Ageing Systems Physiology
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MGEM3015 | Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine | 3 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- MGEM3015
- School
- Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module deals with the major physiological changes that occur with advancing age across a number of body systems, and how these changes impact both clinical and lifestyle considerations for an ageing population. Content will include:
• The societal effects of an ageing population
• Cellular ageing and associated theories
• Ageing body systems
• Clinical considerations relating to ageing
• Lifestyle considerations relating to ageing
Content in this module will advance knowledge gained throughout the BSc Medical Physiology & Therapeutics programme.
Core physiology teaching is delivered alongside system-focussed and clinically-related teaching, offering an opportunity to fully explore the true implications of an ageing society and the associated physiological changes. Clinical academics and allied health professionals (eg dieticians and nurse specialists) will deliver content in their speciality areas providing clinical context for the core physiology knowledge acquired during this module. This module requires students to apply and develop generic skills such as written communication skills, oral presentation skills and critiquing the scientific literature. The module requires that students apply their knowledge across different body systems/ disciplines and explain their physiology knowledge with clinical and social context.
Target Students
Students on Part II of the BScHonsin Medical Physiology and Therapeutics. There are a limited number of spaces on this module.
Classes
Delivery will be by via a series of lectures from core academics and clinical academics. Lectures from clinical academics will be supported by case-study tutorials with Dr BE Phillips to exemplify the real-world relevance of these sessions. A specific coursework-setting tutorial will be delivered to aid with the presentation aspect of assessment. Sessions will cover specified learning objectives, with an emphasis on understanding content not just within each session but integrated across the module.
Assessment
- 25% Coursework 1: 5 min PowerPoint presentation (single slide of content, plus second for references) plus answers (max 5 min) to 3 questions from academic staff, outlining the changes with, and implicaitons of, advancing age for a chosen body system.
- 75% Exam 1 (1-hour): Short essay questions
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to equip students with a strong foundation in ageing physiology, coupled to a solid understanding of how research has informed this knowledge base. Uniquely, this module will provide clinical and societal context for students to understand the implications of age-associated changes in physiology across multiple body systems, with a number of sessions exploring how this has influenced recommendations (medical and lifestyle-based) for an ageing population. Students are also expected to develop a number of transferrable skills such as written and oral presentation skills, in addition to key academic skills of contextualising and linking knowledge. By the end of the module students should be able to describe, in detail, the major age-associated changes in physiology across a number of body systems, and explain the impact of these changes in a number of spheres.Learning Outcomes
Cellular processes related to human ageing
The effect of ageing on numerous body systems
The societal and clinical implications of an ageing society
Lifestyle recommendations to mitigate detrimental effects of human ageing
How the knowledge points above are inter-related
The development of study skills to support further learning
Further development of skills to search for and critique relevant information from the scientific literature to promote independent and enquiry-based learning
Development of concise written communication skills via the synopsis component of the coursework
Development of oral and poster presentation skills
Development of digital capabilities through using websites to search and source infomration for presentation.
Conveners
- Dr Daniel Wilkinson
- Prof Bethan Eileen Phillips