This month's cover photo by photojournalist Ed Kashi shows a group of Chinese immigrants exercising at a San Francisco retirement community in 1997. "Because of increased longevity, seniors now represent a greater percentage of immigrants in America," Kashi says. Seniors also represent a growing segment of the U.S. population in general: 17 million Americans are between the ages of 75 and 85 and this number will likely reach 30 million by 2050, according to the National Institute on Aging. This "graying of America" has many implications, especially for health care, as more seniors will be in need of care.
One chronic condition that disproportionately affects older adults-and that can be greatly helped by exercise-is osteoarthritis, the subject of a special supplement, State of the Science: Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis, AJN is publishing online this month (go to: http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Pages/SOS.aspx). About 50 million adults in the United States have arthritis, including half of all people over the age of 65. Osteoarthritis, the most common type, affects 27 million adults in the United States alone. Nonpharmacologic treatments, especially exercise, can be of great benefit in managing symptoms such as pain and in improving quality of life. Gentle exercises for those who have limited movement or who cannot participate in vigorous exercise programs include those found in yoga and tai chi ch'uan.
For more about osteoarthritis, read the executive summary to the supplement, "The State of the Science in the Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis," in this issue. For more on Kashi and his work, go to: http://www.edkashistock.com.-Alison Bulman, senior editorial coordinator