Neurosurgery for the Elderly

The world’s rapidly growing aging population will present physicians, including neurosurgeons, with a unique set of challenges in the ethical provision of personalized yet cost-effective care. The geriatric patient population is not a homogenous entity; instead, unique factors such as physiological and cognitive reserve, frailty, and socioeconomic background affect an older patient’s ability to tolerate neurosurgical afflictions and their treatments. As such, innovations in technology are needed to devise treatments with the geriatric patient in mind. More importantly, at the population and global levels, advancements in technology must be harnessed to ensure the equitable provision of neurosurgical care that respects physiological reserve while also employing technological tools to promote cognitive enhancement in this aging population. The growing field of geriatric neurosurgery is ultimately a dance between technology and ethics in ensuring optimal quality of life and end-of-life care.