WEEK 2

Physiologic Changes in Aging

and Changes in Mind
CARE OF THE OLDER ADULTS
Learning Objectives:

Identify common age-related changes at the

cellular level; in physical appearance; and to
respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary,
reproductive, musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine,
integumentary, and sensory organs.
III Physiologic Changes in
Aging Affecting various
systems
1. Integumentary
 Effects:
▪ Wrinkling
▪ Decrease of the skin’s immune responsiveness
▪ Dehydration and cracking of the skin
▪ Decreased sweat production
▪ Decreased numbers of functional melanocytes
▪ Loss of subcutaneous fat
▪ Decrease in skin thickness
▪ Increased susceptibility to pathological conditions
▪ Growth of hair and nails decreases; nails become
brittle with age
2. Muskulo-skeletal
▪ Decreased height
▪ Decreased ROM joints
▪ Increased postural sway/ difficulty balance
▪ Shrinking vertebral disc, slight kyposis
▪ Loss of bone mass, bones more brittle
▪ Muscle Atrophy/ decreased lean body mass
▪ Joint degeneration (Cartilage surface)
▪ Foot problems: bunions, coms, and calluses
3. Respiratory
▪ Decreased chest wall compliance
▪ Decreased maximal breathing capacity
▪ Decreased number of alveoli
▪ Decreased elasticity
▪ Decreased parenchyma
▪ Impaired cough reflex
▪ Increased vulnerability to hypoxia and
emphysema
▪ Increased susceptibility to respiratory infections
4. Cardiovascular
5.Hematopoietic &
Lymphatic
▪ Aorta becomes dilated and elongated
▪ Resistance to peripheral blood flow increases
▪ Blood pressure increases
▪ Decrease cardiac output
▪ Less elasticity of the vessel
▪ More prominent arteries in head, neck, and
extremities
▪ Stroke volume decreases by 1% per year
6. Gastrointestinal
▪ Decrease esophageal motility
▪ Atrophy of gastric mucosa
▪ Decrease stomach motility,
▪ Less production of hydrochloric acid,
▪ Fewer cells on absorbing surface of intestine
▪ Slower peristalsis
▪ Decreased taste sensation
▪ Esophagus more dilated
▪ Reduced saliva and salivary ptyalin
7. Urinary
▪ Decrease in nephrons
▪ Between ages 20 and 90, renal blood flow
decreases 53%, and glomerular filtration rate
decreases 50%
▪ Weaker bladder muscles
▪ Decreases size renal mass
▪ Decrease tubular function
▪ Decrease bladder capacity
8. Nervous
▪ Decrease brain weight
▪ Reduced blood flow in brain
▪ Changes in sleep pattern
▪ Decrease conduction velocity
▪ Slower response and reaction time
9. Special senses
Hearing
▪ Tympanic membrane sclerosis and atrophy
▪ Increased cerumen and concentration of keratin
Sight
▪ More opaque lens & Decrease pupil size
▪ More spherical cornea
Smell
▪ Impaired ability to identify odors
Taste
▪ High prevalence of taste impairment, although most likely due to factors othe
Touch
▪ Reduction in tactile sensation
10. Endocrine
▪ Decrease thyroid activity
▪ ACTH secretion decreases
▪ Pituitary gland decreases in volume
▪ Gonadal secretion declines with age,
▪ Insufficient release of insulin by beta cells
of the pancreas
11. Reproductive
Male
▪ Capacity of seminal vesicles reduces
▪ Possible reduction in sperm count
▪ Venous and arterial sclerosis of penis
▪ Prostate enlarges in most men
Female
▪ Fallopian tubes atrophy and shorten
▪ Ovaries thicker and smaller& Cervix is smaller
▪ Drier, less elastic vaginal canal & Flattening of labia
▪ Endocervical epithelium atropies
▪ Uterus smaller in size & Endometrium atropies
▪ Alkaline vaginal environment & Loss of vulvar fat and hair
 CHANGES TO THE MIND

A. PERSONALITY

B. MEMORY
C. INTELLIGENCE

D.LEARNING
E.ATTENTION SPAN
A. PERSONALITY

Drastic changes in basic personality normally

do not occur as one age. The kind and gentle
old person was most likely that way when
young; likewise, the cantankerous old person
probably was not mild and meek in earlier
years.
B. MEMORY

The three type of memory are short term,

lasting from 30 seconds to 30 minutes;
long term, involving that learned long ago;
and sensory, which is obtained through the
sensory organs and lasts only a few
seconds.
C. INTELLIGENCE

In general, it is wise to interpret the findings

related to intelligence and the older
population with much caution because
results may be biased from the
measurement tool or method of evaluation
used.
D.LEARNING

Although learning ability is not seriously

altered with age, other factors can interfere
with the older person’s ability to learn,
including motivation, attention span, delayed
transmission of information to the brain,
perceptual deficits, and illness.
E.ATTENTION SPAN

Older adults demonstrate a decrease in

vigilance performance (i.e. the ability to
retain attention longer than 45 minutes).
They are more easily distracted by irrelevant
information and stimuli.
 Thank you
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Reporter：xx 20xx.x.x
References:
Philippine Journal of Nursing
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Websites:

www.ebscohost.com
www.doh.gov.ph
http://www.pna-pjn.com