Study Document
Actual Mechanisms Behind the Changes Associated With Aging Research Proposal
Pages:3 (1178 words)
Sources:4
Subject:Health
Topic:Endocrine System
Document Type:Research Proposal
Document:#77671652
Physiological Changes Associated With Aging
Aging is the complex and inevitable process of tissue and organ system degeneration. Though largely influenced by genetics, aging is also dependent upon a number of environmental factors including exercise, diet, childhood personality, and exposure to ionizing radiation, pollutants, or microorganisms. The physiological changes that occur as an individual's age advances can be grouped into three, with the first category encompassing changes in such homeostatic mechanisms as extracellular fluid volumes, blood, and temperature; the second encompassing changes related to decreasing organ mass; and the third, changes in the body's functional reserve systems. Promoting the health of an aging population is crucial not only because it ensures the well-being of ageing individuals, but also because it significantly reduces the burden imposed upon a country's medical system. It is with this in mind that this text collates knowledge and research to examine, in a deeper sense, the physiological changes associated with aging.
Summary
Bherer, Erickson and Liu-Ambrose (2013); Saber, 2013
Bherer et al. (2013) express that the physiological changes associated with aging are more pronounced among individuals aged above 85, although this basically depends upon one's lifestyle and genetic factors. Saber (2013) posits that these changes may affect an individual's response to illness and functional reserve stressors. Both articles outline a variety of physiological changes associated with aging. These, together with their etiologies, implications, and assessment parameters have, for purposes of simplicity, been put together, organized, and summarized in the tabular representation below.
Associated Changes
Etiology
Implications
Cardiovascular changes
-stiffening and thickening of arterial walls, reduced compliance
-mitral and atrial valve sclerosis brought about by atrial and left ventricular hypertrophy
-cool extremities brought about by decreasing peripheral and increasing arterial pulses
-Low cardiac reserve;
a) No change in cardiac output or heart rate when individual is at rest
b) Diminished cardiac output, giving rise to slow tachycardia recovery, shortness of breath and fatigue when individual is under stress
-Inflamed varicosities, increasing the risk of hypertension, or diuretic-induced hypotension
Pulmonary system
-Stiff chest wall and diminished muscle strength
-reduced cough reflex, macrophage and ciliary activity
-reduced hypercapnia and hypoxia responses
-Low pulmonary reserve;
a) No change at rest
b) Diminished exercise tolerance, and dyspnea, while under stress
-decreased clearance of foreign matter through mucus and cough
-diminishing respiratory excursion, at times as low as 12-24 breaths per minute
Genitourinary and renal systems
GFR (renal function) determination / calculation of the rate at which creatinine clears)
-Diminishing drug clearance, kidney mass, and reduced blood flow
- Decreased muscle tone and bladder elasticity
-Increased nocturnal urine production
-enlargement of the prostrate in males, with a high BPH risk
-Low renal function reserve
-adverse reaction to drugs
-urine incontinence
Gastrointestinal and oropharyngeal systems
The mass index of a relatively healthy body essentially falls between 18.5 and 24.9kg/m2; 25-29.9 represents overweight, and 30 plus represents obesity
-decreased drug metabolism due to diminishing hepatic activity
-Impaired defecation sensation
-Protective mucosa atrophy
-Delayed emptying of the stomach
-chewing impairment, leading to electrolyte imbalance and eventually, poor nutrition
-high risk of acid-induced ulcers and GERD maldigestion due to altered absorption of drugs
-Fecal incontinence
Musculoskeletal system
Reduction in muscle strength and mass
-diminished exercise tolerance
-Fat redistribution, resulting in lean body mass
-Bone fractures
-height reduction, erosion of articular cartilage, and reduced tendon strength
-unstable gait, increasing the risk of disability
-high osteoporosis and osteopenia risks
-osteoarthritis risk
Cognition and nervous system
-reduction in transmitters and neurons
-cerebral dendrites modification
-impaired thermoregulation
- neurodegenerative diseases and sleep disorders
-slow cognitive processing speed
-absent or…
Sample Source(s) Used
References
Bherer, L., Erickson, K.I. & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2013). A Review of the Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise on Cognitive and Brain Functions in Older Adults. Journal of Aging Research, vol. 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014 from [HIDDEN]
Glassock, R.J. (2009). The GFR Decline with Aging: A Sign of Normal Senescence, Not Disease. Nephrology Times, 2(9), 6-8.
Heckman, G., Gray, L.C. & Hirdes, J. (2013). Addressing Healthcare Needs for Frail Seniors in Canada: the Role of InterRAI Instruments. Canadian Geriatrics Society Journal of CME, 3(3), 8-16.
Saber, A. (2013). Perioperative Care of Elderly Surgical Patients. American Medical Journal, 4(1), 63-77.
Related Documents
Study Document
Menopause Midlife Change Menopause and
self-absorption. This becomes a time of self-reflection and if all bodes well a time of increased creativity (Erickson & Erickson, 1997). However, should there be increasing family or financial stress, if there has been problems with their husband or children or they find themselves with looming bankruptcies, the likelihood of depression increases tremendously (Robinson, et.al., 2001) and the maladaptations of overextension and rejectivity (Erickson & Erickson, 1997) can lead
Study Document
Metabolic Syndrome in the United
Metabolic syndrome is significant for our patient for several reasons. As we have noted, the syndrome is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Those patients who have metabolic syndrome tend to develop coronary atherosclerosis at a higher rate than those who have coronary risk factors alone. Obesity increases the risk of metabolic syndrome but so does pre-obesity, or BMI ranging from 25-30. Women who have been diagnosed with
Study Document
Neuroeconomics What Is Neuroeconomics Provide Two Examples
Neuroeconomics What is Neuroeconomics? Provide two examples that standard economics failed to explain but the Neuroeconomics can. The term is a combination of two sciences that, until recently, were thought to not connected. Neuroscience looks at what areas of the brain are stimulated by different activities, and tries to determine connections and see differences where anecdotal evidence would imagine similarities. Economics looks at the behavior of people where money is concerned and
Study Document
Attracting Customers to Purchase Apple
Due to the forces of globalization and modernization, the role of culture within the purchase decision is becoming less and less intense, but the role of the society is increasing. At this level, the decision to purchase is greatly influenced by the reference group, or the organization or team with which the individual identifies or to which he wishes to belong. In order to gain the acceptance of the respective
Study Document
Grief and Loss Although Often
Yet, Kubler-Ross is not without critics, as many contend that there exists no real evidence that stages are present in coping with death (Stages pp). According to Robert Kastenbaum, using the term "stages" implies that there is a set order of set conditions, and asserts that there is no evidence that dying people go through the exact Kubler-Ross stages in their proper order (Stages pp). He believes that any patient
Study Document
Neuroscience and Adult Development
Neuroscience and Human Development One of the most noticeable aspects of human beings involves the changes in shape, size, form, and function of the individual from a newly formed fetus to a fully grown adult. As the single most successful organism on Earth, human beings have developed, through millions of years of evolutionary adaptations, integrated yet malleable systems involving biological, physiological, emotional and intellectual components. This paper will review some of