BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAging changes in the nervous systemThe brain and nervous system are your body's central control center. They control your body's: Movements Senses Thoughts and memories They also help control the organs such as your heart and bowels.Nerves are the pathways that carry signals to and from your brain and the rest of your body. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs from your brain down the center of your back. Nerves extend out from the spinal cord to every part of your body. AGING CHANGES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM As you age, your brain and nervous system go through natural changes. Your brain and spinal cord lose nerve cells and weight (atrophy). Nerve cells may begin to pass messages more slowly than in the past. Waste products or other chemicals such as beta amyloid can collect in the brain tissue as nerve cells break down. This can cause abnormal changes in the brain called plaques and tangles to form. A fatty brown pigment (lipofuscin) can also build up in nerve tissue.LipofuscinLipofuscin is a brownish pigment left over from the breakdown and absorption of damaged blood cells. Lipofuscin is found in heart muscle and smooth m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Breakdown of nerves can affect your senses. You might have reduced or lost reflexes or sensation. This leads to problems with movement and safety and makes it more likely to suffer falls.Slowing of thought, memory, and thinking is a normal part of aging. These changes are not the same in everyone. Some people have many changes in their nerves and brain tissue. Others have few changes. These changes are not always related to the effects on your ability to think. NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS IN OLDER PEOPLEDementia and severe memory loss are not a normal part of aging. They can be caused by brain diseases such as Alzheimer disease, which doctors believe is associated with plaques and tangles forming in the brain.DementiaDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Alzheimer diseaseDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It affects memo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Delirium is sudden confusion that leads to changes in thinking and behavior. It is often due to illnesses that are not related to the brain. Infection can cause an older person to become severely confused. Certain medicines can also cause or complicate this.Thinking and behavior problems can also be caused by poorly controlled diabetes. Rising and falling blood sugar levels can interfere with thought.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Talk with your health care provider if you have any changes in: Memory Thought Ability to perform a task Seek medical help right away if these symptoms occur suddenly or along with other symptoms. A change in thinking, memory, or behavior is important if it is different from your normal patterns or it affects your lifestyle. PREVENTION Mental and physical exercise can help your brain stay sharp. Mental exercises include: Reading Doing crossword puzzles Stimulating conversation Physical exercise promotes blood flow to your brain. It also helps reduce loss of brain cells. OTHER CHANGESAs you grow older, you will have other changes, including: In organs, tissues, and cells In organs, tissues, and cellsAll vital organs begin to lose some function as you age. Aging changes occur in all of the body's cells, tissues, and organs, and these changes affe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the heart and blood vessels In the heart and blood vesselsSome changes in the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age. However, many other changes that are common with aging are due to or worsened b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the vital signs In the vital signsVital signs include body temperature, heart rate (pulse), breathing (respiratory) rate, and blood pressure. As you age, your vital signs may change,...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the sensesIn the sensesAs you age, the way your senses (hearing, vision, taste, smell, touch) give you information about the world changes. Your senses become less sharp, ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBasco MD, Gorgon EJ, Barredo R, Schulte OJ, Stephens J, Ann J. Aging, dementia, and disorders of cognition. In: Lazaro RT, Reina-Guerra SG, Quiben MU, eds. Umphred's Neurological Rehabilitation. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2020:chap 27.Martin J, Li C. Normal cognitive aging. In: Fillit HM, Rockwood K, Young J, eds. Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 28.Sowa GA, Weiner DK, Camacho-Soto A. Geriatric pain. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 41.Williamson T, Massie L, Karikari I, Shaffrey CI, Abd-El-Barr MM. Differential diagnosis of spinal disease. