gerontologists

Gerontologists are scientists and professionals who study the process of aging and its social, psychological, biological, and economic impacts. The field, known as gerontology, investigates how aging affects health and functioning, the mechanisms of aging, and how societies respond to older populations. Gerontologists may work in research, education, clinical practice, policy development, and program planning. They may specialize in subfields such as biological gerontology, which examines cellular and physiological aging; cognitive aging and neuroscience; psychosocial aspects of aging, including mental health and retirement; and social gerontology, which studies aging in families, communities and institutions, as well as epidemiology and public health aspects of aging.

Education and training typically include graduate-level study in gerontology or related disciplines such as psychology, sociology, biology, or public health, often culminating in master's or doctoral degrees. Clinically oriented gerontologists may include geriatricians (physicians) and geriatric psychologists or social workers who provide direct care and assessment of older adults.

Practitioners may work in universities, research institutes, hospitals and clinics, long-term care facilities, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. They contribute to policy development, age-friendly community design, health promotion, and the management of age-related conditions. Professional societies, such as the Gerontological Society of America and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, support research, education, and international collaboration.