TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Clinical Problems of Aging A1 - Ferrucci, Luigi A1 - Studenski, Stephanie A2 - Kasper, Dennis A2 - Fauci, Anthony A2 - Hauser, Stephen A2 - Longo, Dan A2 - Jameson, J. Larry A2 - Loscalzo, Joseph Y1 - 2014 N1 - T2 - Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19e AB - While an in-depth understanding of internal medicine serves as a foundation, proper care of older adults should be complemented by insight into the multidimensional effects of aging on disease manifestations, consequences, and response to treatment. In younger adults, individual diseases tend to have a more distinct pathophysiology with well-defined risk factors; the same diseases in older persons may have a less distinct pathophysiology and are often the result of failed homeostatic mechanisms. Causes and clinical manifestations are less specific and can vary widely between individuals. Therefore, the care of older patients demands an understanding of the effects of aging on human physiology and a broader perspective that incorporates geriatric syndromes, disability, social contexts, and goals of care. For example, care planning for the older patient should account for the substantial portion of the wide variability in life expectancy across individuals of the same age that can be predicted by simple and inexpensive measures such as walking speed. Estimation of the expected remaining years of life can guide recommendations about appropriate preventive and other long-term interventions and can shape discussions about treatment alternatives. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2022/06/25 UR - accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1120786054 ER -