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There are currently about 21 million people over 6S years in the United States and over a million of them suffer from a severe degree of mental impairment. This number will undoubtedly increase as more and more people attain their full lifespan. The Veterans Administration is acutely aware of this problem in the population it serves. Currently, there are about 31 million veterans in the United States. About 13 percent of these veterans are over 6S years of age and the number is expected to increase to 40 percent by the turn of the century. In recognition of the pressing need to address this problem, eight Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Centers (GRECC) have been established under the auspices of the Veterans Administration and the guiding spirit of Dr. Paul Haber, Assistant Chief Medical Director for Professional Services, Veterans Administration. The purpose of these centers is to develop a better understanding of the complex biomedical and socio-economic problems of the aged in general and to enhance the quality of life of the older veterans in particular o Gerontologists working towards a better understanding of the aging process and better care of the aged have made major progress in the biomedical field in the last decade. Among the efforts made by the Veterans Administration, the department of Extended Care and Academic Affairs have sponsored a number of symposia in the field of Gerontology.
List of contents
Introduction: Biomedical Aspects of Aging Research.- I. Neuroanatomical, Biochemical and Physiological Aspects.- 1. Cell Loss with Aging.- 2. Dendritic Changes in Aging Rat Brain: Pyramidal Cell Dendrite Length and Ultrastructure.- 3. Differential Changes with Aging in Old and New Cortices.- 4. Effects of Age-Related Random and Coordinated Loss of Memory Engrams on Error Rates During Memory Retrieval.- 5. Changes in EEG Amplitude During Sleep with Age.- 6. Biochemical Significance of Age Pigment in Neurones.- 7. Chromatin in Aging Brain.- 8. Effects of Chronic Dosage with Chlorpromazine and Gerovital H3 in the Aging Brain.- 9. Aging of Neurons in Culture.- II. Neuropathological and Clinical Aspects.- 10. Immune Reactions in Aging Brain and Senile Dementia.- 11. Reversible Modification of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to Proteins.- 12. Neurofibrillary Pathology: An Update.- 13. Aluminum and the Genetic Apparatus in Alzheimer Disease.- 14. The Fibrous Proteins of Brain: A Primer for Gerontologists.- 15. Cerebral Circulatory and Electroencephalographic Changes in Aging and Dementia.- 16. Senile Dementia and Drug Therapy.- 17. Senile and Pre-senile Dementia: A Clinical Overview.- Contributors.
