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Questions and Answers
What happens to the walls of the large arteries as people age?
What happens to the walls of the large arteries as people age?
What is the change in heart rate during rest as one ages?
What is the change in heart rate during rest as one ages?
How does VO2 Max change with age?
How does VO2 Max change with age?
What effect does aging have on the lungs' elastic recoil?
What effect does aging have on the lungs' elastic recoil?
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What sensory changes contribute to poor balance in older adults?
What sensory changes contribute to poor balance in older adults?
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What happens to the stroke volume during exercise as individuals age?
What happens to the stroke volume during exercise as individuals age?
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By age 70, what percent of vestibular hair and nerves do older adults lose?
By age 70, what percent of vestibular hair and nerves do older adults lose?
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What is the impact of aging on the compliance of arteries?
What is the impact of aging on the compliance of arteries?
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Study Notes
The Miracles of Getting Older
- The presentation is titled "The Miracles of Getting Older" and presented by Bobbi-Jo Atchison, MA, CSEP-CEP, ATRA.
Physiological Changes with Age
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The presentation discusses age-related physiological changes in the body, including cardiovascular, sensory, and musculoskeletal systems.
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It also examines individual, environmental, and task factors that affect aging individuals.
Statistical Trends
- For the first time in census history, the number of seniors aged 65 and over exceeds the number of children under 15.
- This demonstrates a significant shift in demographics.
Defining "Old Age"
- A humorous anecdote suggesting a way to tell if someone is old: If people laugh when you fall, you're likely still young. If they panic and run to help, you're likely old.
Cardiovascular System: Structural Changes
- The walls of large arteries thicken with age, a process similar to early-stage atherosclerosis.
- Large arteries, small arteries, and arterioles become stiffer (less compliant).
- The regulation of vasodilation is impaired as vessels become less responsive to biochemical cues.
- The walls of the left ventricle thicken.
Cardiovascular System: Heart Function
- Resting heart rate remains similar to younger adults, but exercise heart rate decreases by 5-10 beats per decade.
- Stroke volume is not as efficient in older adults than in younger adults, due to multiple factors.
- Cardiac output at rest shows no difference between young and older adults; however, during exercise, it decreases.
- VO2 Max (maximum oxygen consumption) declines by about 1% each year after the age of 25.
Cardiopulmonary System: Structural Changes
- Alveolar surface area—the surface area for gas exchange—reduces with age.
- The lungs lose elastic recoil, increasing work required for respiration.
- Chest wall stiffness increase the work required for respiration.
- Inspiratory muscle strength (e.g., diaphragm, intercostals) decreases, increasing the work required for respiration.
Sensory Systems: Balance
- Sensory systems (visual, somatosensory, vestibular) provide information about the body's state in relation to the environment and task.
- Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, depth perception decrease narrowing the visual field.
- Somatosensory sensitivity to touch/pressure decreases, and spinal cord and brain transmission of sensory information decreases.
- Vestibular function (information about where one is in space) declines by 40% by age 70, impacting balance
Musculoskeletal System: Muscle
- Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, causes a 2% decrease in muscle mass per year after age 50.
- The presentation includes images comparing muscle mass in young and older individuals.
Musculoskeletal System: Muscle - Underlying Mechanisms
- Muscle fiber size (Type II – Fast Twitch) reduces with age.
- The number of muscle fibers decreases.
- The number of motor units decreases.
- Hormonal changes and dietary adjustments contribute to muscle loss.
Musculoskeletal System: Bone
- Bone growth is a process that starts in childhood, and the consequences of poor bone growth are seen in later adult life.
- The images illustrate the difference in bone structure between normal bone and osteoporosis.
Practical Implications of Age-Related Changes
- Understanding age-related changes is crucial for designing effective interventions, including exercise regimens, for older adults.
- The presentation discusses functional capacity—strength, VO2 Max, endurance, balance, and range of motion—and how they decline with age.
Conclusion
- The presentation emphasizes the importance of understanding age-related changes in various bodily systems to ensure appropriate care and support for older adults, and that activity and health maintenance can mitigate some of the effects.
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Description
Explore the fascinating physiological changes that occur with aging in Bobbi-Jo Atchison's insightful presentation. This quiz delves into the complexities of aging, examining statistical trends and defining old age, while also highlighting individual and environmental factors impacting seniors. Gain a deeper understanding of how age affects our cardiovascular, sensory, and musculoskeletal systems.
