ABSTRACT
The material reviewed in this book has demonstrated that the aging process causes a substantial deterioration in various components of functional capacity, with superimposed effects of both gender and habitual physical activity. This final chapter reviews certain implications of these findings for health and society. Critical issues are the extent of functional impairment and disability, resulting losses of productivity and the onset of dependency in elderly women
and men, associated economic costs, and the potential of reversing dependency by an appropriate exercise regimen.
