Physiological changes Flashcards
changes in nervous system
- Neuron loss occurs
- Brain weight decreased by 10% in men and 5% in women
- Ventricular volume increases
- Brain metabolic rate and blood flow
- minimal reduction
- Short memory corruption occurs
- Reaction time is prolonged
- Posture, deep sense, and impaired walking
- Loss of conduction velocity in sensory and motor nerves within the central and peripheral nervous systems
- Loss of myelin sheaths and the large myelinated fibers with advancing age have also been reported
Impairments Within The Central Nervous
System
- Tone, reflexes and abnormal state of the motor neuron pool
(hypotonicity, hypertonicity, rigidity, tremor). - Synergies, either volitional or reflexive (pattern of motor program, flexibility over programming).
- Sensory integration and organization (somatosensory, visual and vestibular).
- Balance and postural control
- Speed of movement
- Timing
- reciprocal movement
- trajectory or pattern of movement
- Accuracy
- Emotional influences
- Perception
- cognition level
sensory changes
Vision
Visual acuity
hearing [decreased flexibility of the membrane]
impairments outside CNS
Range of motion
Muscle performance
Endurance
Cardiac function
Circulatory function
Respiratory function
Other organ system interaction
Hormonal and nutritional factors
Psychosocial factors
Skin changes
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue decreases
- Skin elasticity reduced
- Sweat gland function decreases
- Decrease in bristles and whitening are observed
Functional changes in aging skin
Skin wrinkling
thickening of nails
loss of hair
Reasons for dry skin
- Not drinking enough liquids
- Being in very dry air
- Smoking
- Feeling stress
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
Age spot
flat dark areas on the skin
Treatments include
Laser and intense pulse light
freezing [cryotherapy]
Signs of melanoma
- Is black
- Is increasing in size
- Has an irregular border
- Has an unusual combination of colors
- Is bleeding
ABCDEs of melanoma
Asymmetry
Border [looks ragged or blurred]
Color [uneven coloring]
Diameter [larger than 25inches
Evolving
Metabolic and Endocrine Changes
- Glucose tolerance is impaired
- Insulin resistance increases
- Body mass decreases, fat content increases in muscles
- Sex hormones decrease. The transition to menopause and andropause begins
behavioral effects of endocrine disorders
Delirium
Dementia
Depression
Anxiety
Changes in GI system
- Decay and tooth loss in the teeth
- Taste and smell receptors weaken
- Decreases the release of saliva and digestive enzymes
- Reduced motor tone and function of muscles
- Reduced digestive and absorption capacity
- Liver blood flow decreases
- The answers of the pancreas slow down
Drooling
saliva leaking otside thw mouth instead of swalowing
swallowing therapy
eating some foods orally
exercise eg chin up, chin down etc