Question

1)Provide at least three examples of common health problems associated with ageing. For each, highlight the appropriate actions in response, as well as when they may need to be referred elsewhere (75-100 words)

2)Describe dementia as a progressive neurological condition and the pathological features of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and the loss of connection between cells and cell death. (100-150 words)

3)

Answer 1

Q.N. 1

1. Cardio vascular problems: Cardio vascular problems like hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardio myopathy etc are some of the common complications old age people experience. As age advances, the deposits of cholesterol particles in the blood vessels increases. This will lead to hardening and narrowing of the blood vessels called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a common risk factor for the development of hypertension and other associated cardiac problems.In elderly patients with atherosclerosis, they need to go for regular blood examination, cardiac monitoring, ECG monitoring etc. they need to continue the life long medications to reduce the elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol level etc. Cardio vascular problems can eventually affect other body systems also. Hence a regular examination of renal system, nervous system etc are very important.

2.Osteo porosis: It is an another common old age problem. Due to decreased bone mass, bone density and reduced calcium intake osteoporosis develops. It is a common risk factor for the development of easily fracture of the extrimities.Osteoporosis may leads to osteo arthritis also.In such situation, the patient need to continue with calcium intake life long. They must be protected from frequent falls and injuries.

3.Cataract and Refractive errors: They are another common health problems in elderly. As the age advances, the power of human lense will alter. The opacity of the lens will develop and this may cause serious vision problems. Regularly monitor thr vision of the patient and adjust it with power adjusted glasses. Alterd vision may cause falls, injuries etc. So night time, provide adequate lighting in the room to avoid frequent falls. Corrective glasses to improve the eye function can be provided. Still the problems continue which may affect the quality of life, then plan for surgical management.

Q.N.2

Dementia is a common neurological problem affecting the elderly.It is a progressive deterioration of the neuronal activity to pass th neural information effectively between the nervous system and cells.Dementia is not a single disease. It contains a group of neuro cognitive manifestations such as alterd memory, forgetfulness,altered communication, decreased activity, problem solving etc. It is a common disoder of elderly population.Dementia usually develop in the old age population. Which may markedly affect the quality of life of individuals.

Though there are so many pathological process associated with dementia, deveopment of Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are some of the common pathophysiological process associated with the development of dementia. The amyloid plaques and neuro fibrillary tangles will differ in their structure. Amyloid plaques are clusters that seen in dementia patients in the spaces between the nerve cells, whereas the neurofibrillary tangles are the knot of the brain cells. the amyloid plaques are very e hard, insoluble accumulations of beta amyloid proteins that clump together between the nerve cells.In the pathophysiology of dementia these  both paricles thought to interfere with the transmission of nervous messages within the brain tissue and then connection between the cells is lost.