Final answer:
False. The claim that all medical schools require geriatrics and gerontology is false. Geriatrics, focused on elderly health care, and gerontology, the science of aging, are both increasingly important, but not universally required in medical education. The demand for geriatric specialists is predicted to rise dramatically.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'All medical schools now require students to take courses in geriatrics and gerontology' is false. While the demand for physicians specialized in geriatrics is growing due to the aging Baby Boomer population, not all medical schools have made geriatrics and gerontology mandatory courses. However, given the projected 45 percent increase in demand for geriatric specialists by 2025, there is a significant push within the medical education community to ensure that new doctors are prepared to meet the needs of the elderly.
Geriatrics is a specialty within medicine focusing on the health care of elderly people. It was founded by Dr. Ignatz Nascher in the early 1900s. On the other hand, gerontology is the study of aging and encompasses the biological, social, and psychological changes that occur as people grow older, and it addresses how aging affects society at large.