Aging changes in the nervous system

As people age, the brain and nervous system go through natural changes. The brain and spinal cord lose nerve cells and weight. Nerve cells may begin to transmit messages more slowly than in the past. Waste products may collect in the brain tissue as nerve cells break down, causing plaques and tangles. Lipofuscin (a fatty brown pigment) may also accumulate in nerve tissue.

As nerves break down, the senses may be affected. Reflexes may be reduced or lost, leading to problems with movement and safety. Some slight slowing of thought, memory, and thinking seems to be a normal part of aging.

Despite these natural changes, many people have misconceptions about the nature and extent of these changes. A common myth is that all elderly people become senile. Many people blame increased confusion on "getting old" when it may really be caused by an illness.

These changes are not the same in everyone. Some people have many physical changes in their nerves and brain tissue, others have few. Some people will have atrophy and plaques, some will have plaques and tangles, and some will have other changes.

Furthermore, these changes are not always clearly related to how they impact your ability to think. For example, plaques and tangles are associated with Alzheimer's disease, but some people with the most severe symptoms have fewer plaques and tangles than those who have mild or moderate symptoms.

NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS IN THE ELDERLY

Delirium , dementia , and severe memory loss are NOT normal processes of aging. They can, however, be caused by degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Illnesses that are not related to the brain can also cause changes in thinking and behavior. For example, almost any infection can cause an older person to become severely confused. Another common cause of temporary difficulties with thinking and behavior is from unregulated glucose levels in people with diabetes. Fluctuations in glucose levels can cause thinking disturbances.