Diseases of old age, or senile diseases, are a group of diseases that appear in seniors. The most common are Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, as well as cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Check what other diseases the elderly are struggling with.
Elderly diseases , or senile diseases, is a group of diseases that are diagnosed in most seniors. Currently, the aging process of the population is observed, with the ever-increasing number of people reaching old age, therefore, diseases of old age are more and more often diagnosed. It is estimated that currently more than half of seniors are subject to aging, which is characterized by the occurrence of numerous ailments, gradually leading to permanent impairment of functioning in everyday life. Elderly people most often complain of memory impairment, mood swings, speech disorders and slowness of movement (or trouble moving), hearing problems and visual impairment. Problems with the heart and the circulatory and respiratory systems are also a problem. Only every 5-10 elderly person does not struggle with any diseases.
The most common diseases of old age
1. Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease, which is manifested by memory loss, reasoning and orientation, is the most common disease in old age. According to a report by the Supreme Audit Office, up to half a million people in Poland may suffer from this disease. By 2050, this number - according to various estimates - will even quadruple.
2. Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a disease of the nervous system manifested by trembling limbs and impaired speech. According to data from 2015, over 80,000 people suffer from Parkinson's disease in Poland. people. It is estimated that every year there will be about 4-8 thousand people. new cases of this disease.
3. Hypertension
Hypertension is one of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system in the elderly. The frequency of its occurrence increases with age - in the entire population of adult Poles it is 30%, while in people over 65 - 75%. The highest prevalence of hypertension was found in people between 70 and 74 years of age. It is related to the processes that take place in the arteries as we age.It is mainly about the stiffness of the vessels that increases with the passage of time. With age, the regulation of sodium excretion is also disturbed, which is also the cause of hypertension.
Other common cardiovascular diseases in the elderly include ischemic heart disease, chronic heart failure and heart defects.
GOOD TO KNOW>> 4. Nowotwory Patients over 65 constitute over 60% of cancer patients in Europe and North America and it is estimated that in the next 30 years this percentage is likely to increase by another 10%. The most common cancers in the elderly are lung cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. The vast majority of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract concern the elderly, incl. esophageal cancer, cancers of the stomach, pancreas, and colon. Other cancers often diagnosed in seniors include kidney and bladder cancer, skin cancer (other than melanoma), and multiple myeloma. 5. Diabetes Research shows that the peak incidence of type 2 diabetes occurs around the age of 60. It is estimated that almost 40 percent of them struggle with it. people over 65 years of age. Experts note that in the elderly, diabetes may proceed without overt symptoms. Factors that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in the elderly include: overweight or obesity (increased amount of fat tissue), especially abdominal obesity, reduced physical activity, and impaired kidney and liver function. CHECK>> 6. Osteoarthritis The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age, although there are older people who do not struggle with it. Currently, arthrosis affects half of people over the age of 50. 7. Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a disease that increases in incidence with age. People over 70 are most exposed to osteoporosis. The essence of the disease is the reduction of bone strength, which increases bone fragility. Fractures caused by osteoporosis cause significant morbidity and mortality (due to complications, as many as 20% of patients with femoral fractures die within six months after the fracture, and more than 50% in the next year). 8. Depression According to the data of the Central Statistical Office, 12 percent the oldest people (at least 70 years old - women twice as often as men) admit that they struggle with depression. Characterizesit is, among others depressed mood, unreasonable sadness and loss of interest. Loneliness is the most common cause of depression in seniors. However, its causes can also be found in drugs taken to treat other diseases.