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Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

Clinical trials in elderly patients.

S H D Jackson¹

¹Department of Clinical Gerontology, King's College Hospital, London, UK. Stephen.Jackson@kcl.ac.uk

Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop

|November 23, 2006

Summary

As the elderly population grows, medication use increases, highlighting the need for age-specific drug development. Research must consider unique physiological and sociological factors in older adults for effective and safe prescribing.

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Pharmacology
Clinical Trials

Background:

The global elderly population is expanding, leading to a rise in medication prescriptions for this demographic.
A significant percentage of older adults (60-80%) use medications, with 20-30% taking multiple drugs concurrently.

Purpose of the Study:

To emphasize the critical importance of age-specific considerations in drug development for the elderly.
To highlight the necessity of identifying and developing therapeutic targets relevant to the aging population.

Main Methods:

Review of current prescribing trends in elderly patients.
Analysis of physiological, pathophysiological, and sociological factors impacting drug efficacy and safety in older adults.
Examination of ethical and regulatory principles for clinical trials involving elderly participants.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

Main Results:

Drug development must increasingly focus on the unique needs of older patients.
Standard clinical trial principles apply, but specific adaptations are required for geriatric populations.
Physiological changes, disease comorbidities, and social factors significantly influence drug response in the elderly.

Conclusions:

Drug development and prescribing for elderly patients require specialized attention beyond standard protocols.
A comprehensive understanding of geriatric-specific factors is essential for optimizing therapeutic outcomes and ensuring patient safety.
Future research should prioritize the development of targeted therapies and evidence-based guidelines for the aging population.