This comprehensive update offers practical advice for professionals working in neuropsychology with older adults. Focusing on fundamentals, common issues, special considerations, and late-life cognitive disorders, respected names in this critical specialty address a wide range of presenting problems and assessment, diagnostic, and treatment concerns. Th roughout, coverage pays keen attention to detail, bringing real-world nuance to large-scale concepts and breaking down complex processes into digestible steps. And like its predecessor, the new Handbook features recommendations for test batteries and ends each chapter by extracting its "clinical pearls." A sampling of the topics covered: * Assessment of depression and anxiety in older adults. * The assessment of change: serial assessments in dementia evaluations. * Elder abuse identifi cation in older adults. * Clinical assessment of postoperative cognitive decline. * Cognitive training and rehabilitation in aging and dementia. * Diff erentiating mild cognitive impairment and cognitive changes of normal aging. * Evaluating cognition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This Second Edition of the Handbook on the Neuropsychology of Aging and Dementia offers a wealth of expert knowledge and hands-on guidance for neuropsychologists, gerontologists, social workers, and other clinicians interested in aging. Th is can be a valuable reference for those studying for board certifi cation in neuropsychology as well as a resource for veteran practitioners brushing up on key concepts in neuropsychology of age related disorders.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, devoted to Alzheimer's and Other Dementias, is guest edited by Dr. John E. Morley of Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Articles in this important issue include: An Overview of Cognitive Impairment in Geriatrics; Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Geriatrics; Treatable Dementias; Mild Cognitive Impairment in Geriatrics; Alzheimer's Disease; Vascular Dementia; Lewy-Body Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury in Geriatrics; Diabetes and Dementia; Behavioral Problems and Dementia; Cognitive Stimulation Therapy in Geriatrics; Cognitive Frailty in Geriatrics; and Nutrition and Alzheimer's.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, Guest Edited by Dr. Karen Kost, is devoted to Geriatric Otolaryngology. Articles in this issue include: Hearing Loss in the Elderly; Balance Disorders in the Elderly; Dysphagia in the Older Patient; The Aging Voice; Sleep-disordered Breathing; Rhinosinusitis and Allergies; Head and Neck Cancer in the Elderly; Cutaneous Malignancies; Thyroid Disorders; Anesthetic considerations in Geriatric Otolaryngology; and Frailty in Geriatric Otolaryngology.

Some well-known age-related neurological diseases include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, deafness, and blindness. Even more common are the problems of aging which are not due to disease but to more subtle impairments in neurobiological systems, including impairments in vision, memory loss, muscle weakening, and loss of reproductive functions, changes in body weight, and sleeplessness. As the average age of our society increases, diseases of aging continue to become more common, and conditions associated with aging need more attention by doctors and researchers. In 1991, patients over the age of 65 saw their doctors an average of eight times per year. Research funding is provided by the Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging (NNA) Program, which is run by the National Institute on Aging. This book offers a comprehensive overview of all topics related to functional impairments which are related to the aging brain and nervous system. It is organized according to four general functions: movement, senses, memory, and neuroendocrine regulation. Written by the leading researchers in the field, this comprehensive work addresses both impairments associated with diseases and not associated with diseases, making it easier to understand the mechanisms involved. Functional Neurobiology of Aging is an important reference for professionals and students involved in aging research, as well as physicians who need to recognize and understand age-related impairments.
Key Features
* Organized by function, making it easy to find and understand the material
* Addresses impairments both associated with diseases and not associated with diseases
* Written by leading researchers in the field
* Most comprehensive source of information on the neurobiology of aging

The Aging Skeleton is a comprehensive and timely book on all aspects of the skeleton as it ages, including basic mechanisms and pathways as well as pathobiology. Chapters cover general aspects and models of aging, determinants and maintenance of peak bone mass, mechanisms of age-related bone loss, quantifiable manifestations of age-related bone loss, fractures, and therapeutics.
Key Features
* Covers all aspects of the aging skeleton in one comprehensive volume
* Looks at the influence of genetics, nutrition, environment, hormones, and other factors on bone mass
* Provides a thorough discussion of fractures, one of the major consequences of the aging skeleton
* Reviews current therapeutic approaches and methods
* Written by internationally renowned authors and edited by leaders in the field
* Is the only book available on this subject

Most studies of geriatric patients have focused on nursing homes. In fact, most people are placed in these institutions only after being evaluated by medical and social service staff. This ethnography details the day-to-day experiences of a geriatric and assessment unit by examining the staff, families, and patients themselves. It looks at the activities that take place in the unit as well as the less obvious cultural patterns of the process. Using the Ethnography of Speaking method, it explores the human side of this most difficult of life's decisions.

