| Autor: |
Edward L. Schneider, Jack M. Guralnik |
| Rok vydání: |
2020 |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Technological Prospects and Population Trends ISBN: 9780429308376 |
| Popis: |
This century has witnessed a remarkable change in the age distribution of its citizens. At the turn of the century the average life expectancy at birth was 47 years. The leading causes of death were infectious diseases that led to mortality in infancy childhood and early adult life. Today life expectancy at birth has reached almost 78 years for women and about 71 years for men. The leading causes of death are chronic diseases that predominantly affect individuals in their 70s 80s and 90s. This chapter discusses past and future trends in life expectancy and life span and explores the impact of increased life expectancy on morbidity and disability. The authors conclude that all evidence points to increasing numbers of infirm disabled and institutionalized older persons. This in turn will place a severe financial strain on our economy. Efforts are now taking place to constrain the future anticipated costs of taking care of the elderly. Efforts are being mobilized to promote the health of aging Americans by modifying smoking nutritional habits and exercise. In addition a variety of alternative financing plans are attempting to slow down or even reverse the trends in rising health care costs. Data reviewed in this chapter leave doubts as to whether these approaches will be able to limit successfully the projected exponential increase in health care costs for the elderly. The only real hope to combat this trend is through research to find effective preventive and therapeutic approaches to the diseases and disorders of aging such as Alzheimers disease. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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