Scientific heritage of Ippolit Vasilievich Davydovsky: issues of gerontology in the light of general pathology

Ippolit Vasilyevich Davydovsky is an outstanding pathologist, academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, and professor who made a tremendous contribution to the foundations of modern pathological anatomy. Among his various scientific interests, he notably focused on the study of gerontology. This topic is quite relevant today since gerontology is beginning to become a separate medical specialty in medicine. The authors analyze the aspects disclosed in Davydovsky’s monograph “Gerontology,” as well as the ideas presented in other works on the issues described above. An overview of the main theories and provisions proposed by I.V. Davydovsky throughout his scientific career is presented. The importance of a comprehensive study of gerontology, which is inextricably linked with other branches of medicine, is emphasized. The natural philosophical understanding of the aging process is considered. The problem of atherosclerosis in geriatrics is described separately. Beyond his contributions to gerontology, the article highlights other foundational works by Davydovsky, including a textbook on general human pathology that underscores the inseparability of pathomorphology and pathophysiology as components of one discipline. His monograph on organopathology provides a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of human diseases. Thus, the scientist sought to dialogue with clinicians in his published works, thereby advancing the clinical-anatomical approach. The view of the community of pathologists on the scientific activity of I.V. Davydovsky, one of the most distinguished representatives of the field, is also interesting.