Age-Related Diseases: Examining Change & Diabetes in Senescence - Research Paper

Introduction

An aging-related disease is one that tends to increase with increasing frequency in senescence. Some of the most common age-related diseases include; cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, cancer, cataracts, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and atherosclerosis. The occurrence of all these diseases tend to increase significantly with age. This paper, therefore, seeks to evaluate the concepts of change and diseases as they relate to aging. The paper will also focus on diabetes type two as an age-related disease.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Firstly, geroscience is a new interdisciplinary that was discovered a while back and is focused on understanding the relations that exist between chronic age-related diseases and aging. Geroscience is based on experimental data and epidemiological data that aging has been proved to be a big risk factor. It as well assumes that age-related diseases and aging share a mutual set of biological structures (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2014).

As has been mentioned before, aging results in increased vulnerability to diseases that are age-related, while genetics determine the resistance or the vulnerability between individuals. Some age-associated changes, however, such as grey hair have been confirmed to be unrelated to growth in mortality (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2014).

Through research, several strategies have been developed to help fight age-associated diseases as well as degeneration. Such strategies are also meant to develop modern and improved procedures that can be used to repair the damages caused in the body as it ages. One of the most common strategies is the strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence. So far, this program has successfully been able to detect seven types of diseases related to aging and in response, developed possible solutions that could be implemented to deal with each of the diseases. Nonetheless, some critics argue that the program is too optimistic and that the aging process is quite complex and little is known of it to allow the SENS program to be implemented in the future (De Grey, 2005).

Important Factors in Defining an Older Adult as Well or Ill

As people grow older, they become more vulnerable to disability and diseases. Several factors can be used to categorise an old adult as well or ill. They include; susceptibility to injuries, development of non-communicable diseases, social isolation or exclusion, and mental disorders (AIHW, 2014).

When falls become common in an old adult, they are most likely ill. Falls lead to injuries and increase the probability of diseases and disabilities in much older people. Some of the injuries that can be caused by falls include fracture of the femur, which requires hospitalization and other expensive interventions for example, rehabilitation. Such functional restrictions eventually lead to the need for long-term care and other solutions such as admission to nursing homes.

Lack of energy and motivation may also be a sign of illness or impending illness in older adults. As is the norm, most people are most active in their youthful days, and as they age, the energy to exercise and do physical work gradually decreases. According to research conducted, evidence has shown that persons who are above 65 years who exercise regularly tend to have fewer cases of old-age associated illnesses such as colon cancer, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary heart diseases. Exercises lead to healthy bodies mass composition and consequently make a biomarker profile that better prevents cardiovascular diseases (Gaede, Vedel, Larsen, Jensen, Parving & Pedersen, 2003). Therefore if an old individual still shows energy enthusiasm, and motivation, then they are most likely in good health.

Healthy aging is often considered a life long process that begins at an early age and progresses gradually (Le Couteur, Naganathan, Cogger, Simpson & de Cabo, 2014). As such, when patterns of risky behavior are detected, it can result in reduced life quality and even death at an early age. Additionally, physical inactivity, use of tobacco accompanied by alcohol abuse and poor nutrition can all lead to the development of chronic diseases in older adults as they age which according to research contribute to 77% of burdens and 86% of deaths around Europe ((Le Couteur, 2014).

Other factors that may indicate signs of illnesses include; social isolation, feelings of hopelessness, and lack of self-worth and feelings of despair. There are categorised as risk factors or social determinants of ill health among the elderly. There is a looming danger associated with these determinants as they affect all aspects of health and wellbeing for instance risk of maltreatment, risk of mental health and depression and even admission to health facilities for problems that can be avoided for example malnutrition or severe dehydration. In general, older women across the world have high chances of suffering from social isolation as compared to their counterparts; older men.

The process of aging involves changes in the social, pathological, psychological, and physiological conditions of an individual. As such, it is important to maintain healthy nutrition since it affects the aging process as well (Germov, 2013). The pervasiveness of malnutrition keeps increasing by the day, and with it comes decreased bone mass, reduced cognitive function, immune dysfunction, and anemia. In other cases, due to reduced social, economic status, the elderly are often left to fend for themselves, which may interfere with their ability to maintain a good nutritional status (Germov, 2013). Regular diagnosis of malnutrition in older people is, therefore, necessary for them to maintain good health.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, previously known as adult-onset diabetes is a medical condition in which glucose or sugar levels build up within the bloodstream. Insulin is thus produced by the body to aid in the transportation of glucose from the bloodstream and into the cells where it is utilized for energy. In type 2 diabetes; therefore, the body cells tend to have difficulty in responding to insulin as is expected. As the illness progresses to other stages, the body becomes incapable of producing enough insulin to be used up. If uncontrolled, a type 2 diabetes may result in the development of other diseases such as high levels of glucose in the blood that could potentially lead to severe complications.

