* Material in this chapter contains contributions from the previous edition, and we are grateful to the previous authors for the work done. This chapter provides an overview of the principal features of cognitive functioning in normal aging adults. The…
Attempts to reverse the aging process stretch back to the time when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Since then, wise sages and charlatans have made numerous pronouncements on what the populace should do to extend…
Each day, worldwide, older adults consume millions of doses of medications. This remarkable amount of medication use benefits many older people by preventing and treating disease, preserving functional status, prolonging life, and improving or maintaining good quality of life. However,…
Introduction The last 25 years has seen enormous growth in our knowledge of skin function, with new subspecialties of cutaneous biology emerging during that time, not least of which is cutaneous neuroendocrinology. The position of the skin, our largest organ…
Introduction Age-related changes to normal blood cell development and function remain poorly understood but measurably evident. In 1961, Hayflick and Moorhead described experiments that established the concept that normal somatic cells have a finite number of cell divisions. After completing…
Historical Overview The concept that hormones play a role in the aging process originated in the nineteenth century. Based on monkey studies, Hanley stated that myxedema resembled old age (senility), and this included “imbecility.” Brown-Sequard's experiments found that testicular extracts…
Introduction Although traditional classification considers the upper and lower urinary tracts as part of one system, each serves a distinct function. In this edition, upper and lower urinary tract components will be considered, emphasizing the known effects of aging on…
More than 20% of our population is expected to exceed 65 years of age by 2030, with the most rapidly growing segment older than 85 years. In 2050, the population aged 65 years and older is projected to be over…
The musculoskeletal system serves three primary functions: (1) it enables an efficient means of limb movement; (2) it acts as an endoskeleton, providing overall mechanical support and protection to soft tissues; and (3) it serves as a mineral reservoir for…
Aging is a continuous process that constitutes a cycle studded with events that affect all systems in the body, including the connective tissues. The interrelationship between the aging process and connective tissues is complex, involving a variety of factors and…