We live in an ageing society, where people are living longer, and where decreases in the birth rate mean that the proportion of the population above retirement age is steadily increasing. An ageing population has considerable implications for health services and care provision. Consequently there is a growing interest among researchers, medical practitioners, and policy makers in older adults, their capabilities, and the changes in their cognitive functioning. This book offers an up-to-the-minute account of the latest methodological and theoretical issues in cognitive ageing. Part of the Debates in Psychology series, it sets out the arguments surrounding the currently controversial questions in cognitive ageing. What is the appropriate methodology for understanding cognitive change? How many factors are necessary to understand the patterns of age-related change? What might these factors be? The topics and arguments are explored in a series of chapters by the leading researchers in the field. Each contributor offers their view of how cognitive ageing can be best understood, and together they cover a broad range of cognitive functions including language use, cognitive slowing, and memory loss. Each of the chapters stands alone as the latest review of work in the area. Taken together, the chapters form a coherent theoretical debate through which the reader will learn about the dynamic nature of cognitive ageing research, and about the direction this research will be taking in the future. Models of Cognitive Aging will be an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in the elderly, and in their cognitive abilities.

To a certain extent the dementias have been forgotten diseases until just recen tly when they were brought to the attention of the general public and health authorities as a result of the increasing number of cases in the aging popula tion, especially among famous people, and because of the efforts of private foundations. The goals of the present volume are to present the dementias to health prac titioners, to provide some basic information on their epidemiology and biolo gical basis and to discuss the diagnostic and clinical problems that physicians and institutions face when caring for demented patients. This book explores the various types of dementias and is not limited to Alzheimer's disease although, as expected, more information is available and presented on this pathology. On the other hand, a few fundamental questions on dementia can only be answe red through a comparison of the various forms. Examples of such questions are the following: Is the loss of cerebral tissue sufficient to cause dementia? Are there thresholds or is there a continuous progression toward the irreversible development of dementia? Are there common pathways in the dementing pro cess? Are there common risk factors? Comparative analysis allows the common and distinctive patterns of the various dementias to be defined, ultimately lea ding to more focused therapeutic interventions."

The proportion of elderly people continues to increase in the western world-nearly a quarter of the population will be over 65 years by the year 2050. Since aging is accompanied by an increase in diseases and by a deterioration in well-being, finding solutions to these social, medical and psychological problems is necessarily a major goal for society. Scientists and medical practitioners are therefore faced with the urgent task of increasing basic knowledge of the biological processes that cause aging. More resources must be put into this research in order to achieve better understanding of the cellular mechanisms that underlie the differences in life span between species and to answer the difficult questions of why some individuals age more quickly than others, and why some develop liver problems, some have heart problems, and others brain problems. The results of such a wide program of research will provide important information about the causes of many life-threatening and/ or debilitating diseases of old age; it will help find ways to prevent some of the ailments that result from aging, and it may well lead to discoveries enabling the prolongation of human life.

The second edition of PROTOCOLS IN PRIMARY CARE GERIATRICS continues its mission of improving practical, clinical knowledge among physicians and others caring for elderly people, while providing updated information on several major areas in the field. Reflecting current practice trends, a new chapter on home care has been added as well as one on comprehensive geriatric assessment. Revised guidelines for falls, incontinence, and drug treatment are also featured. Designed to provide both quick reference to clinical problem-solving schemes and lists, as well as a lucid, readable discussion of basic topics in geriatrics, the book's value lies in its combination of brief, readable chapters, a section of notes in outline form, staightforward clinical approaches, didactic exercises, and new updated case studies. Family physicians, primary care internists, and other primary specialists caring for elderly people will find this book of great value. It is also not to be missed by residents, as well as nursing homes, hospitals, and indiviual health care professionals, other than physicians, who will benefit from its use as a clinical reference guide.

The Handbook of Mental Health and Aging, Third Edition provides a foundational background for practitioners and researchers to understand mental health care in older adults as presented by leading experts in the field. Wherever possible, chapters integrate research into clinical practice. The book opens with conceptual factors, such as the epidemiology of mental health disorders in aging and cultural factors that impact mental health. The book transitions into neurobiological-based topics such as biomarkers, age-related structural changes in the brain, and current models of accelerated aging in mental health. Clinical topics include dementia, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, mood disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, and substance abuse. The book closes with current and future trends in geriatric mental health, including the brain functional connectome, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), technology-based interventions, and treatment innovations.

