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Older Adult Concept Map - Coggle Diagram

- - - - TIAs are commonly seen in patients over 65, though there are no direct causes from changes of aging neurologically. It is often due to high blood pressure, physical inactivity, diabetes, heart disease, and other comorbidities that are commonly seen in older adults.
- - - - Older adults are at risk for diabetes due to the aging process of insufficient release of insulin and impaired pancreatic islet function. Diabetes can also lead to other pathologies common in older adults such as cataracts, congestive heart failure, and glaucoma. Treating and controlling diabetes will lead to a better overall health for many systems.
- - - - Older adults are at risk for congestive heart failure. Blood cannot be pumped effectively through the heart, and a cause for that could be due to the heart valves being thick and rigid, which is a change with aging. Another changing with age is reduced elasticity of the vessels which would also have an effective of the heart not being able to pump blood as efficiently. Chronic heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for people over the age of 65.
- - - - Older adults are at risk for cataracts due to the proteins in the lens starting to break down and clump together. This makes the lens appear cloudy, causing low vision. Treatment of cataracts is surgery, which is replacement with an artificial lens. Hypertension and diabetes can also be a causative factor.
- - - - Older adult males are at risk for benign prostate hyperplasia due to the changes of aging of the enlargement of the prostate gland. The amount of testosterone in the blood declines and may trigger prostate cell growth. Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress caused by diabetes can cause prostatic hyperplasia.
- - - - Older adults are at risk for UTIs due to a weaker muscles in the bladder or pelvic floor, and when urine stays in the urinary tract there is a potential for bacteria like E. coli to build. Older women are more prone to UTIs than men because after menopause they produce less estrogen, which creates an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the vagina which can lead to an infection. UTIs in older adults can also lead to delirium, a sudden change in behavior, and this can become permanent if not treated quickly.