ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: A longitudinal study on the over 65-year-old population (656 subjects) of a little town in the district of Turin (Italy) has started. A random sample of 200 people, stratified for sex and age, has been extracted and subdivided into age groups of 5 years. The first multidimensional geriatric assessment has already been carried out. We intend to reevaluate the sample every 2.5 years. PRELIMINARY RESULTS: general conditions are good in 72% of cases, fairly good in 23%, mediocre in 4%, and poor in 1%. There is no significant correlation between the number of diseases for single subjects and advancing age, while there is a progressive increase of drug uses with aging. By using activities of daily living (ADL) scale, 73% of people are completely self-sufficient; as the number of diseases for single subjects increases, the level of self sufficiency decreases. Cognitive impairment, tested by mini mental state examination (MMSE), is present to various extents in 28.3% of the population. It increases with advancing age and is not influenced by the number of pathologies.
ABSTRACT
With the improvement of quality life in the elderly of technologically developed countries, sexuality has become an important aspect of aging. In the elderly there is a progressive decline of organic functions; the decrease of sexual and procreating activity is linked with the impaired male hormonal production. The four stages of sexual function are modified: 1. delayed erection; 2. plateau prolongation; 3. orgasm modifications; 4. fast penis detumescence. In addition to organic impairment, aesthetic, social, environmental and psychological factors can restrict sexual activity, as well as past sexual experiences and co-morbidity. There are specific aspects concerning sexuality in the elderly, such as the increased chances of public relations and emotional involvement, the more intense psychic activity and the stronger process of removal and sublimation of impulses. In conclusion the best way to deal with sexuality in the elderly is the multidimensional assessment.