Gerontology facts for kids
Gerontology is the study of aging. It comes from two Greek words: geron, meaning "old man," and -logy, meaning "study of." Gerontology looks at how people change as they get older in terms of their bodies (biology), their minds (psychology), and how they fit into society (social aspects).
It's different from geriatrics. Geriatrics is a part of medicine that focuses on the health and diseases of older people. Gerontology is a wider field that studies all parts of aging, not just medical issues.
Gerontology helps us understand many things about getting older. For example, it helps us learn:
- How our bodies change as we age.
- How aging affects our health and can lead to certain diseases.
- How an aging population changes society, like how we plan for pensions or retirement.
- How to create better programs and policies for older adults, such as running nursing homes or planning government services.
Contents
Studying the Science of Aging
Biogerontology
Biogerontology is the part of gerontology that studies the biological processes of aging. This means it looks at how our bodies and cells change over time.
A special part of biogerontology is called biomedical gerontology, also known as experimental gerontology or life extension. Scientists in this area try to find ways to slow down, stop, or even reverse aging in humans and animals.
One way they do this is by trying to cure diseases that are common in older people. Another way is by studying how things like physical exercise can slow down the aging process itself. Many researchers believe that we might be able to change how long humans live within the 21st century.
Social Gerontology
Social gerontology is another important part of gerontology. It's a field that combines many different studies to understand older adults. People who work in social gerontology might have studied things like social work, nursing, psychology, or sociology.
Social gerontologists work to help and understand older people. They do this by:
- Teaching others about aging.
- Doing research and publishing books or articles about the aging population.
- Creating films and TV shows that share information about older adults.
- Training new experts in colleges and universities who will work with older people.
Related topics
Images for kids
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Older adults playing cards in Amsterdam, 1970.
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The hand of an older adult.
See also
In Spanish: Gerontología para niños
