OLD AGE

INTRODUCTION

Old age brings a whole new gamut of changes in an individuals life. While these may seem
gradual to the individual himself, they can often seem worrying to those around him. These
changes range from simple changes such as a mild memory loss or forgetfulness to more
serious changes such as changes in the functioning of the brain and nervous systems!

Old age comprises "the later part of life; the period of life after youth and middle age . . . ,
usually with reference to deterioration".[11] At what age old age begins cannot be universally
defined because it differs according to the context. Most developed-world countries have
accepted the chronological age of 65 years as a definition of 'elderly' or older person. The
United Nations has agreed that 60+ years may be usually denoted as old age[12] and this is the
first attempt at an international definition of old age. However, for its study of old age in
Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) set 50 as the beginning of old age. At the same
time, the WHO recognized that the developing world often defines old age, not by years, but
by new roles, loss of previous roles, or inability to make active contributions to society.

PHYSICAL MARKS OF OLD AGE:

Bone and joint. Old bones are marked by thinning and shrinkage. This might
results in a loss of height (about two inches by age 80), a stooping posture in many
people, and a greater susceptibility to bone and joint diseases such as osteoarthritis
and osteoporosis\

Chronic diseases. Some older persons have at least one chronic condition and many
have multiple conditions. In 2007-2009, the most frequently occurring conditions
among older persons in the United States were uncontrolled hypertension (34%),
diagnosed arthritis (50%), and heart disease (32%).

Chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) defined as coughing and bringing up

sputum . . . is a common respiratory symptom in elderly persons.

Dental problems. May have less saliva and less ability for oral hygiene in old age
which increases the chance of tooth decay and infection

Digestive system. About 40% of the time, old age is marked by digestive disorders
such as difficulty in swallowing, inability to eat enough and to absorb nutrition,
constipation and bleeding

Essential Tremor (ET) is an uncontrollable shaking in a part of the upper body. It is

more common in the elderly and symptoms worsen with age.

Eyesight. Presbyopia can occur by age 50 and it hinders reading especially of small
print in low lighting. Speed with which an individual reads and the ability to locate
 objects may also be impaired. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have
a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

Falls. Old age spells risk for injury from falls that might not cause injury to a younger
person.[ Every year, about one-third of those 65 years old and over half of those 80
years old fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death for old people

Gait change. Some aspects of gait normally change with old age. Gait velocity slows
after age 70. Double stance time (i.e., time with both feet on the ground) also
increases with age. Because of gait change, old people sometimes appear to be
walking on ice.\

Hair usually becomes grayer and also might become thinner As a rule of thumb,
around age 50, about 50% of Europeans have 50% grey hair.] Many men are affected
by balding, and women enter menopause.

Hearing. By age 75 and older, 48% of men and 37% of women encounter
impairments in hearing. Of the 26.7 million people over age 50 with a hearing
impairment, only one in seven uses a hearing aid In the 7079 age range, the
incidence of partial hearing loss affecting communication rises to 65%, predominantly
among low-income males.

Hearts can become less efficient in old age with a resulting loss of stamina. In
addition, atherosclerosis can constrict blood flow.\

Immune function. Less efficient immune function (Immunosenescence) is a mark of

old age

Lungs might expand less well; thus, they provide less oxygen

Mobility impairment or loss. Impairment in mobility affects 14% of those between

65 and 74, but half of those over 85.Loss of mobility is common in old people. This
inability to get around has serious social, psychological, and physical consequences.

Pain afflicts old people at least 25% of the time, increasing with age up to 80% for
those in nursing homes. Most pains are rheumatological or malignant.

Sexuality remains important throughout the lifespan and the sexual expression of
typical, healthy older persons is a relatively neglected topic of research. Sexual
attitudes and identity are established in early adulthood and change minimally over
the course of a lifetime However, sexual drive in both men and women may decrease
as they age.] That said, there is a growing body of research on peoples sexual
behaviours and desires in later life that challenges the asexual image of older adults.
People aged 75102 continue to experience sensuality and sexual pleasure.] Other
known sexual behaviours in older age groups include sexual thoughts, fantasies and
erotic dreams,] masturbation, oral sex, vaginal and anal intercourse
 Skin loses elasticity, becomes drier, and more lined and wrinkled.

Sleep trouble holds a chronic prevalence of over 50% in old age and results in
daytime sleepiness In a study of 9,000 persons with a mean age of 74, only 12%
reported no sleep complaints. ]By age 65, deep sleep goes down to about 5%.Taste
buds diminish so that by age 80 taste buds are down to 50% of normal. Food becomes
less appealing and nutrition can suffer.

