The aging population. A critical issue in medicine for the 21st century

One critical issue facing medical science concerns the aging population. The number of individuals 65 years and older has increased during the past decade and likely will double by the year 2030, when the elderly will represent nearly 20% of the total population. This dramatic increase has numerous ramifications; health care is of utmost importance. Inherent in meeting the medical needs of these individuals is a fundamental understanding of the effects of aging on the functional integrity of numerous organ systems. In recognition of this problem, the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of South Florida College of Medicine has initiated a major effort focused on age-related research. The objectives are to elucidate fundamental biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological alterations that occur as a consequence of normal aging and to investigate the role of these perturbations on the manifestations of disease. Information gained from such studies will provide a rational approach in developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of diseases affecting older citizens. This article presents a brief overview of four areas of research currently being pursued. These include aging and brain function, age-related alterations in drug metabolism, aging and smooth muscle function, and the effects of aging on the immune system.