title: Frailty: an emerging research and clinical paradigm--issues and controversies.
abstract: Clinicians and researchers have shown increasing interest in frailty. Yet, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the concept and its definition. In this article, we present perspectives on key issues and controversies discussed by scientists from 13 different countries, representing a diverse range of disciplines, at the 2006 Second International Working Meeting on Frailty and Aging. The following fundamental questions are discussed: What is the distinction, if any, between frailty and aging? What is its relationship with chronic disease? Is frailty a syndrome or a series of age-related impairments that predict adverse outcomes? What are the critical domains in its operational definition? Is frailty a useful concept? The implications of different models and approaches are examined. Although consensus has yet to be attained, work accomplished to date has opened exciting new horizons. The article concludes with suggested directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jewish General Hospital/McGill University, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc, Canada H3T 1E2. howard.bergman@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guralnik
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: Sathya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karunananthan
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans