Physiological changes in older men: decline in digestive, nervous, cardiovascular, and sexual functions.

**V.** Dietary Health Care for Elderly Men

**(** **One** **)** **Old** **Years** **Male** **Sex**

**The** **physiological** **functions** and **sexual** **functions**

**1.** **Physiological Functions of Elderly Men**

After the age of 40, the body's form and function gradually show signs of aging.

It is generally believed that the period from 45 to 65 years old is the early stage of aging, and those over 65 are considered to be the old age. Elderly people, in their physical condition...

A series of changes have occurred in both body morphology and function, mainly manifested in: ① body composition

The proportion of metabolically inactive components increases in 65-year-olds compared to 20-year-olds; body fat percentage is higher.

The excess can reach 10% to 20% of body weight; however, intracellular water content decreases with age.

The decreasing trend leads to a reduction in intracellular fluid, resulting in a decrease in cell number and the appearance of organ dysfunction.

Atrophy. ② Decreased organ function, especially digestive, absorptive, metabolic, and excretory functions.

And impaired circulatory function. If not properly addressed, this will further accelerate the aging process.

(1) Changes in digestive function in the elderly:

1) Elderly people experience tooth decay due to periodontal disease, dental caries, and atrophic changes in teeth.

Tooth loss or significant wear can impair chewing and digestion of food.

2) The average number of taste buds on the tongue papillae is greatly reduced, with 248 in children and 75 years old.

The above numbered 30 to 40 elderly people, most of whom experienced abnormalities in their sense of taste and smell.

3) Mucosal atrophy and decreased motor function. This can occur in 50% of individuals over 60 years of age.

Atrophic changes occur in the gastric mucosa, including thinning of the gastric mucosa, atrophy of muscle fibers, and prolonged gastric emptying time.

Longer digestive tract motility is reduced, especially intestinal peristalsis, which can easily lead to indigestion and constipation.

4) Digestive glands atrophy, digestive juice secretion decreases, and digestive capacity declines.

Atrophy of the gastric glands reduces saliva secretion, resulting in thinner saliva and lower amylase content; gastric juice

Decreased stomach volume and acidity, along with insufficient pepsin, not only affect food digestion but also contribute to the decline in digestion in the elderly.

One of the causes of iron-deficiency anemia in humans is decreased secretion of trypsin, lipase, and amylase.

Less activity and reduced digestive capacity significantly impair the body's ability to digest food.

5) Decreased insulin secretion and impaired glucose tolerance. Reduced number of hepatocytes.

Less blood and more fibrous tissue lead to decreased detoxification and protein synthesis abilities, resulting in blood...

A decrease in plasma albumin and a relative increase in globulin consequently affect plasma colloid osmotic pressure.

This can lead to impaired tissue fluid production and reflux, making edema more likely.

(2) Changes in the function of nerve tissue in the elderly:

1) The number of nerve cells gradually decreases, and brain weight decreases. It is estimated that the number of brain cells...

The decline begins after age 30, becomes more pronounced after age 60, and can drop to 60% of one's youthful level by age 75.

2) Cerebral arteriosclerosis increases cerebral blood flow resistance, reducing the utilization rate of oxygen and nutrients.

This decline leads to a gradual deterioration of brain function and the appearance of certain neurological symptoms, such as memory loss.

It can cause dementia, forgetfulness, insomnia, and even mood changes and certain mental symptoms.

(3) Changes in cardiovascular function in the elderly:

1) Physiological aging of the heart is mainly manifested in myocardial atrophy and fibrotic changes.

This causes myocardial sclerosis and endocardial sclerosis, leading to a decrease in the heart's pumping efficiency, reducing the number of blood pumped per minute.

Effective circulating blood volume is reduced. Physiological and pathological sclerosis of the coronary arteries reduces myocardial...

Reduced blood flow and decreased oxygen consumption further impact cardiac function, and may even lead to heart failure.

The patient presents with clinical symptoms of insufficient blood supply to the myocardium, such as angina pectoris.

2) Blood vessels also undergo a series of changes with age. After age 50, blood vessels...

Physiological sclerosis of the vessel wall gradually becomes apparent, the elasticity of the vessel wall decreases, and many elderly people also have blood...

Lipid deposition in the vessel walls reduces their elasticity and increases their fragility. This results in increased fragility in the elderly.

The blood vessels' ability to regulate blood pressure decreases, and peripheral vascular resistance increases, making blood pressure lower in the elderly.

Pressure often rises; the effective number of capillaries in organs and tissues decreases and resistance increases.

It reduces tissue blood flow, making tissues and organs more susceptible to nutritional deficiencies; it also increases vascular fragility.

