Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over Population
By 2050, the American 85 years old and over population will triple. Clinicians and the public health community need to develop a culture of sensitivity to the needs of this population and its subgroups. Sensory changes, cognitive changes, and weakness may be subtle or may be severe in the heterogene...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-12-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00335/full |
| _version_ | 1828764161355546624 |
|---|---|
| author | Efraim Jaul Efraim Jaul Jeremy Barron Jeremy Barron |
| author_facet | Efraim Jaul Efraim Jaul Jeremy Barron Jeremy Barron |
| author_sort | Efraim Jaul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | By 2050, the American 85 years old and over population will triple. Clinicians and the public health community need to develop a culture of sensitivity to the needs of this population and its subgroups. Sensory changes, cognitive changes, and weakness may be subtle or may be severe in the heterogeneous population of people over age 85. Falls, cardiovascular disease, and difficulty with activities of daily living are common but not universal. This paper reviews relevant changes of normal aging, diseases, and syndromes common in people over age 85, cognitive and psychological changes, social and environmental changes, and then reviews common discussions which clinicians routinely have with these patients and their families. Some hearing and vision loss are a part of normal aging as is decline in immune function. Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis and dementia are common chronic conditions at age 85. Osteoarthritis, diabetes, and related mobility disability will increase in prevalence as the population ages and becomes more overweight. These population changes have considerable public health importance. Caregiver support, services in the home, assistive technologies, and promotion of home exercise programs as well as consideration of transportation and housing policies are recommended. For clinicians, judicious prescribing and ordering of tests includes a consideration of life expectancy, lag time to benefit, and patient goals. Furthermore, healthy behaviors starting in early childhood can optimize quality of life among the oldest-old. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:16:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae39e3233d734125884fb295f73fa423 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:16:07Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae39e3233d734125884fb295f73fa4232022-12-22T01:24:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652017-12-01510.3389/fpubh.2017.00335316964Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over PopulationEfraim Jaul0Efraim Jaul1Jeremy Barron2Jeremy Barron3Skilled Nursing Department, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, IsraelHebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelJohns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United StatesHerzog Hospital, Jerusalem, IsraelBy 2050, the American 85 years old and over population will triple. Clinicians and the public health community need to develop a culture of sensitivity to the needs of this population and its subgroups. Sensory changes, cognitive changes, and weakness may be subtle or may be severe in the heterogeneous population of people over age 85. Falls, cardiovascular disease, and difficulty with activities of daily living are common but not universal. This paper reviews relevant changes of normal aging, diseases, and syndromes common in people over age 85, cognitive and psychological changes, social and environmental changes, and then reviews common discussions which clinicians routinely have with these patients and their families. Some hearing and vision loss are a part of normal aging as is decline in immune function. Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis and dementia are common chronic conditions at age 85. Osteoarthritis, diabetes, and related mobility disability will increase in prevalence as the population ages and becomes more overweight. These population changes have considerable public health importance. Caregiver support, services in the home, assistive technologies, and promotion of home exercise programs as well as consideration of transportation and housing policies are recommended. For clinicians, judicious prescribing and ordering of tests includes a consideration of life expectancy, lag time to benefit, and patient goals. Furthermore, healthy behaviors starting in early childhood can optimize quality of life among the oldest-old.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00335/fulloldest-oldmedical decision-makingpublic policyaginglongevity |
| spellingShingle | Efraim Jaul Efraim Jaul Jeremy Barron Jeremy Barron Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over Population Frontiers in Public Health oldest-old medical decision-making public policy aging longevity |
| title | Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over Population |
| title_full | Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over Population |
| title_fullStr | Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over Population |
| title_short | Age-Related Diseases and Clinical and Public Health Implications for the 85 Years Old and Over Population |
| title_sort | age related diseases and clinical and public health implications for the 85 years old and over population |
| topic | oldest-old medical decision-making public policy aging longevity |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00335/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT efraimjaul agerelateddiseasesandclinicalandpublichealthimplicationsforthe85yearsoldandoverpopulation AT efraimjaul agerelateddiseasesandclinicalandpublichealthimplicationsforthe85yearsoldandoverpopulation AT jeremybarron agerelateddiseasesandclinicalandpublichealthimplicationsforthe85yearsoldandoverpopulation AT jeremybarron agerelateddiseasesandclinicalandpublichealthimplicationsforthe85yearsoldandoverpopulation |