The Graying of America: An Encyclopedia of Aging, Health, Mind, and Behavior (2d ed.)
The objective of this encyclopedia is to "relate in nontechnical language the results of . . . research about the health, mental functioning, and social functioning" of the elderly. The 300 articles define terms relevant to the aging process and describe and interpret research results in the areas of the biology, psychology, and sociology of aging.Research findings on such topics asAlzheimer's Disease,Incidence of Disability,Automobile Accidents,Memory, andNutritionare presented. Most articles are several pages in length, and research results are given within the context of the specific study. The authors are careful to state who the elderly population was compared to: younger adults, other groups of elderly, or the population at large. Mental and diagnostic tests are explained, and there are essays on long-term studies of aging. Unfortunately, there are no bibliographic references to the original studies. An index of entries with cross-references is followed by an index of entries arranged under 14 broad topics.See alsoreferences are cited in the text of entries.The research information presented here is scientific in nature, but the vocabulary and the examples used to illustrate the results of the studies make the information accessible to the general reader; thus the book is a candidate for public library collections. Students and health professionals, especially those in the field of gerontology, will also find the encyclopedia of particular interest.The Encyclopedia of Aging and the Elderly(Facts On File, 1992) emphasizes specific diseases and practical advice to the aging, not research.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.