MODULE SUPPLEMENT: NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM
Introduction

This module in the biology of aging series focuses on changes that occur in the neurological system and how these changes influence both the functional status of older adults and approaches to providing care. At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the neurologic, muscle, endocrine, and skeletal systems are highly inter-related making assessment of changes that occur and their clinical implications difficult to discuss in total isolation.

For example, muscles continuously transmit information regarding position to the central nervous system and receive messages back to promote movement or re-alignment. Muscle activity and strength influence bone growth and development. And hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, and growth hormone, influence muscle, bone, and brain growth and development.

Given this caveat, the objectives of the current module are to:

1. Describe age related structural and metabolic/biochemical changes that affect neurons, glia cells, and synapses in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

2. Delineate the impact of age related changes in the neurologic system on neurologic and cognitive function.

3. Distinguish normal cognitive changes that occur with age from dementing processes, and differentiate among types of dementing processes.

4. After reviewing the modules on neurologic, muscle, endocrine, and skeletal changes with age, evaluate their inter-relationships and overlapping impact on the functional status of older adults.

Please note that a reference listing is found on the last page of this module. All references used (excepting those linked to during the module) are listed.