Should Slowing Be Considered a Distinct Geriatric Syndrome?

A geriatric syndrome is a clinical condition that is common in older persons. It is the result of the accumulated effects of impairments in multiple body systems; it can arise by multiple etiological pathways, and it is associated with reduced ability to manage everyday activities and challenges.1,2 Often cardinal symptoms of geriatric syndromes are exaggerations of the normal changes of aging. Because of this, a geriatric syndrome may initially be difficult to diagnose. One example is the challenge to identify the transition from normal cognitive changes of aging to the geriatric syndrome of cognitive impairment.