Geriatrics & Aging

Cardio geriatrics & Genetics of Ageing

Cardiogeriatrics is the branch of cardiology and geriatrics that deals with cardiovascular disease in older people. Heart disease, such as myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease, including arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, are common and a leading cause of death in the elderly. Vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease cause significant morbidity and mortality in the elderly.

The genetics of aging are generally associated with extended lifespans associated with genetic mutations, rather than accelerated diseases of aging that result in shortened lifespans. Aging affects physiological function and can be defined as the accumulation of damage to molecules, cells, and tissues over a lifetime. It reduces the body's ability to maintain homeostasis under stressful conditions, often increasing the risk of many diseases (cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease) and premature death.