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Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

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...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption01:22

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption

As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution01:00

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are not...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
06:52

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit

Published on: September 30, 2020

Substance misuse--management in the older population.

Barbara Hunter1, Dan I Lubman

  • 1Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Eastern Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.

Australian Family Physician
|October 5, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Older Australians face increasing alcohol and drug harm, yet current estimates likely underestimate the problem. Improved screening in primary care is vital for better health outcomes in this growing demographic.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Public Health
  • Substance Abuse Research

Background:

  • The Australian population aged over 65 is expanding.
  • Alcohol and drug-related harm is increasingly recognized in older adults.
  • Traditional focus on younger populations overlooks significant issues in the elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on alcohol and drug problems in individuals over 65.
  • To outline recommended primary care approaches for this demographic.
  • To highlight the need for tailored interventions for older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
  • Discussion of prevalence, harms, and treatment gaps.
  • Analysis of primary care's role in addressing substance use disorders.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
06:52

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit

Published on: September 30, 2020

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of alcohol and drug misuse in older adults is likely underestimated.
  • A small proportion of older individuals with substance use disorders seek specialist treatment.
  • Significant alcohol and drug-related harms exist within the over-65 population.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced screening and assessment in primary healthcare are crucial.
  • Early identification and intervention can improve health outcomes for older adults with substance use disorders.
  • Addressing substance use in older populations requires a shift in focus towards primary care settings.