Riegel, BarbaraBennett, Jill A2023-05-232023-05-232000-04-012018-10-14https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/41658Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death and disability in America. The burden of cardiovascular disease is higher in elders than in younger populations, presumably because of life-long exposure to risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, abnormal blood lipids, lack of exercise, and/or obesity. Many assume that it is too late to attempt to modify risk factors in elders because behavior is so difficult to change. The purpose of this article is to argue that cardiovascular risk factor modification is effective in elders and should be vigorously pursued for the good of individuals, families, communities, and societies.This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in the Journal of Adult Development. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009527823829cardiovascular diseaseeldershypertensionsmokinglipidsexerciseobesityCardiologyCardiovascular DiseasesCirculatory and Respiratory PhysiologyGeriatricsMedical HumanitiesMedicine and Health SciencesNursingPreventive MedicineArticle