Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.
As the body ages, physiological changes profoundly alter how drugs are processed, distributed, and eliminated. A significant portion of adverse drug reactions in older adults can be traced back to these crucial alterations in drug disposition.
An estimated 90% of older adults take at least one prescription drug, making the study of how medications impact the aging body critically important. The 'impact factor' of drugs on aging refers not to a single metric but to the complex interplay of physiological changes, polypharmacy, and drug properties that shape treatment outcomes for seniors.
As people age, significant physiological changes occur that alter how the body processes medication. A major factor is the altered body composition, which profoundly affects which typical age-related change affects drug distribution in older adults, impacting drug safety and efficacy. This shift in body fat, lean mass, and total body water can lead to higher concentrations of some drugs and prolonged effects of others.
