Textbook of Men's Health and Aging
by
Bruno Lunenfeld (Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel),
Louis J. G. Gooren ((Vrije Universiteit Medical
Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands), Alvaro Morales (Queen's
University General Hospital, Kingston, Canada) and John E
Morley ((St. Louis University Medical Center, St. Louis,
MO, USA), second edition
(4/6/-09)- Every once in a while this reviewer of books in the field of geriatrics comes across a book that comprehensively covers the field of geriatric medicine, but is primarily read by the medical profession for a number of reasons. This book is not light reading for the general public. In fact, it is not intended for general reading.
Another reason is the cost. The book is Textbook of Men's Health and Aging edited by Bruno Lunenfeld (Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel), Louis J. G. Gooren ((Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands), Alvaro Morales (Queen's University General Hospital, Kingston, Canada) and John E Morley ((St. Louis University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, USA), second edition. The list cost of this 760-page book is $289.95. Having access to a large academic medical library allows this reviewer to bypass the problem. By reading this book, reasonably healthy men can enhance their knowledge of medical practices and health outlooks enabling them to better take charge of their own health .
This textbook has an important role in the aging male population for, to quote the editors comments, "this book is an attempt to draw together relevant gender-specific knowledge of men's health...and provides a unique overview of male health as an entity and offers valuable insight for improved management and clinical care."
This knowledge could provide important information for "the aging male" to bring to the physician/patient collaboration in the physician's office. We would award Textbook of Men's Health and Aging 4-stars for excellence and comprehensiveness.
A blurb for the book reads: "The central mission of the new edition is to unpick normal physiologic aging in men from pathologic processes, eschewing any material that is routinely available in the standard textbooks of medicine and geriatrics in order to maintain a uniquely male perspective. This means a focus on the age-related decline in sex steroids and other hormones and the pathological and clinical consequences. Wherever possible, the book records consensus on diagnostic criteria, emphasizes evidence-based medicine and highlights translational science." The clearer the diagnosis, the more effective the treatment.
The book is divided into 12 sections with a total of 56 chapters covering areas from the biology of aging to libidinal changes to skin problems unique to men and everything in between. It provides clinically relevant information, is well referenced and has an up-to-date bibliography. Readers might find the chapter on resistance exercise especially noteworthy. The important take home point from this chapter is that strength not muscle mass is the primary determinant of physical functioning.
The authors’ cogent distillations of the available data comprise a concise and authoritative summary of the state of science in the field of geriatric medicine. Textbook of Men's Health and Aging achieves its goal of emphasizing evidence-based medicine and translational science, the springboards for health driven medicine.
FOR AN INFORMATIVE AND PERSONAL ARTICLE ON PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS WHEN SELECTING A NURSING HOME SEE OUR ARTICLE "HOW TO SELECT A NURSING HOME"
Harold Rubin, MS, ABD, CRC, Guest Lecturer
posted April 6, 2009
To e-mail: hrubin12@nyc.rr.com
or rubin@brainlink.com