We associate aging with many health conditions. The human body naturally declines with age. Almost every body system will show signs of deterioration. The nervous system is just as susceptible to ageing as the cardiovascular or renal systems. For the nervous system, age can affect certain areas of the brain causing them to loose as many as 45% of their cells. This can result in a 6% to 7% reduction in brain weight. Should the vascular system become slow with age, blood flow to the brain will also decrease. An increase in blood pressure will be needed to achieve and maintain adequate brain blood flow. Should blood pressure fall, the brain may not get the necessary amount of blood and the patient may become dizzy, syncope, or confused.
Aging is also attributed to causing a decline in brain activity which is related to the number of functioning brain cells. It is common for elderly people to have slower message relaying in the nervous system from aging. In most instances, these age related hindrances are not likely to cause any serious debilitation.
Elderly patients who suffer from acute neurological disorders may experience seizures, strokes, transient ischemic attacks, vertigo, dementia, and delirium. Most seizures that elderly people experience are caused by problems with the central nervous system and is not typically associated with epilepsy. Most first-time seizures are caused from a previous stroke. Strokes can often cause “scar” tissue in the brain. This type of tissue growth can interfere with the brain’s electrical impulses. Other potential causes of stroke include recent or past head trauma, tumor, alcoholic withdrawal, diabetic hypoglycemia, or a new stroke.