This study was designed to examine morphological changes in cross sections of the thoracic aorta of male Swiss albino mice during the course of aging. Histometric measurements made on the aortas of mice at 1, 3, 10 and 17.5 months of age showed that the tunica media, which consists of elastin lamellae and smooth muscle layers, thickens significantly with advancing age. To evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on the aorta, the aortas of 20 month old mice on a 4% protein diet (restricted) were compared with those on a 26% protein diet (control). The aortas of the 26% protein fed mice were significantly thicker and the number of elastin lamellae was significantly greater than those of the 4% protein fed mice. The control mice showed a greater degree of age related changes in the aorta than did mice on the protein restricted diet.

In the field of social gerontology, some evidence exists to support Cowgill's theory that modernization leads to a decline in the status of the old. However, all of the evidence to date consists of objective indices of status such as education or income. The study reported here uses the factorial survey approach to directly measure the perceived status of various ages, and of both males and females. The results indicate that there is in fact an inverted U-curve of status across the life span, and that the perceived status of females is lower than that of males in the midlife period.

There were a few minor variations in the status ratings due to sex, age, and the type of question asked. Females rated middle aged males slightly higher in status that did males, and older respondents rated the very young and the very old higher than did younger respondents. The most significant factor affecting the status ratings was age, but since the oldest respondent was only 35, this study must be replicated with older samples.

In spite of overall approval by residents and staff, a program of recreational exercise in a home for the aged had little impact. The findings suggest that (1) sponsorship and vested interest on the part of health professionals are crucial factors in program implementation, and (2) underlying optimal care of the institutionalized elderly are certain empirical and ethical issues which need to be addressed.

Rural-urban differences in the characteristics of 44 individuals entering the province-wide Adult Day Care program throughout Manitoba are examined. In addition, the rural-urban differences along various social and social psychological indicators after participants have been in the program are explored. The results indicate that there are many similarities and relatively few differences between the urban and the rural ADC participants. Any differences which do emerge portray the rural participants as more socially integrated and with higher levels of perceived health than the urban participants. Implications for assessment for entry into Adult Day Care are discussed.