The Continuity of Gerontological Themes

Abstract

Based on the premise that scientists should periodically examine the history of their ideas and methodologies, this article focuses on the issue of continuity in the evolution of scientific knowledge about aging. Taking a twenty-five-year perspective, selected research questions and priorities in the biomedical, behavioral, and social domains of aging are used to exemplify the continuity of the gerontological knowledge base. This article concludes that there is considerable evidence of continuity, despite the strong influences of changing cohorts of people and external forces that have shaped new ideas and research questions in gerontology.