Primarily, type 2 diabetes occurs due to lack of exercise and obesity. Nonetheless, some individuals are at more risk due to inherited genes. It makes up about 90% of the diabetes cases, while the remaining 10% is made up of type 1 diabetes patients.

Causes of Type 2 diabetes

As mentioned before, different conditions such as obesity and genetics lead to insufficient production of insulin from beta cells in the body as a result of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the inability of body cells to respond normally to the right levels of insulin. This may occur in the liver, muscles, and fat tissues. While in normal conditions, the insulin prevents the release of glucose, when insulin resistance begins, the liver begins to inappropriately release glucose into the blood. The process occurs differently in different individuals meaning that the ratio of insulin resistance to beta-cell dysfunctions occurs differently among different elderly individuals. This may cause certain individuals to experience only a small problem in secreting insulin but a bigger problem of insulin resistance, while on the other hand some individuals may experience a small problem with resistance but a major problem in secretion of insulin (Withers, Gutierrez, Towery, Burks, Ren, Previs & Bonner-Weir, 1998).

Other equally important mechanisms associated with this type of diabetes and resistance of insulin is lack of and resistance of incretin, intensified breakdown of lipids found within fat cells, more retention of water and salts by the kidney, the inability of proper regulation of metabolism by the central nervous system and increased levels of glucagon within the blood. Nonetheless, not all individual who experience insulin resistance end up developing type 2 diabetes because, in order for the disease to develop, insulin secretion by the beta cells in the pancreas ought to have stopped as well.

Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

The most common symptoms for type 2 diabetes during its early stages are; frequent urination, also known as polyuria, increased thirst (polydipsia), increased hunger and loss of weight. Other symptoms that may be detected during diagnosis include itchiness, blurred vision, recurrent vaginal infections, neuropathy, and fatigue. For the first few years, many people do not show these symptoms, and they become apparent and diagnosed through routine testing. In uncommon cases, a few people often develop a condition of very high blood sugar levels, which might lead to reduced level of consciousness and low pressure. This condition is known as a hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (Stratton, Adler, Neil, Matthews, Manley, Cull, & Holman, 2000). As the disease progresses, so does the severity of the symptoms. At some point, the patient begins to experience dark patches on the skin; a condition referred to as acanthosis nigricans. Feelings of extreme numbness, slow healing of wounds, and yeast infections

Challenges to Lifestyle and Social Implications

Type 2 diabetes comes with a change in lifestyle if the individual is to get through. As such timely exercise accompanied by proper diets makes up the foundation of diabetic care. Increased exercise reduces the body's fat content, improves blood sugar level and reduces the level of lipid in the body additionally, it leads to reduced levels of HbA1c and improved sensitivity to insulin (Knowler, Barrett-Connor, Fowler, Hamman, Lachin, Walker & Nathan, 2002).

It is important that an elderly diabetic individual focus on a diet that promotes weight loss. And while the most suitable diet that can be used to achieve this is debatable, one method that can be used to better control blood sugar level is reducing the number of carbohydrates in the diet and low index of glycaemic index (Stratton, 2000). Also, adopting a reduced level of calorie diet immediately after the diagnosis of the disease may result in an improvement of the condition for the individual (Tuomilehto, Lindstrom, Eriksson, Valle, Hamalainen, Ilanne-Parikka & Salminen, 2001).

On the other hand, diets with more vegetable have been proved to lower the risks associated with diabetes, but in essence, they do not offer more advantages as compared to diets which contain fair amounts of animal products. If adoption of new lifestyles such as a change in diet does not result in better or improved conditions, it is important to provide culturally approved education to the persons suffering from type 2 diabetes for a period of up to 2 years. Additionally, the right medication can be considered to aid the condition.

Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes if properly managed, can reduce the risks of other associated diseases and even reduce pain for the patient. The most important aspect to focus on when attempting to manage diabetes is the lifestyle. This may include anything from the food that an individual takes to engaging in physical exercises. Other important measures that may be employed include maintaining the level of glucose in the blood and reducing cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, older adults with type 2 diabetes should highly be educated on the steps they ought to take towards healthier living. This, in combination with self-monitoring, may go a long way in ensuring they remain off the risks ((Tuomilehto et al. 2001).

Furthermore, learning how to manage other risks associated...