1. PHYSICAL AGING PROCESS
WHEN DOES OLD AGE BEGIN?

2. DEFINITION OF AGING
Old and aging depends on the age and experience of the speaker.
Chronological age - number of years lived
Physiologic age - age by body function
Functional age - ability to contribute to society

3. CHRONOLOGICAL CATEGORIES
Young-Old - (ages )
Middle-Old - (ages )
Old-Old - (age 85 and older)

4. FRAIL ELDERLY Characteristics: Poor mental and physical health
Low socioeconomic status
Predominantly female
Possibly isolated living conditions
More and longer hospital stays, and
More money spent on health care and drugs

5. PHYSICAL THEORIES OF AGING
What causes the body to age?

6. PROGRAM THEORY
Cells replicate a specific number of times and then die. Happens again, and again in lab experiments.

7. ERROR THEORY The structure of DNA is altered as people age
Due to alterations, DNA not read correctly
Results in transcription and translation malfunction
Results in aging/illness/ cancer directly, or indirectly

8. Normal wear and tear causes cells to function improperly
CELLULAR THEORY
Normal wear and tear causes cells to function improperly

9. FREE RADICAL THEORY
Lipids in cell membranes are exposed to radiation or free radicals
Cell membrane ruptures and cell dies
In test tubes this actually occurs

10. NUTRITIONAL MODEL THEORY
If animal fed 50-60% less than it eats on its own - lives longer
Assumption: Lean mass, as opposed to adipose tissue results in greater health

11. COLLAGEN THEORY OF AGING
As we age, collagen in body ages also. Causes hypertension and other organ malfunctions

12. MUTATING AUTO-IMMUNE THEORY
Cells have normal functions - secrete normal proteins
As cells age - mutate and secretions viewed as foreign by body
Solicits immune response
Shuts cell down
Cause biological errors and entire organ malfunctions

13. NEURO-AGING THEORY All cells undergo nervous system degeneration
Results in changes in hormonal release
Leads to decline in cell function

14. NONE OF THESE THEORIES TOTALLY ACCEPTED
Scientists hypothesize it might be combination of several or all

15. PHYSIOLOGICAL AGING OF THE HUMAN BODY BY SYSTEMS

16. SKIN, HAIR, NAILS Loss of subcutaneous fat Thinning of skin
Decreased collagen
Nails brittle and flake
Mucous membranes drier
Less sweat glands
Temperature regulation difficult
Hair pigment decreases
Hair thins

17. EYES AND VISION Eyelids baggy and wrinkled Eyes deeper in sockets
Conjunctiva thinner and yellow
Quantity of tears decreases
Iris fades
Pupils smaller, let in less light
Night and depth vision less
“Floaters” can appear
Lens enlarges

18. EYES AND VISION CONT. Lens becomes less transparent
Can actually become clouded
Results in cataracts

19. EYES AND VISION CONT. Accommodation decreases Results in presbyopia
Impaired color vision, also - especially greens and blues
Because cones degenerate

20. EYES AND VISION CONT. Predisposed to glaucoma
Increased pressure in eye
Decreased absorption of intraocular fluid
Can result in blindness

21. EYES AND VISION CONT. Macular degeneration becoming more frequent
This is the patch of retina where lens focuses light
Ultimately results in blindness
Reason for current increase in this condition unknown

22. EARS AND HEARING LOSS Irreversible, sensorineural loss with age
Men more affected than women
Called presbycusis
Loss occurs in higher range of sound
By 60 years, most adults have trouble hearing above 4000Hz
Normal speech Hz

23. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Lungs become more rigid
Pulmonary function decreases
Number and size of alveoli decreases
Vital capacity declines
Reduction in respiratory fluid
Bony changes in chest cavity

24. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Heart smaller and less elastic with age
By age 70 cardiac output reduced 70%
Heart valves become sclerotic
Heart muscle more irritable
More arrhythmias
Arteries more rigid
Veins dilate

25. GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
Reduced GI secretions
Reduced GI motility
Decreased weight of liver
Reduced regenerative capacity of liver
Liver metabolizes less efficiently

26. RENAL SYSTEM After 40 renal function decreases
By 90 lose 50% of function
Filtration and reabsorption reduced
Size and number of nephrons decrease
Bladder muscles weaken
Less able to clear drugs from system
Smaller kidneys and bladder

27. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Male: Reduced testosterone level
Testes atrophy and soften
Decrease in sperm production
Seminal fluid decreases and more viscous
Erections take more time
Refractory period after ejaculation may lengthen to days

28. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Female: Declining estrogen and progesterone levels
Ovulation ceases
Introitus constricts and loses elasticity
Vagina atrophies - shorter and drier
Uterus shrinks
Breasts pendulous and lose elasticity

29. NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM
Neurons of central and peripheral nervous system degenerate
Nerve transmission slows
Hypothalamus less effective in regulating body temperature
Reduced REM sleep, decreased deep sleep
After 50% lose 1% of neurons each year

30. MUSCULOSCELETAL SYSTEM
Adipose tissue increases with age
Lean body mass decreases
Bone mineral content diminished
Decrease in height from narrow vertebral spaces
Less resilient connective tissue
Synovial fluid more viscous
May have exaggerated curvature of spine

31. IMMUNE SYSTEM Decline in immune function
Trouble differentiating between self and non-self - more auto-immune problems
Decreases antibody response
Fatty marrow replaced red marrow
Vitamin B12 absorption might decrease - decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit

32. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Decreased ability to tolerate stress - best seen in glucose metabolism
Estrogen levels decrease in women
Other hormonal decreases include testosterone, aldosterone, cortisol, progesterone