Topical Problems in Gerontology

Abstract

Abstract—Currently, gerontology is changing its priorities. If yesterday the main was search for biological mechanisms of aging (independent work of gerontologists), that today the problems of practical application of the acquired knowledge for target purposes come to the fore deceleration of human aging (joint work of gerontologists and geriatricians). To do this, it is necessary to develop common views on the fundamental concepts and ideas about the aging process and to begin gerontological analysis of population changes in the historical dynamics of life expectancy and causes of death in developed countries. The major basic concepts revealed by the analysis of the population mechanisms that underlie the slowing of aging in Finland during the 1970–2011 period are considered.