How is Ageing and Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) related?

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Introduction: Ageing and non-communicable disease:

The term ageing refers to the process of becoming old.
Non-communicable disease refers to those diseases which is not transmitted from one person to another, usually of longer duration and takes longer time to develop.
According to WHO, it is said that in about five years, aged person i.e. person aged more than 65 year is higher than under five children because of decreasing fertility rate and enhancing life expectancy.
Previously, non- communicable diseases was the main problem of developed country only. But slowly the number is increasing in developing countries also and has become an added burden.

Importance of non communicable disease in relation to ageing:

It is estimated that in the year 2010, people of age group 65 and above years was 524 million and it is projected that by year 2050, aged person will be 1.5 billion.
As people grow older, human bodies system becomes weaker and which makes vulnerable to these diseases both communicable and non communicable.
Alzheimer’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, lung cancer, nephritis and nephropathy, liver cancer, cancer of the cervix and uterus, breast cancer, and leukaemia are some examples of non communicable diseases seen in old age.
Non-communicable disease has become one of the major causes for death among adult and old age population and has become an essential area, challenging health and health care system in global context.
Major risk factors for NCDs are the behavioural factors such as sedentary lifestyle, dietary pattern, use of tobacco, alcohol, lack of physical activities.
According to WHO, NCDs account for 63% of deaths globally.
Studies have found that about 71% of NCDs death occur in underdeveloped and developing countries and is the issue is not taken seriously, the number in going to increase in future.
Also, poor access to treatment and poor diagnosis, referral for NCDs has increased the burden of disease.
NCDs are also one of the major factors for disabilities. In age group over 60 years the disability rate is about 46%.
Research have found that poor condition during early age of life have impact on the NCDs pattern. Different studies were carried out to find out the association and a review studies was done on these studies. Studies were carried out in different country such as China, Brazil, Mexico, major cities of Latin America etc. These studies showed influence of environment in early life had impact on the health of adults/ old age but the mechanism is still not clear.
It is also one of the causes affecting the quality of affected individual and has grater economic burden on individual, families, communities and society as a whole.

Multifaceted aspects of ageing:

1. Physiological aspect of ageing:

Reduction in performance of heart; decreased cardiac output.
Hardening of arteries; increase in blood pressure.
Tooth loss
Overall process of digestion is reduces
Poor eating habit, resulting in deficiency of nutrients such as calcium, iron, Vitamin A etc
Loss of nerve cells with advancing age; may result in poor memory or memory loss
Eyesight becomes poor with ageing can result in eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts etc
Decrease/ Loss of hearing
Loss of skin elasticity
With advancing age, function of lungs are also diminished- makes exchange of gases difficult in lungs.
Reduction in hormonal level in the body; affects most of the metabolic function of the body.
Deterioration in function of Kidney.

2. Social aspect of ageing:

Diseases and death of friends and family members may affect social interaction
Social isolation as they have no work and their children’s are busy in their own life.
As people age, they lose their social status and finds difficult to cope up with it.
Better social interaction in a social group influence better cognitive functioning and vice-versa.
Difficulty in coping with management of daily activities for living
Difficulty in accepting physiological changes, living with disease and increasing medicines.
Treated as care taker of house by young people/adults

3. Economic aspect of ageing:

More aged population means dependent population increases and labor population decreases.
With number of health problems being contracted, expenditure on health care increases.
Higher aged population means more government expenditure on incentives and pension to that group.
Increase in market for services required for older people such as old age home
Decrease in economic productivity.

4. Psychological aspect of ageing:

Feeling lonely and bored after retirement from job
Depression and anxiety among older people
Intellectual performance declines with enhancing age
Mental disorder such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease are common in old age.

5. Cultural and spiritual implication:

Old aged persons are consulted for performing rituals like carrying out puja, marriage, birth, deaths etc
Elder male of the society is thought to be the leader of village, household or communities.
More devotion towards God, with a belief to get place in heaven

Prevention and control of NCDs in ageing:

Carrying out research
Strengthening capacity for controlling the non communicable disease
Strengthening detection of NCD
Early diagnosis and treatment
Awareness and education about risk factors
Monitoring the pattern of NCD and its risk factors
Integrating NCDs in national developmental plans
Multi-sectoral collaboration to fight against NCD
Health care system strengthening through people centered primary health care and universal coverage
Systematic evaluation of NCDs control program
High tax on alcohol and tobacco product
Encouraging family member to provide care for old person
Providing incentive to aged population
Promoting healthy diets and physical activity
Carrying screening program (E.g.: for Diabetes, hypertension)