Age related changes in Older Adults
Cardiovascular system
Less efficient myocardial muscle
Heart valves get more thick and rigid
Reduced cardiac output
Aorta becomes dilated :
Endocrine
Thyroid gland atrophies
Diminished adrenal function
ACTH secretion decreases
Insufficient release of insulin
Sleep
Altered Circadian sleep-wake cycles
Phase advance common
Female reproductive system
Uterus and ovaries decrease in size
Fallopian tubes become shorter and straighter
Vaginal canal changes
Male reproductive system
Decreased capacity to retain fluids
Atrophy of the testes and reduction in testicular mass
Less live sperm in ejaculation fluid
Takes more time to achieve an erection
GI
Decreases taste sensation
Saliva production decreases
Esophageal and stomach motility decreases
Decreased elasticity of the stomach
Higher pH in stomach
Nutrition
Reduced need for calories
- Less lean body mass
- Basal metabolic rate declines
- decreased in activity level
- slight ventricular hypertrophy
- thickening of ventricle walls
- Decreased contractile strength
- Prolonged cardiac cycle
- Can't meet demands of activity
- Calcification
- Elasticity reduced
Internal clock that regulates sleep and wake
- Example lets your body know when it's time to sleep
Bedtime and wake time moves earlier than normal
Andropause
- Decline in testosterone levels
- Reduced muscle mass
- Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Unable to attain or maintain an erection
Hormonal changes
- Vulva atrophies
- Flattened labia
- Loss of subcutaneous fat
- Loss of hair
- Reduced collagen and adipose tissue
- Narrowing of canal
- Less lubrication
Atrophy of tongue
- Affects taste buds
- Decreases taste sensation
- Can decrease hunger
Makes swallowing difficult
- Risk for aspiration
- Risk for indigestion
- Makes eating harder
Renal
Size and Weight of kidney decreases
Hypertrophy and thickening of bladder
- Decreases ability to expand bladder
- Storage capacity reduced
- Emptying is more difficult
Glomerular filtration rate decreases
Decreased renal blood flow
and decreased numbers of functioning glomeruli
- Affects ability to eliminate drugs
- Slowed organ function
Decreased tubular function
Concentration of urine changes
Connection: Renal and Sleep
Nocturia: urinating during the night time which interrupts sleep and can cause falls from darkness
Skin
Musculoskeletal
Nervous system
Respiratory
Lines and wrinkles
Increased fragility
Higher risk for tears, bruising, and pressure ulcers
Visible signs of aging process
Affect body image, reactions from others, socialization
Loss of nerve cell mass
- Atrophy of brain
- Atrophy of spinal cord
- Decreased brain weight
Decline of number of nerve cells
- Slow nerve conduction
- Reaction time slower
- Reflexes become weaker
Reduced secretions
- Mucus in nasopharynx to be thicker
- Chronic tickle in throat
- Cough
Trachea stiffens
- Cough reflexes reduces
- Ability to cough less
- Weakened gag reflex
Lungs (smaller)
- Respiration and ventilation weaker
- Decreased elastic recoil
- Alveloi are less elastic
Connection: Respiratory and Skeletal
Loss of skeletal muscle strength in thorax and diaphrgam can contribute to kyphosis and barrell chest seen in older adults
Reduced vital capacity
Muscle fibers atrophy
- Decrease in number
- Fibrous tissue replaces muscle
Tendons shrink and harden
Decrease in tendon jerks
- Less reactivity
Bone minerals and mass reduced
- Brittleness in bones
- Cause more serious fractures
- Harder recovery for older adults