SCD - Gerodontology Flashcards
What is the difference between chronological and biological age?
Chronological = count of number of years, months and days since birth
Biological = the age they appear
What happens to our cells as we age?
Aging affects the cells ability to multiply and divide and they start to accumulate lipids
What happens to our tissues as we age?
Tissues lose mass or their elasticity and begin to accumulate fatty substance
Lose ability to supply nutrients and remove waste products
What happens to our organs as we age?
Organs lose their reserve capacity and therefore struggle when under more demand from illnesses, medication and physical activity
What is Osteoporosis?
Who is most affected by this and why?
How is it managed and what is the risk of this?
Loss of bone mass which causes bones to become weak
Females as it is inversely linked to Oestrogen levels
Managed by oral bisphosphonates - risk of BRONJ lower than with IV
What is Osteoarthritis?
What are the symptoms?
How is it managed?
OA affects weight-baring joints resulting in degeneration of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone
Symptoms = pain and stiffness in joints
Managed = NSAIDs and physiotherapy - severe cases may need joint replacement
List 3 reasons why the skin wrinkles and sags as we age:
- Thinning of outer layer - Epidermis
- Reduction in pigmentation cells - Melanocytes
- Reduction in subcutaneous fat
List 3 age-related skin illnesses:
- Fissuring = painful irritation around skin folds
- Changes in sensation - tingling, numb
- Malignancy
What 3 hormones decrease with age and what do they do?
- Aldosterone which helps control BP
- Cortisol = stress hormone
- Sex hormones - testosterone and oestrogen
What is Arteriosclerosis?
An increase in BP associated with a decrease in aortal pressure
What is postural hypotension?
Low BP when standing or sitting
What is temporal arteritis?
When the arterial walls become thickened
What can Vitamin C deficiency lead to?
What is senile purpura?
Scurvy
A large irregular bruise usually on the forearms, hands and face
What is Megaloblastic anaemia?
Abnormal red blood cells usually related to vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency
How are the lungs affected by age?
(give 2 features)
- Lung capacity falls with age
- Bronchi have reduced ability to clear mucus - increased risk of lower lung infections
What is pneumonia?
An infection of the air sacks of the lungs
What happens to the kidney and bladder as we age?
Kidney function impaired as reduction in nephrons
Bladder muscles become weaker with age
Urethra blockages common
List 3 significant physiological changes in elderly patients:
- Decrease in hydrochloric acid in the stomach
- Reduction in cardiac output
- Reduction in hepatic and renal blood flow
What drugs do elderly patients have increased sensitivity to?
How are adverse drug reactions affected as we age?
Benzodiazepines
Adverse drug reactions increase 10 fold in the elderly
How is the dose of LA affected in elderly patients?
Elderly patients have a reduction in hepatic clearance so reduction in dose is required
How are the following affected in elderly patients:
- Fluoride
- Dentine and Pulp chamber
- Cementum
- Fluoride = concentration in enamel increase with age but teeth become brittle and darker with stains
- Dentine in pulp chamber continues to be laid down - often a narrowing of the pulp
- Cementum continues to grow throughout lifetime
What causes dentinal sclerosis in elderly patients?
Peritubular dentine formation
As we age, the epithelial cells in our oral mucosa become flatter and thinner - what does this make the mouth more susceptible to?
Risk factors of oral cancer i.e. smoking and alcohol
What 5 drug categories are associated with Xerostomia?
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Antihistamines
- Antihypertensives
- Cytotoxics
- Anti Parkinson’s drugs
