Decelerating the aging process.

Diseases whose incidence and prevalence are increased in the elderly and whose cytopathology, hormones, and immunogenesis differ, generally are included in the field of geriatrics. These conditions may be precipitated or accelerated in quantity or type by a wide variety of genetic and environmental factors. Chronological and progressive deterioration of selected cells, organs, and tissues, and their functions may occur without major specific pathology. These processes are referred to as senescence and its study, is gerontology.Geriatrics includes senility and diseases of the elderly. Terms associated with gerontology include benign agism or senescence, as a normal consequence of the aging processes common to all biological forms of life.The age period, 65 to 85 years, does not necessarily imply senility, but the normal chronological aging of an individual in an industrialized, urbanized society. This paper emphasizes recommendations for deceleration of the normal aging process.