HEALTH DIFFERENCES IN ADVANCED OLD-AGE

The first part of this paper provides a general outline of objectives and methods of the Internal Illedicine and Geriatrics Unit of the Berl in Aging Study (BASE). Based on a multi-dimensional conceptualization of health, objective and laboratory data collected about different org an systems, e.g. cardiovascular and musculoskeletal, and functional ca pacity are complemented by qualitative clinical diagnoses and judgemen ts as well as self-reported health problems and functional limitations . Some of the central questions that can be addressed using these data relate to understanding the nature and processes of differential agei ng. The second part of the paper includes initial analyses of inter-in dividual health differences in advanced old age (70 to 105 years). Ini tial findings indicated that heterogeneity in somatic morbidity and fu nctional capacity was at least as large in old adults (70 to 84 years) as in very old adults (85 to 105 years), even though higher rates of somatic morbidity and lower levels of functional capacity were observe d in the very old. Chronological age and morbidity as well as psychoso cial and demographic factors were found to be independent predictors o f functional capacity in advanced old age. Additionally, the relative importance of psychosocial factors was found to be a function of age w ith lower predictive ability among the very old. In conclusion, these initial findings support the hypothesis of significant health differen ces in advanced old age due to differential ageing.