Gerontology

/ˌdʒɛrənˈtɒlədʒi/ noun

Definition

The scientific study of aging and the problems of older people, including how our bodies and minds change as we grow old.

Etymology

Greek 'geron' (old man) combined with 'logos' (word, study). The term was coined in the early 1900s as aging became a focus of medical and social science research.

Kelly Says

Gerontology revealed something counterintuitive: some aspects of the brain actually improve with age—older people are better at seeing the 'big picture' and have better emotional control, even if they're slower at remembering specific facts.

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