Metabolic Aspects of Aging, Volume 155, the latest release in the Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science series seeks to provide the most topical, informative and exciting monographs available on a wide variety of research topics related to prions, viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes. The series includes in-depth knowledge on the molecular, biological aspects of organismal physiology and function, with this release including chapters on Longevity, Metabolic Disease and Community Health, the Metabolic Aspects of Aging, Obesity, Metabolism, and Aging: A Multiscalar Approach, The Intersection of Curandismo and Western Medicine and Their Epidemiological Impact for Aging Mexican Americans, and more.

""I want to provide the best care possible. The suffering has gone on for a long time, and I want to be sure the end stage is as comfortable as possible.""

This common sentiment is ex-pressed by both health care professionals responsible for caring for frail elders experiencing the later stages of dementia and family members trying to ensure the most compassionate care for their loved ones. Health care providers and family members often struggle with painful decisions when confronting the inevitable while providing love, compassion, and care. Modern medicine may offer seemingly promising treatments, but eventually, the impact of Alzheimer's disease and other causes of dementia can cause profound deterioration in the patient's quality of life. The focus must eventually shift to compassionate end-of-life care. This guidebook reflects Dr. Gordon's extensive experience with health care professionals and families struggling with these poignant and difficult decisions.

..". families will learn much about helping patients with dementia, but so too will physicians and other caregivers. Michael Gordon's humanity shines through every page, and, when combined with his medical expertise, the result is a guide which is both truly thoughtful and practically useful."
-Professor Arthur Schafer, Director, Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, University of Manitoba

"Dr. Gordon is truly a healer whose experience as a geriatrician provides a road map for all of us who want to provide care, respect, and love for people diagnosed with dementia."
-Steven R. Sabat, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology, Georgetown University

< B> Handbook of the Aging Brain< /B> brings together diverse scientific disciplines to cover the most recent research findings in an easy-to-read summary. Scientists and clinicians will find a wide spectrum of subjects including gerontology, neurology, psychology, molecular biology, and cellular biology. The book includes general chapters on the neuroanatomy and neurobiology of the aging brain, and moves on to discussion of specifics including signal transduction, cell death, and specific cellular and neurological changes associated with dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. Other chapters discuss the affect of aging on learning and memory, language, and cognition.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, Guest Edtied by Drs. Danelle Cayea and Samuel C. Durso, is devoted to Screening and Prevention in Geriatric Medicine. Articles in this issue include: The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit; Individualized Cancer Screening; Frailty; Medication Appropriateness; Geriatric Syndromes; Mental Health; Cardiovascular Screening; Preoperative Screening; Safety; Substance Use Disorders; Sexuality; Vaccines; and Excercise.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, guest edited by Drs. Sidney S. Braman and Gwen S. Skloot, is devoted to Pulmonary Disease in the Aging Patient. Articles in this issue include: The Effects of Aging on Lung Structure and Function; Immunosenescence and the Lungs; Epidemiology of Lung Disease in the Elderly; The Evaluation of Dyspnea in the Elderly; Asthma in the Elderly; COPD in the Elderly Patient; Pulmonary Vascular Diseases in the Elderly; Granulomatous Lung Diseases in the Elderly; Lung Cancer in the Older Patient; Sleep Disorders in the Elderly; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Older Patient; and Co-morbidities of Lung Disease in the Elderly.

Through the autobiographical perspectives of 16 preeminent researchers and scholars of Environmental Gerontology, this state-of-the-art Annual Review critically examines the broad range of topics that comprise this interdisciplinary field. The writings of these individuals, who have contributed to and shaped the growth of the field over the past three-plus decades, trace the growth and evolution of Environmental Gerontology and provide understanding of, and insights on, the role of environments for older adults and an aging society at multiple levels. The book examines the origins and growth of Environmental Gerontology, how the personal influences and professional choices of each author is linked to its development, the contextual factors influencing its biographical-intellectual evolution, and its potential implications for an aging society. The Review encompasses research and scholarship in diverse scales/contexts of the physical/built environment; diversity of disciplinary backgrounds represented by related social sciences, health sciences, and environmental design; basic/theoretical and applied/policy-oriented research; and more. Key Features: Promotes a critical understanding of the state of science and art in Environmental Gerontology Examines the origin, evolution, development, and future perspective of the field through the unique autobiographical lens of its worldwide pioneers Represents theoretical/substantive/applied perspectives through the reflections of preeminent scholars Focuses on intellectual development of pioneers in the field

This issue of Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, guest edited by Drs. Antimisiaris and Gopalraj, is devoted to Geriatrics. Articles in this issue include: Geriatric Assessment for the Primary Care Provider; Ageism in Medicine: What is Normal Aging?; Management of Polypharmacy in the 15 Minute Office Visit; Sexuality in the Older Adult; Alzheimer's Disease and the Future; Evaluating the Older Driver; Diabetes in the Older Adult; Hormone Replacement: The Fountain of Youth?; Mental Health in Older Age; Advanced Care Planning in the Office; Pain in the Older Adult; Hyperlipidemia and Hypertension in the Older Adult; and Delirium: Assessment and Prognosis.

