Pk in the elderly

Question 1

what happens to a persons weight as they get older?

Answer 1

get reduction in total body water and lean body mass

increase in body fat (volume of distribution is good for lipophilic drugs

Question 2

what psychological changes of an elderly ?

Answer 2

increased pigementation
thickened endocardial lining
increased collagen
increase in elastic fibres

Question 3

How does the stomach and the duodenum change in the elderly ?

Answer 3

• Atrophy reduction in the size of gastric mucosa lining
• no of parietal cells decrease so Hcl secretion decreases so stomach is more basic conditions of ionisation of the drug
• gastric emptying doesn’t change

Question 4

How does the small intestine change in the elderly?

Answer 4

• reduced absorotion
• digestion and motlity remain unchanged
• atrophy pf intestinal micro and macro vili so becomes less absorptitve
• possible bacteria over growth

Question 5

how does the pancreas change in the elderly?

Answer 5

secritin, amylase and bicarbonate remain unchanged

but lipase and trypsin decrease drastically.

Question 6

how does the liver change in the elderly ?

Answer 6

decrease in blood flow and liver volume
increase in hepatocyte size
moderate changes to hepatocyte structure and enzyme function.

Question 7

how does renal clearance change in the elderly ?

Answer 7

decrease in eGFR , renal blood flow and tubular secretion leading to accumulation of waste products and drugs in the kidney
decrease in renal mass and reduction in kidney nephrons

Question 8

why is absorption reduced in the elderly?

Answer 8

vitamin b12 iron and calcium are reduced due ti face o active trasnport systems