The privilege to be old.
BACKGROUND
Ample evidence has proven that the functional property of cells decreases over the years. Nevertheless, although it has taken decades to convince ourselves that elderly people belong to a specific age group both biologically and medicinally, and in whom special criteria have to be taken into consideration, it seems that even they themselves do not present an homogenous group.


OBJECTIVE
Today we often hear of authors of studies speaking of two subpopulation groups--one group that ages by all the laws of aging that we have encountered and accepted thus far, and the other group that seems to postpone aging due to 'programmed death', or more specifically due to low mastery/low emotional support or because of additional reasons; however, the existence of the two groups seems eminent.


METHODS
The identification of these two groups would allow us to find more realistic results in studies, and therefore a more efficient therapy for certain diseases.


RESULTS
This hypothesis does not contradict the theories of aging that we have accepted (at least not the majority) and also does not contradict the fact that there is a large interindividual variability. This hypothesis doubts and claims there are exceptions to the initial assumption of geriatrists and gerontologists that 'parallel to the aging process, the functions of all organs and organ systems lessen.'


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of these two groups would allow us to find more realistic results in studies, and therefore more efficient therapy for certain diseases.
Davidovic
Mladen
M
Center of Geriatric Medicine, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. davidovi@EUnet.yu
Erceg
P
P
Trailov
D
D
Djurica
S
S
Milosevic
D
D
Stevic
R
R
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001293:Attitude to Death; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support