Experts in gerontology, clinical psychology, and geriatric medicine provide an analytical survey and abstracts of the significant literature and research dealing with alcoholism and aging over the last 30 years. This research guide offers a general survey with sections dealing separately with the prevalence, precipitants, effects, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism in the older generation. The book also offers directions for future research. The narrative ends with a listing of references that have been assessed. The annotated bibliography gives abstracts for 301 sources that are arranged by types of works: bibliographies, overview articles, books and book chapters, empirical studies, and miscellaneous works. Cross-references and author and subject indexes make this guide readily accessible to students and teachers in the field of sociology, gerontology, psychology, medicine, and public health.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, guest edited by Dr. John Morley, is devoted to Rapid Geriatric Assessment. Articles in this issue will address Frailty; Sarcopenia; Anorexia of Aging; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Frailty; Falls; Hip Fracture; Depression; Delirium; and Advanced Directives and Palliative Care.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, guest edited by Drs. James D. Katz and Brian Walitt of the NIH, is devoted to Rheumatic Diseases in Older Adults. Articles in this outstanding issue include Rheumatology Pharmacotherapy Pearls for the General Practitioner; Sarcopenia - Pathogenesis and Management; Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases; Osteoarthritis; Regional Rheumatic Disorders and Rehabilitation in Older Adults; Rheumatological Manifestations of Malignancy; Sjoegren's Syndrome; Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases; Gaps in Aging Research as it Applies to Rheumatological Clinical Care; and Update on Crystal-induced Arthritides.

Chronic Medical Disease and Cognitive Aging: Toward a Healthy Body and Brain explores the important and often overlooked connection between how chronic medical diseases of the body can affect cognitive function and brain health. As population demographics shift to that of an aging population it has become more important to understand and improve cognitive function in late life. Chronic medical diseases often increase the risk of cognitive impairment, and those with cognitive impairment may be less able to effectively manage their medical conditions, suggesting a reciprocal relationship may exist where medical disease impacts cognition that in turn may exacerbate physical health. Chronic Medical Disease and Cognitive Aging discusses current research on the association between a variety of chronic medical diseases and cognition and, where appropriate, promising interventions or accepted treatment strategies. While a cure for many diseases continues to be elusive, insights garnered from the interplay between diseases of the body and mind may help point the way to novel therapeutic strategies to improve cognitive function in late life.

The realities and misconceptions of long-term care and the challenges it presents for the ethics of autonomy are analyzed in this perceptive work. While defending the concept of autonomy, the author argues that the standard view of autonomy as non-interference and independence has only a limited applicability for long-term care. He explains that autonomy should be understood as a comprehensiveness that defines the overall course of a person's life rather than as a way of responding to an isolated situation. Agich distinguishes actual and ideal autonomy and argues that actual autonomy is better revealed in the everyday experiences of long-term care than in dramatic, conflict-ridden paradigm situations such as decisions to institutionalize, to initiate aggressive treatments, or to withhold or to withdraw life-sustaining treatments. Through a phenomenological analysis of long-term care, he develops an ethical framework for it by showing how autonomy is actually manifest in certain structural features of the social world of long-term care. Throughout this timely work, the rich sociological and anthropological literature on aging and long-term care is referenced and the practical ethical questions of promoting and enhancing the exercise of autonomy are addressed.

Provides recommendations by foremost scholars regarding best practices and future directions in LGBT aging. With its critical examination of contemporary issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) elders, this landmark Annual Review continues a nearly 40-year tradition of providing state-of-the-art knowledge, insight, and research on topics critical to gerontologists worldwide. The 37th volume addresses the cardinal changes occurring in the public policy arena—marriage rights, social security benefits, and other movements toward equality—as they pertain to LGBT elders, and focuses on a variety of key challenges affecting this population. Bringing together the work of highly respected researchers in health policy and psychosocial spheres pertinent to older LGBT adults, the Review also sets forth recommendations on best practices and discusses future directions for working with this population. Each chapter covers a specific issue affecting the older LGBT population and includes definitions of key concepts; a summary of current research; and a discussion of trends and future directions. The Review addresses such key topics as sexuality and sexual health, health and mental health disparities, caregiving, and service needs. It focuses on such critical issues for LGBT elders as social services, families and social supports, health and wellbeing for transgender and bisexual older adults, stigma for bisexual older adults, and special issues for older LGBT veterans and rural-dwelling elders. Also examined is the intersection of diverse characteristics such as gender, race, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. The book concludes with a discussion of programs and policies for older LGBT adults and offers concluding comments for professionals working with this population. Key Features: Provides an historical view of events, policy, and public opinion that have affected the lives of older LGBT cohorts Distils state-of-the-art research and data on such critical issues as sexuality, health and mental health disparities, caregiving, and service needs Considers the intersection of diverse characteristics such as gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and aging Discusses families and social supports, health and wellbeing for transsexual and bisexual older adults, LGBT veterans, and rural elders Examines future trends and changes in policy and programming to benefit older LGBTs .