Aging

Question 1

how does the increased aging population impact the healthcare system

Answer 1

• increased costs
• increased hospitalizations
• increased demand for healthcare (esp with a shortage)

Question 2

what is functional aging

Answer 2

• impacts daily life (changes we see)
• cognitive functioning, physical function, mood, mental health

Question 3

what is phenotypic aging

Answer 3

• phenotypes that cause change
• body composition, energetics, homeostatic mechanisms, brain health

Question 4

what is biological aging

Answer 4

• root mechanisms to aging, changes on the cellular level
• molecular damage, defective repair, energy exhaustion, signal/noise reduction

Question 5

when does aging begin

Answer 5

conception

Question 6

what is chronological age

Answer 6

the amount of time that has passed from birth to a certain date (ex: 21 y/o)

Question 7

what is biological/physiological age

Answer 7

suggests that aging occurs as you sustain damage to various cells/tissues in the body
- takes into account lifestyle, genetics, nutrition, disease

Question 8

list the common characteristics associated with aging

Answer 8

• sarcopenia
• cachexia
• hormonal influences
• changes in body mass (increased fat mass, decreased muscle mass)
• increased CO2, decreased O2
• weaker diaphragm (impacts breathing)
• decreased RMR
• decreased ability to return to pre-stress state after physiological stresses
• decreased ability to adapt/respond to environmental changes
• changes in state of homeostasis

Question 9

changes in connective tissue with aging

Answer 9

(-) max tensile strength and elasticity of all connective tissues
(-) rate of adaptation to mechanical stress in chondroitin sulfate
(+) cartilage dehydration and stiffening in hyaluronic acid
(-) lubrication of joints

Question 10

rehab implications for connective tissue changes with age

Answer 10

tendency for overuse injuries, fatigue failure, tears with stretching

Question 11

changes in cartilage associated with age

Answer 11

(-) hydration
Degeneration associated with excessive loading and breakdown of collagen network
Endochondral ossification (bone spurs)

Question 12

rehab implications for cartilage changes associated with age

Answer 12

• loading responses
• WB pain
• creeks and cracking

Question 13

changes in muscle associated with age

Answer 13

• sarcopenia
• atrophy
• decrease Type II (fast) and Type I (slow) twitch fibers (Type II > I)
  (-) muscle mass
  (-) alpha motor neurons
  (-) number of motor units

Question 14

rehab implications associated with muscle changes due to age

Answer 14

decrease in overall power and strength

Question 15

what effects does strength training have on older adults

Answer 15

• increased muscle strength
• increased muscle mass
• improve recruitment of motor units
• reduced sarcopenia
• improved retention of motor function

Question 16

changes in skeletal system associated with aging

Answer 16

(-) calcium
(-) vitamin D
(-) RBC production

Question 17

rehab implications for skeletal changes associated with aging

Answer 17

(-) bone strength
increased risk osteoporosis and Fx
postural changes

Question 18

central neurological changes with aging

Answer 18

(-) brain mass
(-) neurotransmitters
(-) impulse conduction and synaptic transmission
(-) myeline sheath and large myelinated fibers
(-) cerebral blood flow
Decline in number and function of CNS cells
Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles develop (makes it harder for impulses to travel in brain)

Question 19

what percentage does the brain mass decrease by by age 80

Answer 19

6-7%

Question 20

peripheral neurological changes with aging

Answer 20

(-) N cells (slower reaction time)
(-) peripheral blood flow to N
peripheral neuropathy

Question 21

rehab implications for peripheral neurological changes with aging

Answer 21

• sensory deficits
• risk of falls

Question 22

vestibular changes related to age

Answer 22

• prebycusis
• tinnitus

Question 23

prebycusis

Answer 23

age related hearing loss

Question 24

presbyopia

Answer 24

age related vision loss

Question 25

visual changes related to age

Answer 25

(-) muscle tone (-) visual acuity (sharpness) and presbyopia (-) vision in low light and ability to changes in light

Question 26

taste and smell changes related to age

Answer 26

- 80% of tastebuds atrophy (-) saliva (-) olfactory

Question 27

damage to optic N and leads to loss of peripheral vision

Answer 27

glaucoma

Question 28

cloudiness over eyes

Answer 28

cataracts

Question 29

proprioception/kinesthesia changes related to age

Answer 29

decreased position and movement sense

Question 30

touch changes related to age

Answer 30

(-) receptors and N cells (-) sensitivity to heat and cold modalities

Question 31

cardiovascular changes with aging

Answer 31

Changes in cardiac muscle and electrolytes (-) in CV system response to stress (-) max HR (-) diastolic filling time and ventricular compliance Take less blood into the heart so cannot pump out as much blood (+) peripheral resistance and SBP (-) chest wall expansion and decreased lung elastic recoil Cannot take deep breaths (+) rib calcification

Question 32

rehab implications for cardiovascular changes with age

Answer 32

- HTN which leads to changes in cardiac workload at baseline (-) endurance rib mobility = breath excursions

Question 33

pulmonary changes associated with age

Answer 33

(-) diaphragm, intercostals and abdominal muscles (-) vital capacity (-) lung cilia (+) residual volume

Question 34

rehab implications for pulmonary changes associated with age

Answer 34

-changes in spinal curvature (chest wall cannot expand --> kyphosis) (-) respiration

Question 35

homeostatic changes associated with aging

Answer 35

Hypothalamic thermostat deterioration Hormonal changes (-) sweat glands (in size and number) (-) ANS response (-) vasomotor system response (-) blood flow to the brain (+) basal metabolic rate

Question 36

integumentary changes associated with aging

Answer 36

- dermal thinning (-) elasticity (-) vascularity (+) risk for skin cancer