The appropriate and rational use of drugs by the elderly is a matter of growing medical and social concern. Persons aged 65 years and older constitute about 12%-15% of the population in the Western world, and the total number of the elderly will increase significantly in the coming years. This population accounts for 30% of all the prescription drugs used. Aging, specifically the transition from middle to old age, is a complex process. From the perspective of clinical pharmacology, these pathophysiological changes may reasonably be expected to alter responsiveness to drugs. The age-related differences in response to drugs can arise from alterations in pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics. This makes it mandatory that clinical pharma cological studies be carried out in the elderly during extended phase I studies. The older the population likely to use the drug, the more important it is to include the very old. It is also important not to exclude ....: ''lecessarily patients with concomitant illnesses; it is only by observing, such patients that drug-disease interactions can be detected. Reports from surveillance systems have greatly increased our awareness of problems associated with drug therapy in old age."

As the life expectancy of patients with arterial hypertension increases, hypertension in the elderly is becoming a relevant medical and social problem. Indeed, epidemiological trials have shown that the cardiovascular risk in elderly hypertensives is significantly higher than in normotensive subjects of comparable age. However, many characteristics of hypertension in the elderly, such as the haemodynamic pattern, do differ greatly from those of younger hypertensives and therefore the results obtained in younger patients cannot be extrapolated to older hypertensives. In this book, experts on hypertension have examined different aspects of hypertension in the elderly: from the changes in the cardiovascular system associated with ageing, to the role of ambulatory blood pressure measurement in the diagnosis of hypertension and the results of the recent clinical trials into the efficacy and tolerability of antihypertensive drugs. This book covers all the clinical aspects of hypertension in the elderly in such a way that it will become a valuable tool for medical students, general practitioners and specialists in hypertension alike.

Although age has been recognized as a risk factor for late-onset dementia of Alzheimer type, its etiology is unknown as yet. Several age-related metabolic abnormalities may thus become important for the pathogenesis of the late-onset form. Studies at the cellular/molecular level in brain tissue are possible post mortem, but lack information on the beginning of the disorder. In this supplement, different approaches are dealt with how to induce structural and/or metabolic abnormalities in relevant cell cultures, in brain slices and in experimental animals, and how behavioral changes parallel the metabolic variations.

The undisputed leader on the subject of geriatrics-updated to reflect the most recent advances in the field The leading text on the subject of geriatrics, this comprehensive guide combines gerontology principles with clinical geriatrics, offering unmatched coverage of this area of medicine. Anchored in evidence-based medicine and patient-centered practice, Hazzard's Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology presents the most up-to-date, medical information available. This updated eighth edition reflects the continued growth and increasing sophistication of geriatrics as a defined medical discipline. The book focuses on the implementation of key concepts and covers the foundation for geriatrics, as well as frequently encountered syndromes found in older adults. In addition, it provides valuable insights into the simultaneous management of multiple conditions, including psychological and social issues and their interactions, an intrinsic aspect of geriatric patient care. Features: A greater emphasize on the growing knowledge base for key topics in the field, including gerontology, geriatrics, geriatric conditions, and palliative medicine NEW chapters on: Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities and Health Equity Age Friendly Care Geriatrics Around the World The Patient Perspective Substance Use and Disorders Applied Clinical Geroscience Managing the Care of Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions UPDATED contributions from a respected and diverse team of geriatricians and subspecialists to reflect clinical breakthroughs and advances NEW: Extensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on vulnerable older adults Updated Learning Objectives and Key Clinical Points Hundreds of full-color images A Doody's Core Title for 2022!

The field of geriatric rehabilitation is constantly changing due to the discovery of new evidence-based evaluation and treatment strategies, as well as the continual support or refutation of older theories and practices. Now in its Fourth Edition, A Clinical Approach to Geriatric Rehabilitation has been updated to be at the forefront of these changes. Drs. Jennifer Bottomley and Carole Lewis have compiled the plethora of available scientific research on geriatric populations and combined it with their years of actual clinical practice. Together this makes this text a complete evidence-based guide to the clinical care of geriatric patients and clients. The first part of A Clinical Approach to Geriatric Rehabilitation, Fourth Edition tackles applied gerontological concepts, providing the general knowledge base necessary for treating geriatric patients. Topics in this section include patient evaluation, an exploration of nutritional needs, and age-related changes in physiology and function, as well as many other foundational areas. In the second section, topics become more focused on patient care concepts like neurologic considerations, cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular considerations, and establishing community-based screening programs. In the final section, chapters center on administration and management, including important subjects such as attitudes, ethics, and legal topics, as well as consultation and research. New and Updated in the Fourth Edition: • Pearls section for succinct highlights of the content within each chapter • The latest evidence-based practice interventions with complete references for further reading • Updated graphics, pictures, and diagrams to illustrate the content • Content summaries and streamlined text for enhanced readability • Updated case studies to exemplify clinical decision-making Designed to provide valuable, real-life clinical knowledge, A Clinical Approach to Geriatric Rehabilitation, Fourth Edition gives physical therapists an evidence-based guide to the clinical aspects of rehabilitative care in older adult patients and clients.

