A nurse is teaching a group of older adults about the effects of aging on the neurological system.Which of the following statements should the nurse include as correct? (Select all that apply.).
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A rationale:Slower reaction time is a common age-related change in the neurological system. The processing of sensory information and response time may become slower in older adults due to changes in neural pathways and decreased neurotransmitter activity.Choice B rationale:Older adults may experience some difficulty with learning new things due to changes in cognitive function and neural plasticity. This is a common age-related effect on the neurological system.Choice C rationale:This statement is incorrect. Older adults typically have fewer neurotransmitters in their brains as they age, which can contribute to cognitive changes and a decline in cognitive function.Choice D rationale:Loss of some sense of smell and taste is an age-related change. Older adults may experience a decreased ability to detect and differentiate smells and tastes due to changes in olfactory and gustatory receptors.Choice E rationale:This statement is incorrect. Aging does not necessarily lead to an increase in oxygen delivery to brain cells. In fact, there may be a decrease in cerebral blood flow with age in some individuals.