What is old?

Question 1

other word for ageing

Answer 1

senescence

Question 2

influences of rate of ageing 3

Answer 2

nutrition
lifestyle
environment

Question 3

cause of ageing

Answer 3

multiple mechanisms –> subtle molecular and cellular faults (begins in uter) and multiple repair mechanisms

Question 4

what is the genetic contribution to ageing

Answer 4

the genetic setting of repair settings

Question 5

4 parts of theory of ageing

Answer 5

IPDU

• intrinsic
• progressive
• deleterious
• universal to the species

Question 6

factors that affect ageing at a cellular level

Answer 6

Degenerating Cells Make Stoners Old

• DNA (short telomeres, loss of gene function)
• Calorie intake (more –> more ageing)
• Mitochondria degeneration
• Sirtuins (enzymes, longevity pathways)
• Oxidative stress

Question 7

damage to DNA that contributes to ageing

Answer 7

• shortened telomeres

- loss of gene function

Question 8

explain wear and tear theory of ageing

Answer 8

chance environmental damage accumulates over time , inability to repair this damage
probably explains SOME of ageing

Question 9

explain mis-repair theory of ageing

Answer 9

cells repair serious repeated damage in order to survive to reproductive age
more errors with age –> tissue disorganisation

Question 10

explain oxidative stress

Answer 10

imbalance between reactive oxygen species ROS and cell’s ability to detoxify these to prevent damage
ROS disrupt normal signalling process

Question 11

what activates cellular stress proteins4

Answer 11

HUTT

• heat
• UV light
• trace metals
• toxins eg hsp60, 70,90

Question 12

which theory says ageing is the price to pay for survival

Answer 12

mis-repair theory

Question 13

effect on cells of free radicals

Answer 13

alter molecular structure and function –> cell dysfunction, cancer etc

Question 14

sources of free radicals

Answer 14

normal metabolism
air/ food
radiation

Question 15

what prevents free radical damage and how

Answer 15

anti-oxidants eg provitamin A, vit c,E
donate electrons to free radicals
(but no experiments with diet)

Question 16

how do sirtuins decrease ageing

Answer 16

regulation of SAT
stress
apoptosis
transcription

Question 17

what is a telomere and function

Answer 17

end part of chromosome, 2000 repeats of TTAGGG

non-coding DNA that stops ends of chromosomes sticking together

Question 18

explain molecular senescence/ molecular clock

Answer 18

partial loss of telomeres with each round of cell division

Question 19

telomerase function

Answer 19

cell immortality

Question 20

can telomeres increase in length

Answer 20

poss yes, with healthy lifestyle

Question 21

what % is lifespan genetically determined

Answer 21

25%

Question 22

2 ageing things influenced by genetics

Answer 22

• repair mechanisms

- basal metaboli rate

Question 23

relationship between basal metabolic rate and ageing

Answer 23

BMR slows with age –> increases longevity

Question 24

how does the immune change with ageing

Answer 24

decreases (mainly T cells)

BUT increased autoimmunity

Question 25

3 autoimmune disorders ass with ageing

Answer 25

• arthritis
• glomerular nephritis
• hypo/hyperthyroidism

Question 26

what is likely to cause age-related brain changes 6

Answer 26

6

• decreased connectivity/ neurotransmitter function
• reduced brain plasticity via biochemical changes
• neurone loss with proliferation of glia
• decrease brain mass (MRI studies
• increased senile plaques
• inc neurofibrillary tangles
• inc infarcts/ stroke

Question 27

after what age does mental decay rapidly increase

Answer 27

75yo

Question 28

what causes loss of smell in elderly

Answer 28

loss of olfactory cells in nasal epithelium

Question 29

what causes loss of taste in elderly

Answer 29

loss of gustatory receptor cells in taste buds

Question 30

what else may contribute to loss of smell/ taste

Answer 30

• viral infection
• medications
• radiotherapy

Question 31

how does this change in elderly:

a. metabolism
b. physical plasticity of tissues
c. organ functional reserve
d. vulnerability to stress/ infection

Answer 31

a. metabolism: decreases (less energy produced)
b. physical plasticity of tissues:declines, due to more collagen cross-links
c. organ functional reserve: decreases
d. vulnerability to stress/ infection: increases

Question 32

what gives signs of frailty, disability, disease

Answer 32

decreased functional reserve of organs

Question 33

% of over 65s without teeth

Answer 33

30-40%

Question 34

critical number of teeth for functional dentition

Answer 34

21

Question 35

compare life expectancy in british countries

Answer 35

england>wales > NI >scotland

Question 36

2 diseases ass with periodontal disease

Answer 36

diabetes (bidirectional relationship)

stroke (maybe)

Question 37

link between oral infection and chest infection

Answer 37

• plaque is resevoir of bacteria to enter lungs

- aspiration (common in nursing homes) caused by substances from mouth entering lungs

Question 38

function of cellular stress proteins

Answer 38

protein protection/ repair of important proteins damaged by ROS
Degradation of ROS/ proteins

Question 39

what activates cellular stress proteins 4

Answer 39

HUTT
Heat
Uv light
Trace metals
Toxins (hsp 60, 70,90

Question 40

define oxidative stress

Answer 40

imbalance between reactive oxygen species and the cells ability to detoxify these to prevent damage

Question 41

effect of oxidative stress

Answer 41

dirsrupts normal signalling processes