RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Research into ageing and frailty
JF Future Healthcare Journal
JO Future Healthc J
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP e237
OP e242
DO 10.7861/fhj.2021-0088
VO 8
IS 2
A1 Adam L Gordon
A1 Miles D Witham
A1 Emily J Henderson
A1 Rowan H Harwood
A1 Tahir Masud
YR 2021
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/2/e237.abstract
AB Research into ageing covers opportunities and challenges posed by an older population, and research to understand the ageing processes across the lifespan. The evidence base for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is well established and efforts should now shift to understanding how to implement its principles across different healthcare contexts. Research around syndromes common in older people has progressed with variable success; while effective therapies for falls and cognitive impairment have been identified, older people with advanced frailty have commonly been excluded from Parkinson's disease and continence research. Research to understand the mechanisms of ageing has potential to mitigate against or treat emerging sarcopenia and cognitive impairment, and thus modify frailty trajectories. Pharmacogenetics could individualise therapeutics to reduce polypharmacy. These issues can only be addressed with development of infrastructure, capacity and expertise in ageing research. Commonly used research methodologies must be adapted to take account of frailty, cognitive impairment and functional dependency.