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Absorption of nutrients: As people age, the amount of water in the body decreases. As a result, the body's ability to absorb water-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin C, is reduced. This also means that there is less saliva and lubricating fluids, such as vaginal secretions. In patients who are older than 65 years old, the intestines cannot absorb calcium from the diet as well. As a result, the body produces parathyroid hormone, which stimulates the body to take some of the calcium from bones and put it in the bloodstream. This can lead to osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become hollow and brittle. Digestion: As people age, less stomach acid is produced. The body uses stomach acid to break down foods. Therefore, elderly patients may have difficulty digesting foods. Fertility and hormonal changes: As females age, they are less likely to become pregnant. This gradual decline in fertility usually starts very subtly in the late 20s to age 35. Once a female goes through menopause, she is no longer able to have a baby. Most females go through menopause when they are 40 years old or older. Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, irritability, vaginal dryness, mood swings, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, loss of sex drive, weight gain, depression, and tender breasts. After menopause, women have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition that causes the bones to become hollow and brittle. This is because the lower levels of estrogen in the body accelerate bone loss. As males age, they tend to experience a decrease in their sex hormone, which is called testosterone. This process is called andropause. Most males go through andropause when they are between the ages of 40 and 55 years old. Common symptoms of andropause include fatigue, depression, hot flashes, night sweats, infertility, decreased sex drive, and erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, occurs when a male is unable to achieve or maintain an erection. Incontinence: As people age, they are more likely to experience a condition called incontinence. This occurs when a patient is unable to control urination or defecation. Physical characteristics: As humans age, their hair typically turns gray or white. Some individuals (male and female) may experience hair loss or thinning. The skin may become wrinkled or have beige-colored spots, which are commonly called age spots. Some areas of the skin, such as under the eyes or under the chin, may sag. As people age, fat is more likely to increase while muscle decreases. In general, fat is most likely to accumulate in the thighs and stomach. Researchers estimate that the proportion of fat to muscle may increase by as much as 30% with age. This is because the body's ability to remove fats from the body is limited in elderly people. Therefore, more fats, including cholesterol, are stored in the body. Protein formation, which is reduced, leads to shrinkage in muscle mass and decreased bone formation. Therefore, reduced protein formation may contribute to the development of hollow, brittle, bones. Muscle strength of coordination lessens over time. As a result, people tend to lose mobility, agility, and flexibility as they age. Body weight typically declines after the age of 55 due to the loss of lean tissue, water, and bone density. Senses: Hearing, especially the ability to hear high-pitched tones, declines with age. The ability to smell and taste also declines with age. Vision generally declines with age. An estimated 42% of people ages 52-64 experience presbyopia, which describes a reduced ability to focus on close-up objects. An estimated 73% of people ages 65-74 and, and 92% of people older than 75, experience presbyopia. Removing wastes from the blood: Over time, the liver and kidneys, which are responsible for filtering wastes and toxins from the blood, become less efficient. As a result, drugs that are broken down by liver are not inactivated as quickly in the elderly as they are in younger patients. This means that elderly patients may require lower dosages of some medications in order to prevent side effects from occurring. The changes in the kidneys may reduce the patient's ability to urinate and increase the amount of water retained in the body.
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