Aging Overview

On this page we have provided useful links to sources of information on aging-related health issues.

Arthritis: The Nation's Leading Cause of Disability

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta arthritis and related conditions affect nearly 43 million Americans, or about one of every six people, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. By 2020, as the baby boom generation ages, an estimated 60 million Americans will be affected by arthritis. The pull-down menu below offers information about arthritis from a selection of government resources including the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeltal and Skin Diseases (National Institutes of Health), the General Services Administration, and the CDC.

Managing Osteoarthritis

Research shows how elderly patients with osteoarthritis can become more active and responsible for their own care, make more informed decisions, help to control the costs of health care, and improve their quality of life.

Research for Managing Osteoarthritis

Urinary Incontinence:

Urinary incontinence can be caused by a variety of medical or physiological factors. The National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse defines it as an inability to hold your urine until you get to a toilet. More than 13 million people in the United States--male and female, young and old--experience incontinence. It is often temporary, and it always results from an underlying medical condition.

General Info
Info for Women

Physical Activity and Older Americans:

For many adults, growing older seems to involve an inevitable loss of strength, energy, and fitness. But it need not be so. The frail health and loss of function we associate with aging, such as difficulty walking long distances, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries, is in large part due to physical inactivity. When it comes to our muscles and physical fitness, the old adage applies: "Use it or lose it."

Benefits and Strategies of Physical Activity