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39 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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The Telomerase Theory of Aging... |
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- Sequences of nucleic acids that extend from the ends of chromosomes
- Telomeres Shorten every time a cell divides – can cause cell damage and eventual death
- Foundin germ and cancer cells |
Telomeres |
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- Enzymethat repairs and replaces telomeres |
Telomerase |
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True or False: Many of the changes associated with aging can be halted or slowed by activity, nutritious eating, hydration, positive attitude, and stress reduction |
TRUE |
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True or False:
Changes that occur with normal and healthy aging are progressive and cumulative, and arenot necessarilythe same as changes that occur because of disease and pathology
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TRUE |
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True or False:
The body's ability to maintain homeostasis diminishes with age |
TRUE. This change has a large effect on responding to and recovering from stress such as an illness |
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What types of cells are not capable of reproductive division? |
Post-mitotic (Muscle and nerve cells) |
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What types of cells are capable of reproductive division? |
Mitotic
(Skin and blood cells) |
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Immune cells are also known as: |
T cells; these decrease with age, affecting one's ability to fight stress/infection/any change in the norm |
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True or False: Older patients dehydrate more quickly |
True... Extracellular water remains constant and Intracellular water amounts decreases |
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Connective tissue changes: |
-Structuresthat contain collagen and elastin become more stiff and dense -Cell walls become more thick and less porous -Elastin levels are reduced -Glycoproteins production reduces with decreasednutrition and hydration of tissues |
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Cartilage Changes: |
-in general,with age, cartilage thins out in weight bearing areas and occurs more quickly when poor nutrition and hydration are present
-Increased stiffness and rigidity makes energy expenditure more – tryingto overcome/work through the stiffness
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Hyaline Cartilage: |
•Lubrication is provided by hyaluronic acid
•have to have a balance between activity and rest because nutrients enter the hyaline cartilage at rest and then get squeezed out with weight bearing |
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General changes throughout the body: |
–Skin is less elastic –Lungs are less elastic –Arteries become harder/rigid –Heart is less distensible and cannot fill and expel as well –Joints become stiff and reduced height from loss of articular cartilage –Intervertebral discs lose height |
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Sarcopenia |
–describes the age-related changes that occur within skeletal muscle -Decrease in skeletal muscle mass and strength |
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All of the following decrease with age: |
–muscle endurance –Muscle strength –Flexibility –speed of contraction –Size of muscle |
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Why does bone loss occur more late in life? |
-Osteoclastic activity is greater later in life |
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Why do we need vitamin D? |
–Vitamin D is necessary to allow bones to absorb ingested calcium |
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What are some neuromuscular changes that occur with age? |
•Nerve conduction velocity decreases
•Reflexes decrease
•Reaction time decreases
•Postural sway increases leading to increased risk of falling |
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What anatomical changes occur in the heart with age? |
•Heart muscle becomes more stiff and may increase in size –Can decrease the amount of blood the heart chamber can hold because thewalls of the heart are thicker –Majority of changes in thickness are seen in the endocardium (innermost layer of tissue) |
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What causes dysrhythmias? |
Pathways that conduct the electrical signals of the heart develop fat deposits
Common with older patients because there are increased fatty deposits around the vessels
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What occurs with BP? |
–Resting BP, both diastolic and systolic, increase –Systolic BP is most effected |
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Why does this happen? |
»Vessel walls become thick and fibrotic, have less elastin •Thickening of capillaries •Calcification of arteries •Increased deposits within the vessel •Seen more so in distal vessels •Think about PVD! »Increased peripheral vascular resistance – takes more to push bloodthrough |
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Why is it important to provide a warm up and cool down for older patients? |
Decreased elasticity leads to increase in BP because it takes more time to normalize vital signs during cool down, to increase circulation, and because it takes more energy to work due to insufficiency ofother systems. |
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Can regular exercise improve cardiovascular changes? |
Yes |
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Blood vessel changes with age: |
•Bloodvessels/arteries become stiffer •Less responsive to hormones that relax them •result in increased systolic blood pressure •Thickening of the supporting membranes including capillaries •Elongation of the arteries which twist and calcify •Excess deposit of starch-like material •Changes occur proximal to distal •Distal vessels undergo most changes |
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What is one of the best predictors of mortality with the geriatric population? |
Respiratory function ((Pulmonary system)) |
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Why is this? |
•Lungs become more stiff (not as elastic to take in and expel oxygen) •Respiratory muscle strength and endurance decrease •Chest wall is more rigid – increased calcification of the ribs •Membranes between the alveoli and capillaries thicken •Decreased surface area of alveoli – less availability for oxygen uptake •Cilia – clear irritants and obstructions to protect against infection–Number of cilia decrease with age – produce more mucus–Increases susceptibility for respiratory infections •Increasedcurvature of the spine decreases cavity/space for lungs to function |
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What is vital capacity? Does it increase or decrease with age? |
The amount of air you can force out with one breath. Decreases with age. |
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Does cognition/intelligence remain the same with age? |
Yes, in the absence of pathology. --Brain mass decreases with most of the loss being of gray matter, with other losses noted in the cortex and cerebellum. |
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Which is affected most by aging, long term or short term memory? |
Short term memory -Reasoning and abstract thinking are also affected greatly. |
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What physiological changes occur in the skin? |
Thinning of the dermis and epidermis.
»Decreased vascularity »Skinis more fragile and bruises easily »More difficult to protect body from temperature extremes |
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What changes occur with vision? |
–Visual acuity decreases »presbyopia - loss of ability to focus –nearvision affected more than far - |
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What contributes to vertigo in the geriatric population? |
–Degeneration of the otoliths and semicircular canals –Combine vestibular system changes with muscle system and visual changesand balance reactions change significantly |
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What hormone is responsible for regulating fluid and electrolyte balance? |
Aldosterone *Decreases with age* |
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What can contribute to constipation? |
-Reduced motility of the intestines and colon due to reduced blood supply to the digestive organs (This also affects the absorption of nutrients and calcium by the small intestines) |
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Why do kidneys become less efficient at eliminating waste? |
Kidneys lose mass and number of nephrons (filtering units) decreases |
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What changes occur to the bladder? |
•Decreased capacity •Increased urgency and decreased emptying which leaves some urine in thebladder •Nocturia – increased frequency of urinationat night •Increased incidence of UTIs–UTIs and acute mental compromise |
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What happens to the immune system with age? |
–Decreased ability to produce antibodies therefore it is easier to contract infection causing a greater mortality rate from infections |
