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Intro Flashcards

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1
Q

average life expectancy for women in US?

A

79.5 years

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2
Q

average life expectancy for men in US?

A

72.7 years

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3
Q

what ethnic groups are expected to have a lower life expectancy? what are the #’s?

A

african american men and women expected to live on average 6 and 5 years less than caucasian counterparts
native americans have shortest life expectancy at 45-50 yo

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4
Q

aging is typically a “loss” of what?

A

loss of social role
loss of income
loss of friends and family
loss of vital health

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5
Q

can diet or nutriceuticals or drugs serve to reverse aging?

A

maybe

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6
Q

can diet or nutriceuticals or drugs be used in order to extend life expectancy?

A

yes

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7
Q

can diet or nutriceuticals or drugs be used to optimize the quality of life?

A

definitely

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8
Q

theories on aging? (5)

A
  1. cellular ‘supply limits’ theory
  2. free radical damage theory
  3. AI theory
  4. programmable cell death theory
  5. telomere length theory
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9
Q

what is the cellular supply theory?

A

decreased supply of nutrients to cells and tissues due to diminished blood flow into and out of cells= diminished nutrients= cell death, tissue atrophy and loss of tissue fxn
also related to accumulation of intracellular and extracellular waste products and toxins

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10
Q

free radical theory of aging?

A

uncontrolled buildup of free radicals causes accumulated damage to cellular membranes and the contents of the cell, including DNA and RNA= death of cell
*free radicals scavenging our already paired electrons or can attach directly to the gene

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11
Q

AI theory of aging?

A

B and T cells of the immune system weaken w/age and malfunction; B cells lose ability to attack bac, viruses, CA and T cells lose ability to adequately attack CA and transplant cells
often attack normal healthy body cells as well

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12
Q

programmable cell death theory?

A

apoptosis

diverse range of cell signals which may originate EC or IC- signals either promote or suppress apoptosis

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13
Q

telomere theory of aging?

A

telomeres are non-coding DNA sequence at end of chromosome, they are essential for DNA replication during cell division
process of cellular division permanently destroys a tiny fragment w/each division–> by definition have a limited # of possible cell divisions

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14
Q

limited # of divisions of the cell (telomere theory) is referred to as what?

A

Hayflick’s limit

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15
Q

where do you find telomerase in adults?

A

specialized cells, certain adult stem cells, precursor cells to sperm and in activated WBCs
CANCER CELLS have so much telmoerase that they can divide indefinitely

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16
Q

can we add telomerase or drugs that mimic the effects of telomerase to a cell culture to lengthen telomeres

A

yes- but results have been mixed

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17
Q

purpose of inflammation?

A

eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, clear out dead and dying cells and damaged tissue

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18
Q

what is “inflammaging?”

A

Miller’s made-up word that he associates with why we age: b/c all conditions, esp chronic disease states cause inflammation and this is why we age

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19
Q

how long can it take to change gene expression when looking specifically at lifestyle changes and genes?

A

3 months
utilizing lifestyle changes and mind-body modalities was shown to turn on dz preventing genes and turn off genes that promote CA and CVD

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20
Q

greater activity of what appears to be associated w/more rapid accumulation of plaque w/in coronary arteries?

A

greater telomerase activity

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21
Q

ARDs of esomeprazole?

A

greater risk of hip fratures, c. diff-associated diarrhea decrease the complications in gastritis and ulcer formation if using long-term

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22
Q

what antacid class has been shown to increase complications in gastritis and ulcer formation?

A

H2 blockers

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23
Q

SSRIs deplete what vitamins?

A

B6, B12 and folic acid

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24
Q

PPIs and H2 blockers diminish levels of what nutrients and minerals?

A

diminish levels of B12, calcium, iron, magnesium and other minerals and nutrients that are dependent upon an acidic environment for optimal absorption

