title: Aging and adaptation to illness.
abstract: The relation of age, adaptation to illness, and the severity of cerebral dysfunction was evaluated for persons having suffered cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). All (89) subjects (age range 38 to 84 years, mean 62) were interviewed at least 1 mo. following onset of illness. It was found that older persons were more likely to manifest mental impairment following a DVA but that measures of sensory and motor functions were not similarly affected. The association of age and psychological adaptation varied, depending on the severity of brain dysfunction. Among a minimally impaired group, older persons tended to be more depressed and to use less denial than younger subjects. While denial was increasingly manifested by all persons with severe degrees of cerebral dysfunction, this change was shown to a greater extent by older subjects. The findings suggest that the severity of cerebral dysfunction may be a more critical factor in determining adaptation to illness than chronological age.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders; D003071:Cognition; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D012677:Sensation; D014794:Visual Fields