GERO 7325 - Health and Biology of Aging

Three credit hours.

Understanding the consequences of aging and the extension of life expectancy requires the concurrent understanding of the interrelationship of biology and behavior. Research on “normal” aging over the lifespan offers the potential of understanding the changes that occur with age so that we can use this understanding to anticipate and cope with those physiological and behavioral functions altered by aging in ourselves and as caregivers. The course will examine physiological and epidemiological studies of disease and aging as well as the alteration in sensory perception, muscle function, etc. Finally, the issues of interventions, realistic expectations, and ethics will also be examined.

Prerequisites: graduate standing.