The authors of this precious publication, Claudia Burlá, José Elias Pinheiro, and Ulisses Vasconcelos Cunha, have been well known to me for many years. They belong to a dynamic cohort of geriatricians that are much contributing to innovating and strengthen in gold-age care in Brazil and internationally – as this Atlas clearly testifies.
These three accomplished geriatricians have, over the last two years, developed an ambitiousand yet simple, effective project – which will, no doubt, much contribute to the training and clinical practice of scores of clinical practitioners. Profiting from their considerable experience and a camera, they have systematically recorded the most prevalent age-associated signs, diseases and conditions they would observe in their daily practices. And the beauty is precisely in the simplicity. Instead of relying increasingly in high-technology procedures, clinicians should value far more the diagnostic clues that only the careful observation of signs can provide. That, combined with rigorous medical history,is irreplaceable and forever the strong foundation of good practice. Correct diagnosis is obviously the key to appropriate medical care – and only possible if we stick to solid clinical principles. That is why I believe this Atlas will be a most useful tool to students, practitioners, and for all who care for ill old people.