ABSTRACT
Plasticity Interface ............................................................................ 367 7.4.3 Exercise Mechanisms: Epigenetics ................................................... 368
The past decade saw the oldest baby boomers step into their 60s, many of whom are entering their retirement today, and will continue to do so at a precipitous rate until 2030. It is estimated that the number of people aged 65 years and above will soar to about 72.1 million, which is more than twice their number in 2000 (Aging StatisticsAdministration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services). This meteoric demographic shift conflated with the increased life expectancy estimated for the coming years has overarching implications for health care and the economy as a whole as it encroaches into already weakened pension and social security systems.1,2 This pivots the global health-care priorities more toward management of age-related chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs).3,4 Many of these illnesses pose a challenge to assessing their true nature and severity as they are often underrepresented in mortality statistics and there are not enough reliable epidemiological studies that focus on the suffering and disability such diseases cause.5 Neuropsychiatric disorders cover the top 5 of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide and account for about 37% of years lived with disability-a metric of equivalent years of healthy life lost through time spent in states of less than full health.1,6 Moreover, the societal, economic, as well as emotional costs of managing such conditions are not restricted to the individual and often involve loss of the caregiver’s productivity and psychological well-being. In the face of such staggering facts juxtaposed with dwindling resources to cope with them, it is imperative that we regroup our efforts toward better prevention or management of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
