Ageing and medicine

Throughout the world, populations are ageing. The response of the health se rvices needs to be based on a knowledge of the nature of human ageing and t he principles of rational health care for older people. Ageing comes about from interactions between intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic (environment an d lifestyle) factors. Health care has to be responsive to the general needs of older people, but also to recognize the heterogeneity produced by diffe rent rates and patterns of individual ageing. There are now real possibilit ies of improving the course of human ageing through modulation of both intr insic and extrinsic processes. There is also a need to adapt social institu tions to what is a permanent change in demography.