Age Related Changes In The Endocrine System Essay

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Age related changes in the endocrine system 1. Describe the effect of aging on the functions of the endocrine pancreas. As an individual ages, there are natural changes that ensue – the amount of hormone produced by a specific endocrine gland can alter as well as the effectiveness of that hormone on its target receptor. In regards to the pancreas, with age, there is a normal and progressive increase of blood glucose levels due to deterioration in the function of pancreatic cells. Every ten years of life there tends to be an increase of 1mg/dL or 0.6mmol/L of ones fasting blood glucose levels and an increase of 5mg/dL or 0.28mmol/L of ones glucose stimulated blood glucose levels. After reaching the age of 50, every decade there is a greater increase of 6-14mg/dL of a person’s fasting blood glucose levels. When comparing two people, one young and one elderly, with the same body mass index: the elder person typically has a greater insulin and glucose level than the young person – given the elder person is normoglycaemic. These gradual changes in blood glucose are much more dramatic in persons who bear risk factors for abnormal glucose tolerance. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is indicated by defective insulin sensitivity and secretion. Insulin resistance is…show more content…
With age there is a rise in parathyroid hormone levels, whose function is to increase blood calcium levels. On the contrary however, calcium absorption decreases with age – note: this could also be a cause of nutritional intake. This increase of parathyroid hormone levels can demonstrate secondary hyperparathyroidism due to a lack of vitamin D in the body, along with being caused by a reduction of the kidneys capacity to reabsorb calcium. In conclusion, with age, there is an increase of parathyroid hormone levels and a decrease in vitamin D
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