title: Gaps in Aging Research as it Applies to Rheumatologic Clinical Care.
abstract: The incidence and prevalence of rheumatologic conditions are increasing and the rheumatology workforce must be aware of aging-specific issues. This article reviews specific barriers to understanding the biology of aging and aging-related mechanisms that may underlie development of rheumatologic diseases in older adults. It summarizes gaps in the assessment, outcomes measurement, and treatment of these diseases in this unique population. It also highlights potential solutions to these barriers and suggests possible ways to bridge the gap, from a research and education standpoint, so that clinicians can be better prepared to effectively manage older adults with rheumatologic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and the VA North Texas Health Care System, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9169, USA. Electronic address: una.makris@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Una E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 650 Albany Street, Suite X-200, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Devyani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, VA Ann Arbor Health System, University of Michigan, 914 NIB, North Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0940, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yung
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans
keywords: Barriers; Education; Older adults; Research; Rheumatology