Unique Characteristics of the Older Patient

The study of older persons is filled with challenges. The rapid growth in their numbers as well as pressures to be accountable for the effectiveness and efficiency of medical care demand that we systematically devote energy and resources to the study of older persons. Increasing methodologic sophistication makes it no longer acceptable to generalize findings from younger populations to older ones. Furthermore, our understanding of aging and the implications of subject heterogeneity on study design and conduct make relevant studies now possible.