Pathy's Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine. Группа авторов
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The major actor in extrinsic ageing, ultraviolet light, originates from sun irradiation. Two types of ultraviolet light are responsible for skin damage: ultraviolet A (UVA) and B (UVB). UVA penetrates to the dermis layer, whereas UVB penetrates only to the epidermis. UVB is responsible for sunburn and epidermal carcinogenesis. UVA is more responsible for the photoageing of skin than UVB. UVA and UVB, along with other precipitating factors such as smoking, contribute to the skin’s ageing, characterized by wrinkles, shrinking, and fragility. The more the skin is exposed to the sun, the more rapidly ageing occurs.96‐97
Age‐related changes in the skin
The stratum corneum, which is responsible for the barrier function of the epidermis, remains the same thickness with age. Keratinocytes are the primary cell type in the epidermis. Their turnover rate decreases, and as a result, wound healing takes longer in elderly people. Slow keratinocyte renewal leads to increased fragility of the epidermis and increased susceptibility to physical and chemical damage. Melanocytes, the cells responsible for pigmentation, decrease and regenerate more slowly, leading to dark age spots. Langerhans cells are responsible for the immune defence of the epidermis against carcinogenesis and infections. They also decrease with age, resulting in an increase in skin tumours and infections.98 Vitamin D production also takes place in the epidermis. Elderly people tend to avoid sun compared to young adults, and vitamin D precursors are reduced in their epidermis. Thus, the production rate of vitamin D decreases with age.
The skin dermis loses its thickness with age. A decrease in collagen production and loss of fat cells contribute to the lessening of the dermis. Clinically, while the dermis becomes thinner due to these mechanisms, the skin appears wrinkled and sagging. Collagen and fatty tissue are responsible for the skin’s endurance against physical damage. As these are lost in the dermis with age, the skin becomes more fragile and is easily damaged or torn as the result of even minor physical insults. Sebum production from the sebaceous glands decreases with age, along with dermis vascularization and the number of sweat glands. These mechanisms cause the skin to seem dry and rough. Dermis vascularization and sweating from sweat glands are major actors for balancing body temperature and losing heat from the skin.99 Since both mechanisms are impaired with age, elderly people tend to experience hyperthermia in hot weather. The opposite is also true: vasoconstriction of dermis arterioles and shivering are also impaired with age, resulting in undesired heat loss from the skin in cold weather.
Subcutaneous atrophy of fatty tissue changes the facial expression in the elderly. The cheeks become thinner, periorbital fatty tissue lessens, and cartilage such as that in the nose and ears seems to be enlarged. Subcutaneous fatty tissue increases in the abdomen.100 Hair loss and greying hair, which have a genetic basis inherited from previous generations, cause an undesired appearance. Hair in the ears and nostrils and near the lips grows with age, and nails become harder, thicker, and yellowish. Toenails may become hard to cut, causing irregular growth and infections.
Key points
The fundamental change in the nervous system that occurs with age is slowing, and it shows individual variations.
Ageing individuals exhibit slower sensory perception of information; slower transmission, processing, and interpretation of information; and slower responses to information.
Clinically, individuals become prone to coronary heart disease, hypertension, arrhythmia, and varicose veins.
A decrease in oestrogen is prominent after menopause, and it is responsible for postmenopausal symptoms. However, replacement therapy is not recommended after the age of 60 due to significant adverse effects.
Testosterone is the hormone most closely related to muscle size and strength. Replacement may be beneficial for sarcopenia, although adverse risks should be considered.
Loss of teeth is an important precipitating factor for digestive problems and loss of appetite.
Constipation prevalence increases with age because of slow peristalsis, changed muscular tone, trauma of the pelvic muscles (especially in women), and a fibre‐poor diet.
Liver‐mediated clearance of drugs slows with age, resulting in susceptibility to drug overdose.
Inflammageing is the presence of additional pathological mechanisms to immunosenescence.
Cigarette smoking, chemicals, and air pollutants contribute to the parenchymal destruction of alveoli. Cigarette smoking is responsible for 50% of larynx and lung cancers.
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