In addition, slower blood flow significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events in the elderly.

The incidence of diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral thrombosis is significantly higher in young people.

(4) Changes in respiratory function in the elderly:

1) In the elderly, due to the atrophy of respiratory muscles, thoracic bones, and ligaments, the elasticity of alveoli decreases.

Decreased elasticity of the trachea and bronchi often leads to frequent enlargement of the alveoli and pulmonary edema.

Emphysema significantly reduces vital capacity and pulmonary ventilation, decreases the number of alveoli, and reduces effective gas volume.

The reduced exchange area decreases the efficiency of oxygen renewal and carbon dioxide removal in the lungs.

2) Slower blood flow, reduced number of capillaries, and decreased tissue cell function.

Changes in membrane permeability reduce cellular respiration and decrease oxygen utilization.

(5) Other changes in the elderly:

1) Changes in skin and hair: Due to malnutrition of subcutaneous blood vessels,

Degeneration of the hair medulla and keratin can lead to thinning hair and hair loss; impaired melanin synthesis can...

Hair and beard turn white; skin elasticity decreases, subcutaneous fat decreases, and intracellular...

Dehydration can lead to loose skin and wrinkles.

2) Changes in bones: As we age, the content of inorganic salts in bones increases.

A decrease in calcium content reduces bone elasticity and toughness, increasing brittleness. Therefore, older adults are more prone to...

Osteoporosis greatly increases the risk of fractures.

3) Changes in the urinary system: The kidneys shrink and become smaller, renal blood flow decreases, and the kidneys become smaller.

Decreased glomerular filtration rate and renal tubular reabsorption capacity lead to decreased renal function.

4) Changes in the reproductive system: The secretion of sex hormones gradually decreases after the age of 40.

Decreased sexual function. Many elderly men experience prostatic hyperplasia of the prostate, and prostatic enlargement can lead to...

This can cause difficulty in urinating.

5) Decreased endocrine function, weakened metabolic activity, and reduced biotransformation processes

Slower metabolism leads to decreased detoxification ability. The body's immune function weakens, making it more susceptible to infectious diseases.

6) Changes in facial features: Decreased lens elasticity, reduced ciliary muscle accommodation ability, and more...

Presbyopia develops, causing blurred vision at close range. Hearing loss, and decreased sense of smell and taste also occur.

7) Metabolically, catabolism often exceeds anabolism; if attention is not paid to nutrition and...

A poorly planned diet can easily lead to a negative metabolic balance.

8) Changes in personality and mentality: Older adults gradually become slower in their movements and reactions.

Poor adaptability, repetitive speech, mood changes, irritability, or social withdrawal.

Words. Bereavement or family discord can have a negative impact on emotions.

**2. Changes in sexual function in older men**

(1) The occurrence of the "second refractory period": in elderly men, the second refractory period occurs within 24 hours after ejaculation.

Internally, the penis has difficulty achieving an erection again, the refractory period is prolonged, and sexual response becomes sluggish. Young men

In most men, the penis can achieve full erection within 3-5 seconds during the excitement phase, while in older men...

The duration of penile erection should generally increase by more than double, and in some cases, it may take even longer.

Strong stimulation is required for an erection. Young men can repeatedly achieve an erection without ejaculating.

Erection; however, in older men, the penis becomes flaccid after a full erection if ejaculation does not occur, and further ejaculation may be difficult.

Erections are extremely difficult, and often, no matter how much stimulation is applied, it is difficult to return to the excited phase. Some people...

This is called the "second refractory period," which is a normal physiological phenomenon and not erectile dysfunction.

(2) Weak erection: Before ejaculation, the glans penis of a young man is not fully erect.

Blood, erection is firm. However, some older men do not reach full penetration even when they are close to ejaculation.

He can achieve a full erection, but its firmness is much less than when he was younger, though he can still complete sexual intercourse.

(3) Significantly reduced ejaculation force: The ejaculation range of young men is generally...

The range of semen ejaculation is typically 30-60 centimeters, while in older men it is generally only 10-30 centimeters, and sometimes...

It wasn't "ejaculated," but rather slowly flowed out from the external urethral opening.

(4) Decreased responsiveness of the scrotum and testicles: In older men, during sexual arousal,

The scrotal congestion response is significantly reduced, and the thickening and tightening of the scrotal skin are not very obvious; contraction...

The testicular erection response is weakened, and during ejaculation, the erection typically only reaches a certain level.

About one-third of the normal level. During orgasm, testicular congestion is rare in older men.

A large reaction occurs, and the testes can increase in size by 70% when young.