In conjunction with the Twelfth International Congress of Gerontology, the Carl-Korth Institute for Cardiovascular Research organized an international symposium on "Beta Blockers in the Elderly." It was the intention of the Scientific Committee that during this symposium we would discuss the specific problems and therapeutic implications arising when elderly people have to be treated with beta-blocking agents. Special emphasis was placed on the side effects and the age dependent features of beta-blocker therapy. Beta-blockers have become established in the treatment of both cardiovascular...