Changes in the concept of aging and what it involves
Stelzner, F.
Langenbecks Archiv für Chirurgie. Supplement. Kongressband. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie. Kongress 113: 444-447
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0942-2854 PMID: 9101897 Document Number: 464223
In contrast to other organisms, which have a completely variable determination of their life span, man has achieved a prolongation of his life span. Previously, the minority surviving to old age were honoured for a fulfilled life. Today society must cope with a large number of ill as well as active elderly individuals. Creativity among the elderly is as rare as it is among the younger population, but the link to very cost intensive inactivity in life and science is as unchangeable as in phylogenesis, and possibly even necessary. This leads necessarily to a reserve among the young towards the old: They are politely tolerated.