This book presents an interactional sociolinguistic approach to the progressive communicative breakdowns typical of Alzheimer's disease. The language used in open-ended, naturally occurring conversations between the author and one elderly female Alzheimer's patient over four-and-a-half years is investigated in an attempt to understand how the patient's communicative abilities and disabilities are related, how they change, and how they are influenced by the behavior of the healthy interlocutor.

The main focus of this new edition remains the practical assessment and management of people presenting with psychiatric symptoms in late life. The core of the book describes the common presentations of depression, confusion, somatic preoccupation, hallucinations and delusions. Case vignettes are used to illustrate the approach to clinical problems. There is special emphasis on the complex interaction of social, psychological and medical factors and the need for close multi-disciplinary teamwork. The new edition has been revised to: update the clinical approach, update patient management under new policies, provide a precise diagnostic system and structure the book in keeping with today's practice.;This book should be of interest to postgraduate students in psychiatry or geriatrics; medical students; clinical psychologists; and nurses and other health professionals.

Geared toward sleep specialists, neurologists, geriatricians, and psychiatrists, Geriatric Sleep Medicine presents the most current medical research for the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders in the older patient. Focused on the prevention of chronic geriatric sleep disorders, this text examines: the most recent and up-to-date classification information of sleep disorders from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine current algorithms for the evaluation and management of sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea, parasomnia, hypersomnia, restless legs syndrome) in older adults both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments Geriatric Sleep Medicine also explores special topics of interest to clinicians, including sleep problems post-menopause, in the nursing home setting, and at the end stages of life.

The issue of elderly care is becoming increasingly important in both "developed" and "developing" countries alike as population structures change, and the trend towards ageing populations gathers momentum. This text presents a diverse range of progressive programmes from all parts of the world for the care of elderly people, ranging from community care schemes to fitness and income generation.;This book should be of interest to students of gerontology, as well as government planners and international agencies/charities concerned with ageing, and health care providers and planners.

This book examines the concepts of preventive care and health promotion specifically in the context of the elderly. It adopts a broad concept of health and defines a number of goals around this theme. Thereafter it provides a succinct, up-to-the-minute critique of the worth, risks and costs of preventive care and health promotional strategies for older people. A broad range of such strategies are considered including cancer prevention, the prevention of non-cancer health problems and strategies aimed at enhancing functional status and strengthening the social support network. Principles for tailoring these strategies to the varied needs and wishes of elderly people are outlined. Likewise, practical measures are discussed for integrating these preventive strategies into the existing health care system. In particular, the role of screening, case-finding and targeting strategies in primary care are reviewed in detail. The book concludes with a wider look at the cost implications of preventive care for the purchasers of health and health care services.

Trauma Among Older Adults presents an integrative model of treatment that considers current theories of treatment in light of special considerations relating to elderly patients. The book provides case studies, vignettes, and discussions, and demonstrates the importance of considering the personality, memory, and familial history of an elderly individual who has suffered a trauma.

Aging and Ethics explores the many ethical issues involving the elderly, their care, and their role in society-urgent concerns that have only recently come to the forefront.
There are now eight times more Americans over the age of sixty-five than at the turn of this century; their proportion to the rest of the population has almost tripled. And this trend is expected to accelerate into the next century!
This aging of society has raised an increasing number of deep and troubling questions: a [ What are our responsibilities toward aging family members? a [ What can we reasonably expect in our own old age? a [ What special role (if any) do older persons play in our society? a [ How can medical resources be distributed justly between generations? a [ How can institutions that serve the elderly preserve values such as autonomy, self-respect, and dignity?
Nancy Jecker's timely new volume deals with these and other issues on four levels: the aging individual; aging and filial responsibility; distributive justice in an aging society; and philosophical reflections on aging and death.
Aging and Ethics is must reading for professionals in a variety of health-related and counseling fields, as well as for the growing number of concerned laypeople who need to better understand the often compelling issues associated with aging today.

Health care professionals are now more frequently consulted about emotional and sexual matters by older patients. There is a wealth of information available about the psychological, medical and sociological processes of ageing that has become available in recent years. Demographic studies demonstrate a world-wide tendency, most pronounced in the West, towards more people living into later decades of life.;Dr Gibson has brought all this information together with the object of increasing the quality of care available. In so doing, he explodes many myths, addresses both emotional and sexual life in the context of health and illness, the problems associated with ageist discrimination and the needs of those with different sexual preferences.;Drawing from a wide body of knowledge, the author writes with insight in the first major work of its kind. The book seeks to surprise and equip doctors, clinical psychologists, counsellors, nurses, social workers and clergy, in their respective professions, as they consider their own role in an ageing society which has greater expectations for health and quality of relationships.

