Aging and the Nervous System Discussion Paper

The selected health condition for this project is depression in older adults. Depression is less common in the aging population than in younger people. However, depression has more adverse consequences in older adults than younger ones, making it a global health concern. Late-onset depression results from different elements: biological, spiritual, social, and personality factors. Biological factors may include misregulating neurohormonal pathways, dopamine, and norepinephrine systems primarily linked to depression (Fiske et al., 2009). Besides, when one age, they are at risk of various illnesses such as diabetes, dementia, and neurocognitive ailments that increase the prevalence of depression among older adults. Others are genetically predisposed to late-onset depression. Psychosocial and social elements leading to depression among older adults include the fact that there are limited socialization and high inactivity levels that could cause depression.  Aging and the Nervous System Discussion Paper

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The prevention of late-onset depression often targets those at risk of the disorder. One of the most common and primarily considered preventive approaches is providing treatment to those exhibiting subsyndromal depressive symptoms (Fiske et al., 2009). Treatment of symptoms such as insomnia and sleep disturbance could prevent future depressive episodes among older adults. Other preventive efforts are concerned with other persons at risk of depression, such as those physically ill or with different forms of disability or who are bereaved. Interventions for these groups of people include education and cognitive-behavior therapy. Other preventive techniques for late-onset depression are group support and skills training. Ribeiro et al. (2020) argued that encouraging a positive focus on life is one of the solutions to prevent depression among older adults. Since old age includes a long period of years, it is integral to improve the quality of life for older adults to avoid depression. Aging and the Nervous System Discussion Paper

References

Fiske, A., Wetherell, J. L., & Gatz, M. (2009). Depression in older adults. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 5(1), 363-389. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.032408.153621

Ribeiro, O., Teixeira, L., Araújo, L., Rodríguez-Blázquez, C., Calderón-Larrañaga, A., & Forjaz, M. J. (2020). Anxiety, depression, and quality of life in older adults: Trajectories of influence across age. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23), 9039. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239039 Aging and the Nervous System Discussion Paper

Discussion: Aging and the Nervous System
A better understanding of how the brain ages can provide important information on which to base strategies for maintaining and enhancing cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor function. For example, studies have shown that, contrary to what scientists believed for decades, new neurons form in certain regions of the brain even in adulthood. This phenomenon, known as neurogenesis, suggests that we may be able to develop medical and behavioral approaches to stimulate formation of new neurons to compensate for the loss and functional decline of neurons with aging, disease, or traumatic injury (National Institute of Aging, 2021). The population continue to age, it is essential to understand the pathophysiology and effects on aging on the nervous system.

To prepare:

Review the resources and reflection on neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders that affect older adults
Choose a frequently occurring disease process from a peer review journal article relevant to the week’s topics.
Conduct a literature search on a neurocognitive and psychiatric disorder in older adults.
Submit a short anecdotal bibliography; please refer to https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/annotated_bibliography_samples.htmlLinks to an external site. for APA example.
Describe the normal physiology process and abnormal pathologic alterations of the disease. May use, McCance & Huether (2018).
Point out how the disease process relates to the prevention, restoration, and/or modification of genetics, environment, and/or lifestyles.
Synthesize the information presented in a brief conclusion. Aging and the Nervous System Discussion Paper