lecture 5 physical changes 1. appearance and mobility –psychological implications 2. sensory...

Lecture 5Physical Changes

1. Appearance and Mobility– Psychological Implications

2. Sensory Systems– Psychological Implications

3. Nervous System– Psychological Implications

4. Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited

Appearance and Mobility

Changes

skin

hair

voice

body build

mobility

Appearance:Appearance:Age Changes in the SkinAge Changes in the Skin

•Loss of elasticityLoss of elasticity•DiscolorationDiscoloration•Surface damageSurface damage•Lessened sweat and oil gland productionLessened sweat and oil gland production•Loss of subcutaneous fatLoss of subcutaneous fat

The Skin:The Skin:

Accelerated by photoaging.May be offset by certain treatments.

Accelerated by photoaging.May be offset by certain treatments.

The Hair:The Hair:

Appearance:Appearance:Age Changes in the HairAge Changes in the Hair

•Graying from cessation of pigmentationGraying from cessation of pigmentation

•Loss from destruction of germination centersLoss from destruction of germination centers No known preventionNo known prevention

The Voice:The Voice:

Appearance:Appearance:Age Changes in the VoiceAge Changes in the Voice

•Voice is thinner and weakerVoice is thinner and weaker•lower pitchlower pitch•increased breathlessnessincreased breathlessness•trembling (vocal jitter)trembling (vocal jitter)•slowerslower•less pronunciationless pronunciation•decreased volumedecreased volume

HeightHeight

Appearance:Appearance:Age Changes in Body BuildAge Changes in Body Build

•Loss of height due to shrinking of vertebraeLoss of height due to shrinking of vertebrae•Weight gain then lossWeight gain then loss•Redistribution of body fatRedistribution of body fat

Shrinking of vertebrae

Exercise can prevent or minimize


SarcopeniaSarcopenia

Mobility:Mobility:MusclesMuscles

•Loss of muscle massLoss of muscle mass

• after 40s/50s loss of 12-15% strength after 40s/50s loss of 12-15% strength per decadeper decade



Loss of Bone StrengthLoss of Bone Strength•Due to relative increase in bone Due to relative increase in bone destruction compared to growth of destruction compared to growth of tissuetissue

•Because of decrease in bone mineral Because of decrease in bone mineral content of 5-12% per decade from content of 5-12% per decade from 20s-90s20s-90s

Exercise, diet, no smoking can prevent or minimize

Exercise, diet, no smoking can prevent or minimize

Mobility:Mobility:BonesBones

•Increasing age in womenIncreasing age in women•Alcohol and cigarettesAlcohol and cigarettes

Normal bone

Osteoporotic bone

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

Prevention:Prevention:•CalciumCalcium•Vitamin DVitamin D•Exercise and physical activityExercise and physical activity

OsteoporosisOsteoporosis

Loss of cartilageLoss of cartilage•Deleterious changes in Deleterious changes in every component of jointevery component of joint•Damage is cumulative over Damage is cumulative over timetime

Flexibility training

Avoid damage

Flexibility training

Avoid damage

Mobility:Mobility:JointsJoints

OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis

ArthritisArthritis

•Degenerative joint Degenerative joint diseasedisease•Develops in joints Develops in joints damaged through damaged through overuseoveruse

Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid Arthritis•Inflammatory diseaseInflammatory disease•Due to autoimmune disorderDue to autoimmune disorder•Symmetrical patternSymmetrical pattern•Highest in women and Highest in women and certain Native American certain Native American tribestribes

ArthritisArthritis

Psychological Implications

Looking and bodily “feeling” old

Identity (self concept)

Identity (viewed by others-ageism)

Independence (daily living)

Prompt: Age-related control behaviors (+/-)

Prompt: Ergonomic design issues

Sensory Systems

Changes in

vision

hearing

somesthesia

balance

taste and smell

The eye

VisionVision

Normal VisionNormal Vision

Vision ChangesVision Changes

• Due to structural changes– older need more light– increased sensitivity to glare– dark and light adaptation takes longer– poorer colour discrimination for short wave

lengths– focussing near-far and far-near takes longer

» presbyopia

The eye

Stiffening and thickening of the lens

PresbyopiaPresbyopiaPresbyopiaPresbyopia =inability to accommodate

Distant object

Normal accommodation, which is lost in presbyopia

Near object

VisionVision

•Cause scattering of light raysCause scattering of light rays

•Can interfere with color visionCan interfere with color vision

•Cause limitations in daily activitiesCause limitations in daily activities

Possible causes:Possible causes:HeredityHeredityPrior injuryPrior injuryDiseaseDiseaseSunlightSunlightSmokingSmoking

Surgery is Surgery is highly highly effective in effective in treatmenttreatment

Surgery is Surgery is highly highly effective in effective in treatmenttreatment

Vision (abnormal changes)Vision (abnormal changes)

CataractsCataracts

GlaucomaGlaucomaGlaucomaGlaucoma

•Build up of pressure inside the eyeBuild up of pressure inside the eye

•Often involves gradual onsetOften involves gradual onset

•Treatment not always possibleTreatment not always possible

Group of conditions involving damage of optic nerve

Group of conditions involving damage of optic nerve

Vision (abnormal)Vision (abnormal)

Vision ChangesVision Changes

• Due to changes in the retina– decrease in visual acuity (in combination with

structural changes) – increased chance of macular degeneration

(abnormal)– diabetic retinopathy (abnormal)

PresbycusisPresbycusisPresbycusisPresbycusis =inability to hear high-pitched tones

Changes in cochlea

Other forms of hearing loss:Other forms of hearing loss:Conductive hearing lossConductive hearing lossTinnitusTinnitus

Changes in Hearing with Age (normal?)Changes in Hearing with Age (normal?)Changes in Hearing with Age (normal?)Changes in Hearing with Age (normal?)

