AGE-RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES

The changes in body function are part of a continuum that begins the moment life begins. We can observe many normal changes in the body´s physical structure and function during the aging process. There are also changes that indicate the onset of disease or illness. Nurses are expected to be able to tell the difference between normal changes and abnormall changes that signify a need for medical or nursing intervention.

As a nurse, i think that is very important how to distinguish between physiological aging changes and diseases derived from aging. We should not attribute diet or changes in the elderly due to age, many cases are not related to aging but a disease process.

For this reason I want to do a brief description of the main changes in body due to aging. I pay special attention to those aspects that I didn't know and that I I found most interesting.

• The epidermis becomes more fragile, increasing the risk for skin damage. Skin repairs more slowly, increasing the risk for infection. Melanocyte activity declines with age, and in lightskinned individuals, the skin may become very pale.

• The major bone- associated change related to aging is the loss of calcium, increasing osteoporosis. Decreased mobility and flexibility of ligaments and tendons. Decreased strenght; increased risk for fallls.
• The respiratory system; decreased in elastic recoil of the lungs leads to dimished air exchange. Mucose membranes in the nose become drier as the fluid content of body tissue decreases; thus, the incoming air is not humidified as effectively. Decreased muscle strengh and endurance; thus decreased ability to breath deeply.
• The cardiovascular system; the heart does not atrophy with aging as other muscles do. The heart muscle mass increases slightly with age, and the thickness of the wall of the left ventricule also increases slightly. The aging heart my function less efectively even when no pathologic changes are present.
• The hematopoietic and lymphatic changes; Plasma viscosity increased. Blood cell prodcution in the bone marrow decreases slightly, resulting increased incidence of anemia. Increased immature T cells response.
• The gastrointestinal system. In the oral cavity, increased dental caries and tooth loss. Decreased thirst perception. Decreased gag reflex. Decreased muscle tone at sphincters. Decreased saliva and gastric secretions. Decreased gastric motility.
• The urinary system,decreased number of neprhons for this reason decreased filtration rate with decrease in drug clearance. Decreased blood supply and decreased removal of body wastes. Increased incidence of incontinence and the risk for infection. 
• The nervous system, I want to list the changes that occur with age in the nervous system because I think that knowing deeply these changes is essential. These changes are the base to detect any alteration of the higher functions also allow detection of potential geriatric syndromes.

Dementia is a syndrome that have to be interpreted such as deterioration of higher functions, including memory from the previous patients level.

Additionally, the psychological and behavioral changes result in patient progressive disability.

I have included this definción to capture more clear the importance of knowing the changes of aging, in this case the change of nervous system and the complications that can occur by and the importance of detecting cognitive impairment fast as possible.

Nursing assessment	Care strategies
Decreased number of brain	Slowed thought processes Decreased ability to respond to multiple stimuli and tasks.
Decreased number of nerve fiber	Decreased reflexes, decreased coordination, decreased propioception.
Decreased amount of neuroreceptors	Decreased perception of stimuli
Decreased perhireal nerve function	Decreased motor response Increased risk for ischemic paresthesia in extremities
Assess balance and reflexes	Educate regarding safety precautions and use of assistive devices Structure tasks to reduce confusion Allow adequate time to perform tasks
Assess alertness	Report abnormal findings to pshysician. Refer for neurologic evaluation

 

Mental and physical exercise can help your brain stay sharp. Mental exercises include reading, doing crossword puzzles, and even stimulating conversation. Physical exercise promotes blood flow to your brain. It also helps reduce loss of brain cells.

 

I wanted to make this little summary to see the physiological process of aging, and be aware that certain changes in the elderly are "normal" and other changes that often attribute to age are part of a pathological process.

I share this link from the WHO (World Health Organization)
 

Hoffman. G. Basic geriatric nursing. 5th edition. Ed. Elsevier. 2012 St. Louis, Missouri.