Over the past decades, scientific inquiry into the phenomenon of aging has produced extensive literature. Of great fascination is the mechanism that underlies aging process. From a biological perspective, aging takes a life course when an individual grows to maturity. During this phase in life, aging is not felt as a remarkable biological course due to the excitement that occurs during young age. However, the ageing coincides with explicit biological changes, especially the aspect of physical decline. It is this phase of ageing that has attracted the interests of both scientists and gerontologists. Scientists are focused on understanding the biology of aging. Biological studies indicate that ageing involves biological pathways such as the regulation of genes, metabolism and cellular signaling (López-Otín et al., 2013; Newgard & Pessin, 2014). These pathways play integral roles in controlling how the human body works including response to infection, stress, as well as recovery from injuries. On the other hand, gerontologists are concerned with the aspects of aging, in order to distinguish normal aging from disease. The task here involves establishing a clear boundary between normal aging and age-related health problems which have, for long, been considered as part of aging. For instance, the association of change in personality, especially during old age has been found to be an independent construct that does not have a significant relationship with normal ageing (National Institute of Health, 2015). In this respect, this paper provides a critical discussion on aspects of normal ageing, when combined with a chronic disease, may contribute to the development of disability, iatrogenic illness and geriatric syndromes, as well as elucidating the nurse’s role in limiting this risk. This topic has immense implications to clinical practice. Foremost, ageing is associated with chronic illnesses. Additionally, some aspects of ageing exhibit interplay with chronic illnesses to cause devastating health consequences such as disability, iatrogenic illness and geriatric syndromes. Therefore, nursing care should focus on addressing chronic illnesses, as well as preventing the development of disability, iatrogenic illness and geriatric syndromes. As such, this essay discusses how the combination of normal ageing aspects with chronic illnesses may lead to these adverse health conditions using the case of diabetes.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Impact of Diabetes on Aged Adults
3. Ageing and Body Changes
3.1 Tissue Changes
3.2 Hardening of the Blood Vessels
3.3 Renal Function Decline
3.4 Decreased Elasticity of the Gut Muscles
3.5 Physical Decline
3.6 Cognitive Decline
3.7 Visual Impairment
3.8 Sexual Tissue Changes
3.9 Physiologic Reserve and Function Decline
4. Impacts of Disability, Geriatric Syndromes and Iatrogenic Illness on Practice
5. Conclusion
6. References
Objectives and Core Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to explore the biological and physical aspects of normal aging and examine how their interplay with chronic diseases, specifically diabetes, increases the risk of disability, iatrogenic illness, and geriatric syndromes, while also identifying the crucial role of nursing care in mitigating these risks.
- Biological mechanisms of aging at cellular and molecular levels.
- The synergistic impact of diabetes and aging on health deterioration.
- Clinical implications of age-related physical and cognitive decline.
- The role of nursing interventions in preventing disability and iatrogenic outcomes.
- Strategies for managing chronic conditions to improve the quality of life in the elderly.
Excerpt from the Book
Hardening of the Blood Vessels
One of the tissue changes with devastating health consequences during the process of ageing is the hardening of the blood vessels. Anatomical studies indicate that ageing is accompanied by changes in the blood vessels. For instance, blood vessels in the heart have been found to lose their elasticity as one grows old. Additionally, fatty deposits accumulate on the coronary blood vessels. This tissue change is of great concern because it increases the risk of heart disease. From a biological perspective, build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels leads to the formation of plaques, a phenomenon referred to as atherosclerosis. This is the hardening of the arteries which interferes with the laminar flow of blood, especially in the coronary arteries. In adult diabetic patients, the development of atherosclerosis increases the risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Evidence from biomedical studies indicates that atherosclerosis serves as the main cause of hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart attack, as well as other cardiovascular conditions. In the elderly, blood vessel tissue changes increases the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, atherosclerosis or rather hypertension is associated with stroke. This explains why most old people are suffering from stroke compared to other populations. Therefore, the combination of this phenomenon with diabetes leads to the development of disability. It is apparent that stroke accounts for a high percentage of disability among the elderly. Global epidemiological data show that stroke is among the chronic conditions that are causing disability (Chappell & Cooke, 2010).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the biological phenomenon of aging and sets the scope for discussing how normal aging aspects, when combined with chronic illness, contribute to disability and geriatric syndromes.
Impact of Diabetes on Aged Adults: Examines the prevalence of diabetes in older populations and its significant role as a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction, physical disability, and iatrogenic disease.
Ageing and Body Changes: Details specific biological transformations in the elderly, including tissue changes, cardiovascular, renal, and cognitive decline, and their progression towards clinical health issues.
Impacts of Disability, Geriatric Syndromes and Iatrogenic Illness on Practice: Discusses the necessity for evidence-based nursing interventions, emphasizing proper nutrition and lifestyle management to prevent adverse health outcomes.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings and provides final recommendations for clinical practice, focusing on identifying geriatric syndromes early and managing stressors that influence the aging process.
Keywords
Aging, Diabetes, Disability, Iatrogenic Illness, Geriatric Syndromes, Nursing Care, Chronic Illness, Atherosclerosis, Cognitive Decline, Physical Decline, Renal Function, Nutrition Therapy, Frailty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the relationship between the natural aging process and the development of chronic illnesses, focusing on how these factors interact to cause disability and geriatric syndromes in the elderly.
What are the primary health issues discussed?
The central themes include the physiological changes of aging, the impact of diabetes on these processes, and the resulting development of iatrogenic diseases and geriatric syndromes.
What is the main objective of the study?
The goal is to analyze how normal aging, when combined with chronic diseases like diabetes, leads to health complications and to clarify the essential role of nurses in limiting these risks through clinical intervention.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The paper employs a critical discussion and review of existing biomedical and clinical literature to connect biological aging theories with current nursing practices.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers specific biological changes such as tissue aging, blood vessel hardening, renal function decline, and cognitive impairment, while highlighting their relationship with chronic diabetes management.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include aging, diabetes, disability, iatrogenic illness, geriatric syndromes, nursing care, and physical or cognitive decline.
How does atherosclerosis specifically impact diabetic patients in this study?
The study notes that atherosclerosis in diabetic patients significantly increases the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, which are major contributors to disability in the elderly.
Why does the author emphasize the role of nurses in nutrition therapy?
The author argues that nutrition therapy is vital for diabetic elderly patients to improve glycemic control and lipid profiles, thereby preventing the escalation of chronic complications.
What is the clinical significance of polypharmacy in this context?
Polypharmacy is identified as a major factor in causing drug-drug or drug-disease interactions, which frequently leads to iatrogenic diseases in older adults with multiple chronic conditions.
How is the relationship between personality changes and aging addressed?
Contrary to earlier beliefs that personality changes were a normal part of aging, the paper cites the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging to suggest that such shifts are often linked to loss of brain volume and the onset of mental health disorders.
- Quote paper
- Patrick Kimuyu (Author), 2018, Aspects of Normal Ageing and Their Relationship with the Development of Disability, Iatrogenic Illness and Geriatric Syndromes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/412263
