Understanding Aging: Physical Changes in the Body

1. CHAPTER THREEPhysical Changes

2. Why Do We Age? Theories Rate-of-Living Theories • Limited energy to expend in a lifetime • Excess calories may reduce lifespan

3. Why Do We Age? Theories Cellular Theories • Limited number of times a cell can divide (Hayflick limit) • Telomeres (tips of chromosomes) become shorter with each cell division • Cross-linking • Tissue becomes stiffer with age • Free radicals • Reactive chemicals causing cellular damage

4. Why Do We Age? Theories Programmed Cell Death Theories • Aging may be programmed into genetic code • Cells may be pre-programmed to self-destruct

5. Changes in the body that occur with age

6. Changes in Appearance • Changes in Skin • Why does our skin wrinkle? • Four-step process • Outer layer becomes thinner because of cell loss • Collagen fibers lose flexibility • Elastin fibers lose ability to keep skin stretched out • Underlying fat layer diminishes • Environmental factors affecting skin • Sun exposure • Smoking • Other skin changes • Pigment-containing cells decrease • Age spots, moles • Varicose veins

7. Changes in Appearance Changes in the Hair • Hair loss caused by destruction of germ centers that produce hair follicles • Graying caused by cessation of pigment production • Other hair changes • Males do not lose facial hair. • Females gain facial hair. • Caused by hormonal changes

8. Changes in the Voice • Attributes of the aging voice: • Lowering in pitch • Increased breathlessness and trembling • Slower and less pronounced pronunciation • Decreased volume • May be due to normative changes or poor health

9. Changes in Body Build • Decrease in height with age • Between mid-50s and mid-70s men lose about 1 inch and women 2 inches • Compression of the spine • Changes in posture • Weight gain then loss • Usually a weight gain between 20 and 50 • Usually a weight loss throughout the older years • How different between men and women? • Research suggests that one lives longer with a normal body weight

10. Changes in Mobility • Muscles • Strength loss: age 70 – up to 20%; age 80 – up to 40% • No difference in the rate of muscle change between men and women

11. Changes in Mobility • Bones • Loss begins in the late 30s, accelerates in the 50s, and slows in the 70s • Gender differences • Osteoporosis: loss of bone mass; leading cause of broken bones in older women

12. Changes in Mobility • Joints • Osteoarthritis occurs when the bones beneath cartilage become damaged • Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the joints

13. Changes in Vision • Structural changes in the eye • Decreased ability to allow light into the eye • Adaptation between light and dark is slower • Presbyopia: difficulty focusing on close objects • Cataracts: spots develop on the lens, clouding vision • Glaucoma: pressure in the eye may result in loss of peripheral vision

14. Changes in Vision • Retinal Changes • Macular degeneration: loss of receptor cells in the eye • Diabetic retinopathy: may result in blindness

15. Changes in Hearing • Due to normative age-related changes • Due to loud environment • Presbycusis: Reduced sensitivity to high-pitched tones Hearing Loss Simulation - YouTube

16. Changes in Somesthesia • With age there is a loss of touch only on smooth skin of the hand • Temperature regulation is sometimes more difficult in older adults

17. Changes in Balance • Kinesthesis is ones sense of where they are in space; involving muscles and joints • Vestibular system is in the inner ear and helps with balance and movement • Fear of falling, dizziness, vertigo increase with age • Environmental hazards • Loose rugs • Slippery floors • Hip protection • Tai Chi

18. Changes in Smell and Taste • Taste receptor cells do not change in quantity across the lifespan • Taste is dependent on smell • Smell diminishes after age 60 and sometimes can be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease

19. Changes in the Cardiovascular System • Underlying cause of diminished capacity • Accumulation of fat deposits • Stiffening of the heart muscle

20. Cardiovascular Disease: #1 cause of death • Congestive heart failure: cardiac output declines, heart gets larger—most common cause of hospitalization for those over 65 • Angina pectoris: chest pain due to insufficient oxygen supply to heart • Myocardial infarction (MI): blood supply is severely reduced; pain may or may not be present • Atherosclerosis: build-up of fat deposits; may lead to CVA • Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke: blood flow to brain is cut off • Hypertension: high blood pressure

21. Changes in the Respiratory System • Respiratory Diseases • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), includes: • Emphysema • Destruction of membranes around the air sacs in the lungs • 82% self-induced by smoking • Chronic bronchitis • Bronchial passageways become irritated by dust, fumes, air pollution, etc. • More common with people over 45

22. Changes in the Female Reproductive System • Perimenopause • Transition to menopause involving changes in reproductive organs and sexual functioning • Genital organ change begins in the 40s • Menopause • The point at which the ovaries cease to release eggs • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) • No physiological reason why most women cannot continue sexual activity into old age. • Climacteric: the transition from reproductive to non-reproductive years

23. Changes in the Male Reproductive System • Unlike menopause, no event to mark male reproductive changes • Gradual decline in testosterone levels • Decrease in sperm production (30% between 30 and 60) • Prostate cancer a real threat • Impotence/Erectile Dysfunction: treatable with drugs such as Viagra • Psychological Implications • For healthy adults, sexual activity is a lifelong option.