A clinical perspective on aging.

Immobility, falls, incontinence, mental confusion and homeostatic disturbances are the major problems encountered in elderly patients. These occur with increasing frequency in the very old (age greater than 85) but studies have shown that the level of disability for those aged 65-84 remains no more than 15-20%. As at all ages, a small proportion of elderly experience most of the clinical problems. To improve our performance in managing these requires education of medical trainees, cooperation between acute and long-term care institutions and a concentrated program of biomedical research. Therapy designed to light up fading receptors or increase neurotransmitter function to maintain cerebral control mechanisms for posture, excretion and appetite control will achieve more than psychosocial or administrative attempts to solve such clinical problems.