AGEING The result of a combination of natural, largely genetically programmed changes Occurring in all body systems. Diseases or injuries may influence these changes, which impair the body's homeostatic mechanisms. A person's environment and lifestyle also affect the ageing process. The effects of ageing include: cessation of menstruation; wrinkling of the skin because of a loss of elastic tissue; (telling memory (especially short term) and less ability to learn new skills along with slowed responses - changes caused by the loss of or less ifficient working of nerve cells; the senses become less acute; the lungs become less effi-gient as does heart muscle, both causing a fall in Wercise tolerance; arteries harden, which remits in a rise in blood pressure and poor blood oifculation; joints are less mobile, bones beome more brittle (osteoporosis) and muscle bulk Mid strength are reduced; the lens of the eye becomes less elastic, resulting in poorer sights Mild it may also become opaque (cataract).
In developed countries people are
living longer, in part because infant and child mortality rates have dropped
dramatically over the Met 100 years or so. Improved standards of living and
more effective health care have also OOntributed to greater longevity. The
proportion of people over 65 years of age has greatly increased and that of
the over 75s is still rising. In 1952, 255 people in the
Help and advice can be obtained from Age Concern and Help the Aged
