Final answer:
Elderly people are more at risk of adverse drug reactions due to age-related physiological changes, impaired homeostatic mechanisms, multiple chronic illnesses, cognitive impairments, and alterations in drug metabolism due to reduced organ function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Are Elderly More at Risk of Adverse Drug Reactions:
Adverse drug reactions are more common in the elderly due to various physiological changes that occur with aging. As people grow older, the efficiency of the body's homeostatic mechanisms declines which can result in difficulty in regulating body temperature and a weakened immune system, making seniors more susceptible to heatstroke, infectious diseases, and even cancer. Elderly individuals often have multiple chronic health conditions like heart diseases, respiratory syndromes, type 2 diabetes, and arthritis which require medication management that can become complex.
They are also prone to cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease which can affect their ability to manage medications properly. The aging process is also associated with changes in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs, meaning that the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medications can be altered. This can lead to a higher risk of drug interactions and toxicity. Additionally the elderly population is often taking multiple medications (polypharmacy), which further increases the risk of drug-related problems. Due to a general decline in organ function, particularly the liver and kidneys which process many medications, the elderly are more prone to accumulate higher levels of drugs in their bodies, leading to adverse reactions.