A historical perspective on the care of the aged in medieval times

Although aging had already been treated among the classical writers of Antiquity, the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance obviously must be regarded as the chief source and inspiration, as well as the starting point of the history of gerontology. Nevertheless, the treatment of aging in medieval medicine remains relatively unexplored, in contrast with other fields such as obstetrics, gynecology, and even pediatrics, where the literature has become prolific. This contribution focuses on some of the most interesting medieval regimina and consilia, dealing with health and its preservation. It especially informs the reader about the most popular pathogenetic theories concerning normal and pathological aging, and also gives an impression of the most vivid clinical descriptions of the pathology of old age by fifteenth century physicians.