The nervous system

The nervous system of the older adult age sixty-five and up will begin to experience dilatation of the cerebral ventricles, loss of neurons, and a decrease of 5 to 7 percent in brain weight. The older individual will have impaired vision that includes decreased transparency of the lens, decreased pupil size, and altered vitreous humor. The older adult will have a decrease in the ability to hear high-pitched, high-frequency sounds, as well as a decrease in the ability to smell and distinguish odors. The older individual will have decreased tactile sensation, and slower reaction time related to slower conductivity of impulses. The older adult will begin to experience memory changes such as decreased short-term memory. Many older adults who experience short-term memory loss will retain the long-term memory