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 311.AllVideoImagesTogBrain and nervous system - illustration The nervous system controls the many complicated and interconnected functions of the body and mind. Motor, sensory cognitive and autonomic function are all coordinated and driven by the brain and nerves. As people age, nerve cells deteriorated in number and facility, causing some lessening in function.Brain and nervous systemillustrationAlzheimer disease - illustration Aged nervous tissue is less able to rapidly communicate with other neural tissues.Alzheimer diseaseillustrationBrain and nervous system - illustration The nervous system controls the many complicated and interconnected functions of the body and mind. Motor, sensory cognitive and autonomic function are all coordinated and driven by the brain and nerves. As people age, nerve cells deteriorated in number and facility, causing some lessening in function.Brain and nervous systemillustrationAlzheimer disease - illustration Aged nervous tissue is less able to rapidly communicate with other neural tissues.Alzheimer diseaseillustrationA Closer Look Skin wrinkles and blemishes - InDepth(In-Depth)Insomnia(Alt. Medicine)Stress - InDepth(In-Depth)Vitamins and Phytonutrients - InDepth(In-Depth)Brain cancer(Alt. Medicine)Menopause - InDepth(In-Depth)Obesity(Alt. Medicine)Amyloidosis(Alt. Medicine)Mind-body medicine(Alt. Medicine)Manganese(Alt. Medicine)Related Information Review Date: 7/21/2022 Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Aging changes in the nervous systemThe brain and nervous system are your body's central control center. They control your body's: Movements Senses Thoughts and memories They also help control the organs such as your heart and bowels.Nerves are the pathways that carry signals to and from your brain and the rest of your body. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs from your brain down the center of your back. Nerves extend out from the spinal cord to every part of your body. AGING CHANGES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM As you age, your brain and nervous system go through natural changes. Your brain and spinal cord lose nerve cells and weight (atrophy). Nerve cells may begin to pass messages more slowly than in the past. Waste products or other chemicals such as beta amyloid can collect in the brain tissue as nerve cells break down. This can cause abnormal changes in the brain called plaques and tangles to form. A fatty brown pigment (lipofuscin) can also build up in nerve tissue.LipofuscinLipofuscin is a brownish pigment left over from the breakdown and absorption of damaged blood cells. Lipofuscin is found in heart muscle and smooth m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Breakdown of nerves can affect your senses. You might have reduced or lost reflexes or sensation. This leads to problems with movement and safety and makes it more likely to suffer falls.Slowing of thought, memory, and thinking is a normal part of aging. These changes are not the same in everyone. Some people have many changes in their nerves and brain tissue. Others have few changes. These changes are not always related to the effects on your ability to think. NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS IN OLDER PEOPLEDementia and severe memory loss are not a normal part of aging. They can be caused by brain diseases such as Alzheimer disease, which doctors believe is associated with plaques and tangles forming in the brain.DementiaDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Alzheimer diseaseDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It affects memo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Delirium is sudden confusion that leads to changes in thinking and behavior. It is often due to illnesses that are not related to the brain. Infection can cause an older person to become severely confused. Certain medicines can also cause or complicate this.Thinking and behavior problems can also be caused by poorly controlled diabetes. Rising and falling blood sugar levels can interfere with thought.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Talk with your health care provider if you have any changes in: Memory Thought Ability to perform a task Seek medical help right away if these symptoms occur suddenly or along with other symptoms. A change in thinking, memory, or behavior is important if it is different from your normal patterns or it affects your lifestyle. PREVENTION Mental and physical exercise can help your brain stay sharp. Mental exercises include: Reading Doing crossword puzzles Stimulating conversation Physical exercise promotes blood flow to your brain. It also helps reduce loss of brain cells. OTHER CHANGESAs you grow older, you will have other changes, including: In organs, tissues, and cells In organs, tissues, and cellsAll vital organs begin to lose some function as you age. Aging changes occur in all of the body's cells, tissues, and organs, and these changes affe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the heart and blood vessels In the heart and blood vesselsSome changes in the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age. However, many other changes that are common with aging are due to or worsened b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the vital signs In the vital signsVital signs include body temperature, heart rate (pulse), breathing (respiratory) rate, and blood pressure. As you age, your vital signs may change,...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the sensesIn the sensesAs you age, the way your senses (hearing, vision, taste, smell, touch) give you information about the world changes. Your senses become less sharp, ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBasco MD, Gorgon EJ, Barredo R, Schulte OJ, Stephens J, Ann J. Aging, dementia, and disorders of cognition. In: Lazaro RT, Reina-Guerra SG, Quiben MU, eds. Umphred's Neurological Rehabilitation. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2020:chap 27.Martin J, Li C. Normal cognitive aging. In: Fillit HM, Rockwood K, Young J, eds. Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 28.Sowa GA, Weiner DK, Camacho-Soto A. Geriatric pain. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 41.Williamson T, Massie L, Karikari I, Shaffrey CI, Abd-El-Barr MM. Differential diagnosis of spinal disease. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 311.