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25
metformin causes what deficiency?
B12
26
statins cause what deficiency?
CoQ10
27
BC pills cause what deficiencies?
B5, B6, B12
28
anti-seizure meds cause what deficiency?
folic acid
29
ways we can reduce inflammation?
utilize mind-body modalities pay more attention to our diets pay more attention to moving (exercise) take supplements or pharmaceuticals when benefit: risk ratio appears to be to our advantage
30
what happens to lean body mass, total body water content, muscle content and total body fat as we age?
lean body mass and total body water content decreases total muscle content decreases total body fat increases and locates in the upper body (visceral and subQ)
31
what happens to spinal curvatures as we age? which gender is this more prominent in?
kypohosis increases esp in females, slight bending at the knees and hips which leads to shortened stature increased cervical extension as compensatory mech changes in bone mass often lead to increased susceptibility to vertebral fractures and a decrease in height
32
what %age of men and women over 65 yo are overweight?
15% of men and 20% of women over 65 are overweight
33
obesity in the geriatric population usu reflects weight obtained in what decades of life?
first 5 decades of life
34
% decrease in lean body mass for men and women as they age?
~25% for males and 15% for females in US (mostly dt loss in muscle mass)
35
what happens to hair as we age?
generalize decrease in total body hair scalp hair thins and diminishes axillary and pubic hair also thins as individuals age
36
what is enophthalmos?
loss of subQ fat behind the eyes resulting in a sunken eye appearance, on average lose ~10 mm in depth
37
aside from enophthalmos, what are some other eye features that can change along with general changes in facial features?
Can get ptosis which can lead to visual obstruction (esp w/peripheral vision) progressive resorption of bone from mandible and maxilla= diminished prominence of jaw nose may broaden and lengthen ears lengthen
38
how does skin change as we age?
diminished # and fxn of sweat and sebaceous glands= more trauma, infxn and decubitus ulcers things overall w/decreased production of cells fewer melanocytes= increased risk of skin cancer vitiligo becomes more common vascular fragility increases= more hemorrhages and ecchymosis
39
how does vision change as we age?
lens becomes less elastic focusing becomes a problem visual acuity often decreased and adaptation to darkness and accommodation often impaired reduction in tear formation
40
which visual change causes central vision loss? peripheral visual loss?
central visual loss caused by macular degeneration | peripheral visual loss caused by glaucoma
41
aside from macular degeneration and glaucoma, what is another visual pathology that can appear with aging? when does it especially cause problems
cataracts- causes problems esp w/night driving when oncoming headlights produce glare
42
what is glaucoma?
P w/in the eye is elevated to the point where the visual cells and nerves are affected- major visual loss and blindness often leads to loss of peripheral vision before central vision affected
43
what changes w/hearing as we age?
increased threshold for higher frequencies (can't hear high pitched sounds as well) more common in men speak in a deeper voice to elder patients not louder
44
decrease in taste and smell may be dt what possible processes?
atrophy of the parietal lobes | but can also be a result of polypharmacy or a zinc definicency
45
after what age do we start to lose bone mass?
after 40 yo | long bones will appear to have externally enlarged but internally have less bone-y matrix and diminished density
46
what is osteoarthritis?
breakdown of cartilage leading to bones of a joint rubbing together often time get bits of bone floating in the joint space which can be a cause of crepitus, possible increased pain and decreased ROM
47
5 RFs for osteoarthritis?
increasing age obesity joint injuries caused by work or sports concomitant dzs that change the structure, fxn of cartilage hereditary condition such as defective cartilage and malformed joints
48
what is RA?
AI condition resulting in inflammation of synovial membrane | as space b/w joints diminishes the joint will lose shape and normal alignment
49
what is the leading cause of death in the US?
atherosclerotic dz
50
what happens to conduction in the heart as we age?
SA and AV nodes show a decrease in # of pacemaker cells | ectopic beats are more frequent
51
what happens to lung surface and capacity as we age?
reduction in pulmonary function lung surface reduced by 4% per decade after 30 yo decrease in # of alveoli but alveolar size increases in a compensatory mechanism therefore get an increase in AP diameter with reduction in base to apex diameter
52
what happens to residual volume versus total lung capacity as we age?
increase in residual volume modest decline in total lung capacity predisposes elderly to more infxns of the lungs
53
RFs for increased risk of pneumonia in elderly?
reduced gag and cough reflexes | reduced respiratory muscle strength and diminished mucociliary cell activity
54
what happens to the KDs as we age? what can this lead to?
decrease in size, fewer, smaller and more sclerotic nephrons increased BM thickening of the glomeruli atherosclerosis of renal vasculature can lead to increased medication complications w/meds that are metabolized and/or excreted by the KDs
55
what happens to our bladder as we age?
diminished bladder capacity in men further complicated by prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia in women vaginal atrophy and altered pelvic support can lead to urinary dysfxn
56
what GI changes occur as we age?
esophagus may have decreased motility= greater chance of aspiration when recumbent hypochlorhydria and achlorhydria are common findings increased incidence of atrophic gastritis and gastric polyposis oral and pancreatic amylase decrease gallstones are more common after 65 yo
57
how do liver enzyme and bilirubin values change as we age?
they shouldn't! should only see a change if there is concomitant liver or biliary dz
58
increased incidence of fecal incontinence as we age is dt decreased tone in which sphincter?
external sphincter
59
what happens to our tolerance to sugar as we age? how do our adrenals function with age? how do sex hormones change?
tolerance to sugar decreases so can see higher serum glucose levels cortisol shows same diurnal variation but at lower levels aldosterone levels also decrease androgens decrease by ~50% from early adulthood levels
60
how might cognitive abilities change as we age? mental status?
cognitive ability should remain unimpaired with only minor loss in recent memory mental status however can be influenced by anatomic changes in the brain that accompany aging
61
why might elderly be more predisposed to falling?
postural reflexes and autonomic regulation decrease as we age poor control of BP leading to syncope or postural hypotension visual changes
62
MC cause of dementia in elderly population? 2nd MC cause of dementia?
Alzheimer's dz #1 | multi-infarct dementia #2 (series of strokes)
63
how do sleep patterns change as we age?
require less sleep | include more waking periods during the night- more exaggerated in men than women
64
characteristics of anemia of chronic dz?
iron, B12 or folate deficiencies | causes normochromic, normocytic RBCs
65
how does our immune system change as we age?
overall decline in fxn decreased cell-mediated immunity and decreased antibody response more susceptible to CA and infxn

Geriatrics (5 decks)

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