Intro, definitions, theory, and wellness of aging

Question 1

____% of the caseload of PT’s across clinical settings are 66 years and older

Answer 1

40-43

Question 2

Negative perception of older adults based on their age alone; Attitudes toward older people are more negative than toward younger people

Answer 2

Age bias

Question 3

What affects the experience of aging?

Answer 3

1. Gender
2. Roles
3. Cohort Effects
4. Cultural Factors
5. Place of Residence
6. Social Attitudes
7. Individual Characteristics and Experiences
8. Socioeconomic factors
9. Public Policy

Question 4

What challenges do older adults face?

Answer 4

1. Adjusting to the death of a spouse
2. Losing employment/living on a reduced income
3. Losing physical vigor
4. Changes in living environments
5. Use of leisure time
6. Affiliating with elder groups
7. Developing new social roles that bring respect and recognition

Question 5

Biological; Progressive deterioration of physiological function, an intrinsic age-related process of loss of viability and increase in vulnerability; Normal process affecting the body and all it’s functions

Answer 5

Aging/ senescence
- intrinsic, progressive, and universal, i.e. these changes are built into the hard-wiring of the organism, but can occur at different rates in different individuals, and include changes such as wrinkling of skin, graying of hair, decrease in muscle strength and bone mass

Question 6

the capacity to function across many domains: physical, functional, cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual- to one’s satisifaction and in spite of one’s medical conditions

Answer 6

Optimal aging

Question 7

modifications which take place due to age-based illness, as independent from modifications correlated with typical healthy aging

Answer 7

Pathologic aging
- “Normal” aging is a result of natural maturational processes whereas “pathological” aging is due to non-normative factors such as disease or trauma to the brain

Question 8

Theory of aging that focuses on the mechanisms for aging in the cell nucleus

Answer 8

Developmental-gentic (fundamentalist)

• biological theory
• aging at the organism, molecular, and cellular levels

Question 9

Theory of aging that focuses on the mechanisms for aging in organs, tissues, body systems, and the environment (ie radiation)

Answer 9

Nongenetic (environment) stochastic

- a system’s subsequent state is determined both by the process’s predictable actions and by a random element.

Question 10

Theory of aging that stresses homeostasis (adequate nutrient and degree of exposure to strains and stressors); increased longevity in those with stress resistance

Answer 10

Stress theory

- developmental-genetic theory

Question 11

Theory of aging that states capacity and integrity of the immune system declines with age

Answer 11

immunological theory

• developmental-genetic theory
• reduced Tcell function, i.e. autoimmune diseases

Question 12

Theory of aging that looks tat the amount of free radicals a person is exposed to is what affects the aging process the most; postulates it causes Atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cataracts; there are Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors contribute to the production of free radicals (Intrinsic: O2 metabolism, Extrinsic: environmental contaminants, diet, Damage: DNA, RNA, Enzymes)

Answer 12

Free radical theory

• developmental-genetic theory
• during accumulation in tissue they choke off O2 and nutrients to surrounding tissue, causing further degeneration

Question 13

Theory of aging that postulates longevity is inversely proportional to metabolic rate

Answer 13

Dietary restriction theory

• developmental-genetic theory
• only life-prolonging means accepted by research

Question 14

What are the body systems impacted by the physiologic effects of aging?

Answer 14

1. Sensory
2. Musculoskeletal
3. Integumentary
4. Internal Organs
5. Cardiopulmonary
6. Neurological

Question 15

What are they psychological effects of aging?

Answer 15

1. Anxiety
2. Memory
3. Depression
4. Social Isolation
5. Institutionalization
6. Chronic Illness
7. Death, Dying, Grief
8. Cognition

Question 16

What happens to body composition as we age?

Answer 16

1. Lean mass decreases, Fat mass increases - Example: Male 20’s 85/15…. Male 70’s (same weight) 70/30; Females 80 y/o common 50% fat mass
2. Fat is highly metabolic
3. Most Fat occurs intra-abdominally

Question 17

What happens to collagenous tissue as we age?

Answer 17

1. Loss of water (Intervertebral discs, Articular cartilage)
2. Increase in crosslinks - Decreased ROM (end range), stiffness (passive tension is great at end range)
3. Loss of elastic fibers - Sagging skin and organs; Less give in tendons and ligaments

Question 18

What happens to the cardiovascular system as we age?

Answer 18

1. Decline in max HR
2. Decline in Vo2 max
3. Stiffer, less compliant vascular tissues
4. Loss of cells from the SA node
5. Reduced contractility of the vascular walls
6. Thickened basement membrane in capillary

Question 19

What happens to the nervous system as we age?

Answer 19

1. Sloughing/loss of myelin
2. Axonal loss
3. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction
4. Loss of sensory neurons
5. Slowed response time

Question 20

What are the 7 dimensions of wellness?

Answer 20

1. Emotional
2. Environmental
3. Intellectual/cognitive
4. Physical
5. Professional/vocational
6. Social
7. Spiritual

Question 21

What can PTs do to promote successful and optimal aging?

Answer 21

1. Exercise
2. Provide resources for nutrition
3. Promote/ retain mobility
4. Promote social community

Question 22

What specific values should PTs have to promote successful and optimal aging?

Answer 22

1. Patience
2. Awareness of bias
3. Being understanding of the changes they’re going through