Drugs and the aging brain.

The aging brain is more sensitive to the potentially deleterious effects of drugs used to treat common geriatric disorders. The atypical presentation of medical conditions can lead to inaccurate diagnoses and inappropriate drug prescribing. Working from a knowledge of general principles of geriatric pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, the clinician will be better attuned to the problems of prescribing for the elderly, so as to maximize beneficial therapeutic effects without compromising mental function.