The Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults

The document contains responses to previously published articles and reports on various medical topics. Dr. Virginia C. Fiedler addresses the potential link between amphetamine use and diffuse scalp hair thinning, stating that it is difficult to establish a cause-effect relationship based on the cited references. Only three out of 150 women with diffuse hair loss were taking amphetamines, and no temporal relationship between amphetamine use and hair loss was demonstrated. Another letter by Dr. Banning Gray Lary humorously comments on the characterization of older men as "geezers," suggesting that the traits associated with this term are a normal part of aging and not specifically due to the Great Depression, as the original authors speculated. Dr. Franklin D. Aldrich also comments on the "geezers" article, pointing out that not all older individuals with a wealth of experience and education fit the stereotype described. Lastly, Drs. Margareta Kristenson and Aril Frydén report a case of pneumonitis caused by metronidazole, marking it as a rare but possible drug-induced lung disease, with the patient's symptoms recurring upon rechallenge with the drug.