HearingHearing

Impact for Speech UnderstandingImpact for Speech Understanding

• Some speech sounds will be harder to distinguish

• Some populations will be harder to understand

SomesthesiaSomesthesia

Age changesAge changes

Touch: declines in ability to discriminate touch

Pain: inconclusive findings

Positioning: declines in perception of position of the feet and legs

Changes in vestibular system

Changes in vestibular system

Mobility problemsMobility problems

Increased risk of falling:Increased risk of falling:Increased risk of falling:Increased risk of falling:

•DizzinessDizziness

•VertigoVertigo

•Muscle weaknessMuscle weakness

•Joint stiffnessJoint stiffness

•Loss of bone densityLoss of bone density

Vestibular system

BalanceBalance

Losses in smell and taste sensitivity Losses in smell and taste sensitivity Losses in smell and taste sensitivity Losses in smell and taste sensitivity

But could be due toBut could be due to

•Disease and infectionsDisease and infections

•Exposure to harmful chemicalsExposure to harmful chemicals

•Tobacco smokeTobacco smoke

•Head injuryHead injury

•DenturesDentures

Smell and TasteSmell and Taste


Changes in Sensation and Perception

Identity (self concept)

Identity (viewed by others-ageism)

Independence (daily living)



Nervous System

1. Central Nervous System

neuronal change

2. Autonomic Nervous System

sleep

regulation of body temperature

Nervous System:Nervous System:Central Nervous SystemCentral Nervous System

vs.vs.vs.vs.NeuronalNeuronalFalloutFallout

NeuronalNeuronalFalloutFallout

PlasticityPlasticityPlasticityPlasticity

Neurons are Neurons are progressively progressively lostlost

Neurons grow Neurons grow new synapsesnew synapses throughout lifethroughout life

The Brain The Neuron

Models of the Aging Nervous SystemModels of the Aging Nervous System

•6-8% atrophy per year 6-8% atrophy per year

Health statusHealth statusGenderGenderArea of brain AND genderArea of brain AND gender

Variations by: Variations by:

•Most consistent Most consistent findings observed for:findings observed for:

Frontal lobes

MRIHippocampus


Brain Imaging StudiesBrain Imaging Studies

•Younger use frontal Younger use frontal lobes more efficientlylobes more efficiently•However, older use However, older use alternate brain circuits alternate brain circuits to compensateto compensate

MRIPET


Brain Imaging StudiesBrain Imaging Studies

Changes in Sleep Patterns in Older Adults:Changes in Sleep Patterns in Older Adults:

More time in More time in bed relative to bed relative to time asleeptime asleep

More time in More time in bed relative to bed relative to time asleeptime asleep

•Take longer to fall asleepTake longer to fall asleep•Awaken more oftenAwaken more often•Lie in bed longer in a.m.Lie in bed longer in a.m.

Sleep is less Sleep is less efficientefficientSleep is less Sleep is less efficientefficient •Sleep is shallowerSleep is shallower

•Sleep is more fragmentedSleep is more fragmented

Nervous System:Nervous System:SleepSleep

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

College 65+

Morning

Evening

Older adult more likely to be “morning person.”Older adult more likely to be “morning person.”Older adult more likely to be “morning person.”Older adult more likely to be “morning person.”

Changes in Circadian RhythmsChanges in Circadian Rhythms

Nervous System:Nervous System:SleepSleep

DysthermiaDysthermiaDysthermiaDysthermia

•Body fatBody fat

•GenderGender

•Physical fitnessPhysical fitness

•Chronic medical Chronic medical conditionsconditions

•MedicationsMedications

Abnormalities in bodily reaction to extreme heat and cold

Abnormalities in bodily reaction to extreme heat and cold

Related to ageRelated to ageRelated to ageRelated to age

OR.....????OR.....????

Nervous System:Nervous System:Temperature ControlTemperature Control


Changes in sleep and temperature control



Myth Busting: Facts on Aging Revisited

• #2 The five senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell) all tend to weaken in old age.

– TRUE


• #4 Lung vital capacity tends to decline in old age.

– TRUE


• #6 Physical strength tends to decline in old age.

– TRUE


• #10 Over three fourths of the aged are healthy enough to do their normal activities without help.

– TRUE

lecture 5 physical changes 1. appearance and mobility –psychological implications 2. sensory...

Documents

age changes

overuse slide

bones slide

loss of bone strength

physical changes

40s50s loss

aging revisited slide

bone destruction