The papers compiled in this supplementum are a selection of the best con th tributions presented at the 19 Central-European Neurological Symposium (CNS 19) held on June 29 - July 1, 1989 in Vienna. The main topic of this conference was degenerative and age-associated neurological diseases. In recent decades life expectancy has dramatically increased, at least in the industrialized countries. This has led to extreme distortions of the so-called population pyramids that no longer look like such but begin to almost resemble cylinders. As a consequence of this "overaging" of the population, diseases that are associated with age have become much more common than before. It was thus more than reasonable to devote a congress of the CNS series to these important neurological diseases. The following fields of interest are covered: Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI), Alzheimer's and other dementias, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, stroke and others. Concerning the de men tias, some papers deal with diagnosis employing neuro-imaging methods such as MRI, CT, PET and SPECT, others using electrophysiological methods. An important aspect in the early preclinical diagnosis of dementia is the inclusion of neuropsychological tests to enhance the chance of effec tive early treatment. Also drugs that are now under clinical investigation are discussed and preliminary results are presented."

This volume provides a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary overview of the aging lung, written by the main researchers in the field. Current physiological, cellular and molecular understanding of how the lungs age and the relationship to age-associated lung diseases will be presented. The contents are aimed at a broad audience of scientists and clinicians with an interest in the respiratory system, pathogenesis of age-associated lung diseases and clinical implications.

Since the first edition of this book was published there have been considerable changes in continuing care. NHS nursing homes have been created, enthusiasts have developed new initiatives, and attempts have been made to improve attitudes. The recent White Paper on Community Care is likely to accelerate the transfer of large numbers of elderly patients from long-stay hospital beds to private-sector accommodation: a move often accompanied by much anxiety about standards of care. Although Health Authorities visit private nursing homes and apply the National Association of Health Authorities' standards to them, anxieties continue. Unfortunately for the patients who remain in hospital, many Health Authorities seem reluctant to apply these same standards to their own long-stay departments, since many would fail abysmally. The 1987 annual report of the Health Advisory Service (see Chapter 3) presents a damning indictment of the care given to old people: A recent review of twelve consecutive HAS Reports on services for older people in hospitals shows that long-stay wards consistently offered environments which were unable to offer privacy, homely surroundings, personal space and possessions or adequate furniture. In the twelve districts there was not one comprehensive personalised clothing service. Half of the reports commented on the lack of effec- tive management of continence. Catering was often provided according to the needs of the institution rather than those of the resident patients.

In 2009 jahrt sich die Wiedergrundung der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften zum hundertsten Mal. Aus diesem Anlass veranstaltet die Landesakademie jeweils gemeinsam mit den acht Universitaten des Landes Baden-Wurttemberg Tagungen oder Vortragsreihen. Das Symposium "Altern gestalten - Medizin, Technik, Umwelt", dessen systematisch geordnete Beitrage diesen Band fullen, wird so gemeinsam mit der Universitat Stuttgart und der Robert Bosch Stiftung geplant und durchgefuhrt. Themenfelder sind: Biologische Plastizitat des Alternsprozesses, moegliche molekulare, zellulare und biochemische Regenerationsprozesse. Auf der mikro- und makrotechnologischen Ebene werden verfugbare Assistenz- und Ersatzsysteme demonstriert, einschliesslich der vielfaltigen Methoden von Gelenkrekonstruktion oder -ersatz, und die Unterstutzungs- und Ersatzsysteme fur defekte Sinnesorgane. Die damit eroeffneten Moeglichkeiten, ungleiches Altern von wichtigen Funktionstragern des Koerpers auszugleichen, werden von fuhrenden Wissenschaftlern der jeweiligen Disziplinen demonstriert. Auch das aktuelle Wissen um die altersgerechte Gestaltung der Umwelt und der Wissensstand uber Assistenzsysteme im Automobil, die auch bei altersbedingten Einschrankungen von Beweglichkeit, Kraft, Sicht und Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit mehr Bedienungskomfort und Fahrsicherheit gewahren, wird vermittelt.

A high-level text on the molecular and genetic aspects of human ageing with reference to cognitive functions and age-related diseases."

Neurotransmitter changes taking place in the brain of patients with dementia disorders, mainly Alzheimer type dementia, are reported. Their role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is discussed; and the neurochemical changes are considered as a base for formulating treatment strategies. By studying markers in the cerebrospinal fluid, diagnostic methods may be achieved that will aid in diagnosing subgroups of dememtia.