Over the age of 85, thirst perception decreases, such that 41% of the elderly drink
insufficiently

Urinary incontinence is often found in old age.

Voice. In old age, vocal cords weaken and vibrate more slowly. This results in a
weakened, breathy voice that is sometimes called an old persons voice

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

About three-fourths of adults aged 60 and older are overweight or obese. Obesity is related to
type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast and coloncancer, gall bladder disease, and high
blood pressure.

More than 40% of adults 60 and older have a combination of risk factors known as metabolic
syndrome, which puts people at increased risk for developing diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and certain cancers. It is characterized by:

Waist measurement greater than 40 inches in men, 35 inches in women (apple-shaped

body)

Triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL or higher

HDL "good" cholesterol level less than 40mg/dL in men, 50 mg/dL in women

Blood pressure of 130/85 or higher

Fasting glucose level of 110 mg/dL or higher

Wrinkles & White hair Wrinkles are the most visible sign of ageing, as with age ones
skin begins to lose it elasticity due to the reduction in the bodys natural ability to produce
Elastin and collagen which are needed to keep the skin firm and supple.

Another visible sign of ageing is the whitening of hair, while many people suffer from
premature graying of hair or have white hair due to a variety of other reasons at a young age;
white hair is usually associated with old age. As one ages, hair roots lose their capacity to
produce enough melanin to help the hair retain its natural color, result being white hair!
Hearing Loss 2 is the number of times you have to repeat everything, when you talk to
your grandparent, why? Its because of the hearing loss that accompanies people in their old
age, this happens as the walls of the auditory canals of the ear thin out with age along with
the ear drums becoming thicker, thereby reducing the persons ability to hear clearly!

Poor Eye-sight Poor eye sight is a given with old age, this is because the retinas become
thin and the lens of the eye loses its clarity with age. Other changes that our eyes go through
with old age, is that they become sensitive to harsh light, bright lights, glare etc. another
major change that occurs is that eyes become far sighted i.e. difficulty in seeing things up
close, hence those big glasses that every old person is seen wearing!

Creaky Bones and Achy joints - As one begins to age bones begin to lose their density and
shrink! This is evident in the height of old people decreasing by a couple of inches than their
original height. Another factor that contributes to bones becoming brittle and prone to
fractures in the old age is the decline in the bodys ability to absorb calcium which is needed
to maintain healthy bones.

Pain in the joints is due to the decline in the production of the synovial fluids, which acts as a
lubricator for the joints, without it the friction between joints increases, leading to the pain!

The brain slows down The brain slows as one ages, due to the reduction in neurons or
messenger cells found in the brain of an individual. Also decline in the production of certain
chemicals needed by the brain to function normally leads to grandma forgetting her dentures
on the window sill!

Weak heart and cardiovascular Problems Our heart is a very vital organ and is already
beating before our birth! But with old age come high levels of cholesterol, fatty deposits on
the walls of the arteries, thinned out blood vessels which contribute towards making the
hearts job even more difficult, leading to many cardiovascular problems in old age.

Digestive Problems Another major change that the body goes through with age is that the
digestive system becomes weak and slow in lay mans term. To put it simply, digestion takes
time as the area within the intestines reduces slightly with age, moreover with reduction in
the chemicals secreted by the intestines to digest and ferment the food, digestion of food
becomes a problem leading to congestion

Arthritis

Arthritis affects nearly half the elderly population and is a leading cause of disability. "Old injuries from playing
weekend warrior or high school football, and years of wearing high-heeled shoes catch up with us," says
Brangman. "And arthritis in the knees is the price we pay for walking upright on two legs." The keys to
prevention: avoid overuse, do steady, regular exercise rather than in weekend spurts, and stop if you feel pain
Osteoporosis and Falls
Osteoporosis and low bone mass affect almost 44 million adults age 50 and older, most of them women.
According to the National Osteoporosis Association, osteoporosis is not part of normal aging. Healthy behaviors
and treatment, when appropriate, can prevent or minimize the condition
Cancer

Risk for developing most types of cancer increases with age."As women age, the rate of cervical cancer
decreases, and endometrial cancer increases," says Brangman. "Sometimes women slack off gynecological
exams after their childbearing years, but I still think it's important for women to get regular exams

CONCLUSION

Much of the illness, disability, and deaths associated with chronic disease are avoidable through known
prevention measures, including a healthy lifestyle, early detection of diseases, immunizations, injury prevention,
and programs to teach techniques to self-manage conditions such as pain and chronic diseases according to the
CDC.

And while the future will undoubtedly bring medical advances in treatments and cures, Brangman advises
taking care of what you have. "Our original parts are the best. If you can keep your own parts, that's the best
way to go."