2008 July

The four major etiologic theories that help practitioners understand and diagnose elder abuse and neglect focus on psychopathology of the abuser, stress, transgenerational violence, and dependency.
Psychopathology of the abuser: Many abusers have been hospitalized repeatedly for serious psychiatric disorders (eg, schizophrenia and other psychoses). Many abuse alcohol or other drugs.
When an adult child has a [...]

Each year, many older Americans are physically injured, psychologically debilitated, financially exploited, or neglected by family members. Much of this abuse and neglect constitutes criminal offenses. Because much of it is perpetrated by spouses, it also must be viewed in the context of domestic violence.
Elderly men and women, whether or not they have impairments or [...]

Unlike cells in other organ systems, cells in the nervous system cannot reproduce. For example, damaged cells in liver, lung, or bowel may regenerate in part, but brain cells disappear if they become atrophied or injured. New cells cannot be produced, and damaged cells usually wither and die.
The number of nerve cells decreases with normal [...]