D1 - Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main problems related to aging, geriatric syndromes, as well as polypharmacy, the basis of deprescribing and the main interventions to promote active ageing.

D2 - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the student will be able to recognize the clinical pictures associated with geriatric syndromes and will demonstrate the ability to apply the correct interventions to prevent and correct them.

D3 - Making judgments
At the end of the course, the student will be able to make a differential diagnosis of the main pathological clinical pictures that characterize the elderly patient starting from signs, symptoms, and main laboratory tests by analyzing and proposing, where possible, different etiological hypotheses.

D4 - Communication skills

At the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate that is able to present the notions learned during the cycle of lessons.

D5 Learning ability
At the end of the course the student will have to be able to autonomously find and adopt guidelines and recommendations on the prevalence and prevention/treatment of the main pathological conditions that characterize the older patient.

In order to have a satisfactory understanding of the contents of the course, it is considered appropriate that the student has acquired the basic notions of anatomy, physiology, general pathology, medical pathophysiology, medical semeiotics and pharmacology.

Epidemiology of aging and related social problems. The concept of active ageing
Geriatric syndromes: frailty, sarcopenia, delirium, incontinence, falls, balance and gait disturbances, syncope, dysphagia, malnutrition, incontinence, depression, dementia, chronic pain, pressure ulcers.
Comprehensive geriatric assessment
Polypharmacy and deprescribing
Ethical dilemmas in geriatric medicine

Paziente anziano, paziente geriatrico e medicina della complessita. Fondamenti di Gerontologia e Geriatria. IV edizione. Senin Umberto, Cherubini, Antonio, Mecocci Patrizia, 3rd Edition EdiSes Napoli.

- Aging: demographic aspects in Italy, in Europe and in non-European countries: implications in the clinical field
- Principles of biology and physiology of ageing.
- Geriatric medicine as medicine of complexity
- Chronic diseases, polypathology and disability; The concept of healthy aging
- Terminal decompensation (failure to thrive)
- The concept of geriatric syndrome, atypical presentation of diseases in the elderly
- The "fragile" elderly person; poverty, isolation, abandonment
- Geriatric multidimensional assessment: concepts, methodologies and tools; Geriatric Assessment units and teamwork
- First and second generation VMD tools
- Geriatric syndromes: frailty, sarcopenia, delirium, incontinence, falls, balance and gait disturbances, syncope, dysphagia, malnutrition, incontinence, depression, dementia, chronic pain, pressure ulcers.
- Polypharmacotherapy and deprescribing
- Ethical dilemmas in geriatric medicine

Frontal lessons supported by slides (in Power Point format) that will be made available to students

Michela Zanetti MD PhD
Dipartimento di Scienze mediche, Chirurgiche e della Salute
UCO Geriatria, Ospedale Maggiore
Piazza dell’Ospitale 1, 34100 Trieste
e-mail: zanetti@units.it
tel. 040-39942787
Office hours: by appointment

The student's assessment includes a written test in which 15 multiple choice questions are asked on topics covered in class. The duration of the test is 60 minutes. The student must demonstrate to be able to know and understand the main problems related to aging, geriatric syndromes, as well as polypharmacy, the basics of deprescribing and the main interventions to promote active aging. The score of the exam is attributed by means of a mark expressed out of thirty calculated on the basis of the sum of the scores of the correct answers (2 points will be attributed to each correct answer). To pass the exam (18/30) the student must answer at least 9 questions. To achieve the maximum score (30/30 cum laude), the student must answer all the questions correctly. Passing the test is a necessary prerequisite for completing the Internal Medicine exam.

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)