and language
how can social development be severely affected in ageing
the effects of illness on mobility can restrict a person social life as they may have difficulty getting out and meeting people. this will reduce their circle of friends causing further emotional stress. the decline of sense or neural capacity can also impact on friendships as they depend on communicating with others. individuals may not be able to see or hear properly making them struggle to go with friends
