HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bergman, H. Articles by Wolfson, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bergman, H. Articles by Wolfson, C.

Frailty: An Emerging Research and Clinical Paradigm—Issues and Controversies

¹ Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
² Clinical Research Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland.
³ Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland.
⁴ Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
⁵ Canadian Initiative on Frailty and Aging, Solidage Research Group, McGill/Université de Montreal/ Jewish General Hospital, Quebec, Canada.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Address correspondence to Howard Bergman, MD, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jewish General Hospital/McGill University, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Qc, Canada H3T 1E2. E-mail: howard.bergman{at}mcgill.ca

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Retornaz, J. Monette, G. Batist, M. Monette, N. Sourial, D. Small, S. Caplan, D. Wan-Chow-Wah, M. T. E. Puts, and H. Bergman Usefulness of Frailty Markers in the Assessment of the Health and Functional Status of Older Cancer Patients Referred for Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., May 1, 2008; 63(5): 518 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Cress, G. Mueller, and S. Orini RESPONSE TO SPECIAL MEDICAL SCIENCES SECTION ON UNCONVENTIONAL VIEWS OF FRAILTY J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., May 1, 2008; 63(5): 542 - 542. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Bernabei, F. Landi, G. Onder, R. Liperoti, and G. Gambassi Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment: Back to the Future Second and Third Generation Assessment Instruments: The Birth of Standardization in Geriatric Care J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., March 1, 2008; 63(3): 308 - 313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. C. Martin and P. Brighton Frailty: different tools for different purposes? Age Ageing, March 1, 2008; 37(2): 129 - 131. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Kuh and the New Dynamics of Ageing (NDA) Preparatory Netwo A Life Course Approach to Healthy Aging, Frailty, and Capability J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., July 1, 2007; 62(7): 717 - 721. [Full Text] [PDF]