Longevity and Healthy Aging

While global aging is associated with a rise in life expectancy and greater numbers of older people, this longevity is seen by many as a rather negative phenomenon. Old age is often associated with chronic illness, functional decline and frailty, cognitive impairment and dementia, and social depravation. Yet this is often not necessarily the case. A growing number of people are reaching advanced old age in relatively good health. They remain physically and cognitively active, and often maintain good social contacts.

The baby boomer generation regards old age with some trepidation, not wishing to reach a state of "older but sicker". They are searching rather for the secret of qualitative and healthy aging. Does the answer lie in genetics? Or lifestyle, exercise, diet? Hormones? Attitude? Antioxidants? The environment? Social contacts and leisure activities? And do those who have survived to extreme old age serve as a model for successful aging?

These questions pose a great challenge to physicians and researchers, encouraging them to probe these issues, starting from the most basic aspects of cellular and molecular science, and moving to clinical conditions associated with aging and population-based epidemiological studies.

The Geriatric Section of Frontiers in Medicine has taken on the challenge of better understanding the processes associated with Longevity and Healthy Aging. We call on researchers and scientists to submit original research, clinical case reports, opinion papers and reviews relevant to this topic. We look forward to your contribution with the hope that this Research Topic will help to promote a greater insight into positive aging.