Vol 3 n° 3 - Cerebral Aging
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1 4 5 E d i t o r i a l Dear Colleagues, Disorders observed in the elderly have become a major focus of interest in clinical med- icine and research. The demographic trends of the early 21st century, predicting a higher pro- portion of healthy retirees in the population, further emphasize the importance of geriatric neurology and psychiatry. A child born in the West in 1900 could expect to live 45 years, com- pared with approximately 80 years for his counterpart born today. Although life expectancy remains shorter in developing countries, it has increased also linearly over the last decades, following a curve that parallels the changes observed in affluent countries. This issue was coordinated by Barry Lebowitz, Director of the Adult and Geriatric Treat- ment and Preventive Interventions Research Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. A review of the current state of research into cognition and the aging brain is offered. A variety of topics are covered, such as models of cognitive func- tion, the impact of medications on cognition in the elderly, the treatment of cognitive deficits, the metabolic and neuroanatomic manifestations of aging, or the modifications of neuroen- docrine and sleep functions. Much of the research discussed here is in a state of flux; new findings and hypotheses are being presented every day. A characteristic of geriatric psychiatry is the intricate mixture of somatic and mental factors. Similarly, treatment often relies on combined approaches, includ- ing pharmacological agents and behavioral and psychotherapeutic techniques (eg, cognitive therapy). We hope that today’s research and new pharmaceutical compounds will help improve the well-being of our patients in a not too distant future. Yours sincerely, Jean-Paul Macher, MD Marc-Antoine Crocq, MD