[The nervous system and old age]

Considering the topic "Nervous System and Old age" from an aspect of clinical care and assistance, one must take into account primary changes in the nervous system in terms of physiological changes due to old age, on the one hand, and the differentiation from pathological changes manifested at an earlier time, on the other. The latter task is frequently especially difficult, for the transitions are fluid here. The diverse nervous systems are affected by physiological changes due to old age in different ways. Details of these changes and, above all, their functional meaning are examined comprehensively. Nevertheless, the question of primary changes in the nervous system due to old age is still problematic; a so-called "age--factor" has not precisely described thus far. One must proceed on the assumption that the changes which are known to us are essentially sequelae and that we can make conclusions about the dynamics of the process of aging solely from this data. The differentiation between physiological and pathological changes in the nervous system in old age has eminent practical significance for rehabilitation and above all for prevention, and mastery of aging, which is often experienced not only as a "failure" on the part of different somatic systems, but also as personal fate. These questions become evident especially upon examining the various models of medical care for the aged.