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unit 1 human lifespan development- LAC notes
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Unit 1- Learning Aim CThe Physical Changes of Ageing
When a person ages, their body starts to decline.
Everyone is unique, and their experience of the ageing process is different.
The physical changes because of body cells no longer repairing themselves, so damage builds up over time.
Cardiovascular disease
As someone ages, they have an increased risk pf cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood
vessels.)
Many people may develop narrowing of the arteries and other blood vessels due to build-up of cholesterol
(this process is called atherosclerosis.)
It can result in higher blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks.
The blood vessels can also start to lose their elasticity causing the heart to work harder, increase in size and
raise the blood pressure.
Fatty deposits can block the coronary arteries, causing angina. Resulting in breathlessness and chest pains
and heart attack.
Effect of lifestyle choices
Risk factors: family history, ethnic background, poorly controlled diabetes and hypertension (rise in blood
pressure), obesity, smoking and lack of exercise.
The degeneration of the nervous tissue
Everyone’s senses depend on the nervous system (nerves, spinal cord and brain), which is made up of
nervous tissue.
As ageing process progresses, brain function declines, but different parts are affected at different rates.
Blood flow to the brain will decrease and result in the loss of brain cells, possibly impairing mental function
and increasing the risk of dementia.
Having very high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol levels can speed up ageing, physical exercise
slows it down.
Nervous tissue degeneration also occurs because impulses becomes slower.
The self-repairing process in cells happens more slowly making older people more vulnerable to injury and
disease.
Decreased sensation, slower reflexes and a tendency to be clumsy is a result of degeneration of the nervous
tissue,
Osteoarthritis
A degenerative disease, as a result of wear and tear of the joints and the ageing process.
Most common types of arthritis in the UK. It causes the joints to become painful and stiff, especially the hips,
knee, neck, lower back, hand or feet.
Symptoms vary between individuals.
Physical changes include thinning and roughening of the joint cartilage (a protective cushion between the
ends of bones).
As the bones rub together, the joints cause pain and swelling. It lifts walking, using stairs and lifting heavy
objects.
Degeneration of the sense organs
Sensory awareness gradually decreases which can lead to physical problems.
After 45, the eye ability to focus begins to weaken.
, Some people develop an increase in wax, this blocks sound transmission to the sensory nerves.
The sensitivity of nerve cells decreases, resulting in a difficulty in hearing high frequency sounds.
Cataracts result from changes in the lens of the eye, this lens become hard and cloudy and results in a
blurred vision. Diabetes increases the risk of developing cataracts.
Glaucoma is an increase of fluid pressure in the eye. It causes hazy or blurry vision, eye pain or sudden loss
of vision.
The reduced absorption of nutrients
Energy requirements change in older age, as physical activity is normally reduced.
They need more protein-rich foods.
They should also eat vitamins and minerals (zinc, calcium, magnesium and sodium.)
Vitamin D helps to absorb calcium, its large obtained from sunlight so older people need to find other
sources (margarine, dairy products, oily fish, cheese and eggs.)
They may be at risk of deficiency which leads to disorders (osteoporosis and bone fractures.)
Vitamin C is essential for several body functions: wound healing and forming and maintaining healthy
tissues.
Many older people don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables that provide vitamin C.
Iron absorption may be reduced in older people which increases the risk of anemia.
Water helps with digesting food, absorbing nutrients and reduce constipation. They might lose their sense of
thirst and become dehydrated without knowing it.
Dementia
It is a brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks.
They will experience problems with understanding what is happening around them, communicating,
reasoning, finding their way and remembering recent events.
Vascular dementia
Symptoms: problems with language, memory and thought process caused by problems in the blood supply
to the brain.
Alzheimer’s disease
Commonest form of dementia. It involves parts of the brain controlling thought, memory and language.
They have trouble with short-term memory and recalling the names of people they know.
The symptoms gradually worsen.
There is no cure or treatment to prevent it, but some medication may delay its progress for a limited time.
Effects of illness that are common in ageing
Having a chronic condition as well as the usual physical and psychological changes during ageing can worsen
stress or depression.
Depression affects an individual’s mood and can lead to lack of energy, low motivation, interrupted sleep
patterns, changes to appetite and headaches.
Social development: the effects of illness on mobility can restrict a person’s social life. This will reduce their
circle of friends causing emotional stress.
The decline in senses can impact communication with others. They may also not be able to take part in
interests and hobbies which can reduce motivation and increase isolation.
Physical changes: losing mobility caused by either by neurological problems or because of pain, stiffness of
the joints or a reduction in stamina.
A reduction in sensory awareness and neurological illness causes dizziness or difficulty in moving. Loss of
bladder control because of weakness of muscles and enlarged prostate. Many older people experience
insomnia, fatigue, stress and anxiety.
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