The Gerontologist, Vol 29, Issue 3 393-400, Copyright © 1989 by The Gerontological Society of America
What does gerontology mean?
WA Achenbaum and JS Levin
Despite growth in the field of gerontological research over the past 50
years, no consensus has emerged on either the definition of gerontology or
on its scope and boundaries. This confusion is rooted historically in
developments involving the origins and adoption of the term. These include
the divergent agendas and world views of particular disciplines and
gerontological institutions, as well as conflicts over both ideology and
turf among major gerontologists. Speculation is offered on the potential,
as well as the costs, of developing consensus-in the future.
