Encyclopedia of health & aging /

Markides (Univ. of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston) compiled and edited over 200 entries for this work to assist researchers, practitioners, and students working in the fields of medicine, nursing, epidemiology, public health, and related health care services. Introductory materials include a cross-referenced list of entries and a "Reader's Guide" that arranges the entries under 11 major themes: aging and the brain, disease and medical conditions, drug-related issues, function and syndromes, mental health and psychology, nutritional issues, physical status, prevention, sociodemographic and cultural factors, studies of aging, and system care. A short list of suggested reading references appears after each entry, and the appendix provides researchers with an annotated list of 45 online resources and organizations related to health and aging. This volume is more research-oriented than The Essential Guide to Aging in the Twenty-First Century, by D. H. Kausler, B. C. Kausler, and J. A. Krupsaw (3rd ed., CH, Sep'07, 45-0312), which provides no references, uses less medical terminology, and offers fewer statistics. This new encyclopedia emphasizes demographics and health and aging in the US and countries worldwide. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. R. L. Ruben emerita, Western Illinois University

Edited by the founder of the Journal on Aging and Health, this encyclopedia contains more than 200 A-Z entries on a broad range of topics related to health and aging. As outlined in the Reader's Guide, entries cover Aging and the Brain, Diseases and Medical Conditions, Drug-Related Issues, Mental Health and Psychology, Nutritional Issues, and Systems of Care, to name a few. A number of entries cover health and aging in specific countries or regions, among them Canada, Europe, and Mexico. In the introduction, the editor points out that the encyclopedia is aimed at researchers, students, and practitioners and is unique in its focus on health. In comparison with more thorough and academic texts, such as the Encyclopedia of Aging (Springer, 2006), one will find that Encyclopedia of Health and Aging is written in nontechnical terms and contains more international and cultural entries. Entries vary in length from two paragraphs to a few pages. At the conclusion of each entry is a short listing of Further Readings and References that, though briefer than those found in more academic texts, contains up-to-date research findings. The appendix provides a listing of 45 annotated online resources on health and aging, most of which are well-known Web sites and not as exhaustive as the National Institute on Aging database. This encyclopedia is suitable for public libraries that are just starting a collection in the area of aging or organizations that want a concise text written in layman's terms. It is not a necessary purchase for academic libraries that already have core texts, such as the Encyclopedia of Aging.--Mastel, Kristen Copyright 2007 Booklist

Centered around ten key themes-"Aging and the Brain," "Diseases and Medical Conditions," "Drug Related Issues," "Function and Syndromes," "Mental Health and Psychology," "Nutritional Issues," "Physical Status," "Prevention and Health Behaviors," "Sociodemographic and Cultural Issues," and "Studies of Aging and Systems of Care"-this is a ready reference tool for those studying health and aging in the United States and abroad. The "Reader's Guide" at the start organizes the entries by key themes to help users navigate the set more efficiently. Written under the editorial leadership of Markides, the founding and current editor of Sage's Journal of Aging and Health, the 200 A-to-Z articles (e.g., "hypercholesterolemia," "ERA-38") range from one to approximately three pages in length and come complete with "Further Readings" and "References" as well as See also suggestions. Bottom Line With entries contributed by a wide range of experts in the areas of biology, psychology, sociology, and economics as related to health and aging, this resource will prove useful to anyone working with the aging population-even the layperson with a basic understanding of some of the more complicated terminology. As such, it should be acquired by any library serving those working with the elderly.-Sara Marcus, Queens Coll., Flushing, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.