The roots of geriatric medicine: Care of the aged in Byzantine times (324-1453 AD)

Background: The search for the roots of geriatric medicine, which has been considered a relatively new branch. Objective: The purpose of the study is the research of the original Byzantine medical texts and the contemporary h istorical sources so as to bring to light knowledge about ancient medical c are. Methods: The medical texts of Byzantine physicians were studied and an alysed, as well as the Histories and Chronicles of their contemporary write rs, so as to locate the extracts in the texts concerning geriatric care fro m the scientific point of view and that of the 'vox populi' which the histo rians and chroniclers express. Results: The problems of old age occupied ph ysicians from earliest Byzantine times. They had dealt with the characteris tics, symptoms and accompanying diseases of the aged and endeavoured to con front all the medical problems faced by the elderly, providing a special he althy regimen for the third age and taking steps for the prevention of dise ases of this age group and their treatment. Parallel to this, the research of contemporary historical texts proves the concern of all society for the special problems of the aged and the significant impact of scientific geria tric medicine on the population. Conclusion: The study and analysis of the original medical and historical texts of the Byzantine period (324-1453 AD) , written in Greek language, prove that the roots of medical care of old ag e could be traced from ancient Greek and Byzantine medicine. Copyright (C) 2000 S.Karger AG, Basel.