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The Gerontologist

The Gerontologist is a journal published on behalf of the Gerontological Society of America that publishes research and analysis on aging. The journal features thematic collections, special issues, supplements, review articles, measurement articles, and international spotlight content, and reports a 2024 Impact Factor of 3.2 and a 2025 CiteScore of 7.

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Subject Gerontology
Impact Factor 3.2
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Hybrid
ISSN 0016-9013
eISSN 1758-5341
Invitation Only No
Cost Range No open access charge to pay for eligible authors at participating institutions; the charge is included in the institution’s agreement.

Submission Instructions

The Gerontologist accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Research Articles

Cover Letter Cover letter is required only when appealing the manuscript word count limit to indicate that prior permission has been granted. Cover letter must state that permission has been granted when submitting a manuscript that exceeds the word count limit by prior approval.
Abstract Abstract is required. Abstract must be structured for Research Articles.
Manuscript Research Articles must structure the text using the headings included in the structured abstract. Manuscript must include three to five keywords below the abstract, an implications section specifying policy and/or practice implications, an Author Notes section instead of footnotes or endnotes if needed, a Funding section before Acknowledgments, and disclosure of any AI tool use in the Materials and Methods or similar section.
References References must follow APA style, 7th edition. Reference list must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, unnumbered, include only works cited in the text, and exclude private communications or submitted work.
Figures & Tables Each table and figure must be editable and placed on separate pages at the end of the main document in a section labeled "Tables/Figures," with table titles and figure captions on a separate page following the references rather than embedded in the text. Tables must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals and brief titles, and all images, figures, illustrations, and photographs must include alt text directly under the relevant figure legend preceded by "Alt text:".
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Humanities And Arts Research Articles

Cover Letter A cover letter is required and must clearly state whether the paper uses a humanities- or arts-based inquiry or an evaluation of a humanities or arts intervention. The cover letter must clearly state whether the paper uses a humanities- or arts-based inquiry or an evaluation of a humanities or arts intervention.
Abstract An abstract is required. The abstract must be unstructured and must not exceed 250 words. The abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript The main text must not exceed 7,000 words. The manuscript must include headings appropriate for the submission and provide a clear description of the method, theoretical or philosophical approach, sources used, general principles of analysis, theoretical foundations, and interpretation within gerontological scholarship. The manuscript must include three to five keywords below the abstract, practice and/or policy implications, and any AI-use disclosure in the Materials and Methods or similar section.
References The manuscript must include no more than 50 references. References must follow APA style, 7th edition. The reference list must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables The manuscript must include no more than 5 elements. Tables and figures must be editable, placed on separate pages at the end of the main document in a section labeled "Tables/Figures," and not embedded in the text. Table titles and figure captions must be provided on a separate page following the references, and alt text must appear under each relevant figure legend.
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Intervention Research Articles

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be structured.
Manuscript Main text must not exceed 7,000 words. Manuscript must include a clear theoretical or conceptual framework supporting the intervention and/or treatment development and dissemination or implementation process and must clearly articulate the design, analyses, and timing of data collection. Manuscript must address practice and/or policy implications, discuss relevant implementation and dissemination issues regardless of research stage, include three to five keywords below the abstract, and disclose any AI tool use in the Materials and Methods or similar section.
References References must not exceed 50. References must follow APA style. Reference list must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables Figures and tables combined must include no more than 5 elements. Each table and figure must be editable and placed on separate pages at the end of the main document in a Tables/Figures section rather than embedded in the text. Table titles and figure captions must be provided on a separate page following the references, and alt text must be included under each relevant figure legend.
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Quantitative Research Articles

Cover Letter Cover letter must indicate that permission has been granted if appealing the manuscript text word count limit, and it may be used to communicate cultural restrictions that cannot be stated in the article body.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be no more than 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings that also structure the main text, and it must briefly summarize the sample's demographic characteristics.
Manuscript Main text must be limited to 6,000 words. Manuscript must use the headings included in the structured abstract and include a conceptual framework or model leading to clearly stated a priori hypotheses, clear descriptions of research design and analysis procedures, distinctions between planned and exploratory analyses, and discussion of the limitations of exploratory analyses. Manuscript must address practice or policy implications, include three to five keywords below the abstract, list variables collected in the Methods section, report sample characteristics in the Results section, include an Author Notes section instead of footnotes or endnotes if needed, provide a Funding section before Acknowledgments, include a conflict-of-interest statement, and disclose any AI tool use in the Materials and Methods or similar section.
References References must not exceed 50. References must follow APA style, 7th edition. Reference list must be alphabetized by author surname, unnumbered, and include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables No more than 5 elements are allowed. Each table and figure must be editable and placed on separate pages at the end of the main document in a Tables/Figures section rather than embedded in the text, with captions provided on a separate page following the references. Tables must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals and brief titles, and all images, figures, illustrations, and photographs must include alt text directly under the relevant figure legend preceded by "Alt text:".
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Qualitative And Mixed Methods Research Articles

Cover Letter A cover letter is only required if appealing the manuscript word count limit, and it must state that permission has been granted. If used to appeal the word count limit, the cover letter must indicate that permission from the Editor-in-Chief has been granted.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be no more than 250 words. Abstract must be structured. The manuscript text must use the headings included in the structured abstract, but the specific abstract headings are not stated.
Manuscript Main text must be limited to 7,000 words. Manuscript must clearly identify and justify the qualitative or mixed methods methodology, provide a Research Design and Methods section detailing implementation, and show how any guiding theory or conceptual framework was used in the methods and results. The manuscript must address practice and/or policy implications, include three to five keywords below the abstract, include declarations such as funding and conflict of interest statements, and disclose any AI tool used and how it was used in the Materials and Methods or similar section.
References The manuscript must include no more than 50 references. References must follow APA style, 7th edition. References must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables The manuscript must include no more than 5 elements. Each table and figure must be editable and placed on separate pages at the end of the main document in a section labeled "Tables/Figures" rather than embedded in the text. Tables must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals and brief titles, and table titles and figure captions must be provided on a separate page following the references.
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Review Articles

Cover Letter If permission to exceed the word count has been granted before submission, the cover letter must indicate that permission was granted.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be no more than 250 words. Abstract must be structured.
Manuscript Main text must be limited to 8,000 words. Review articles must be grounded in conceptual or theoretical frameworks and use the headings included in the structured abstract. The manuscript must include three to five keywords below the abstract, practice and/or policy implications, and an AI-use disclosure in the Materials and Methods or similar section if AI tools were used.
References Review articles must include no more than 75 references. References must follow APA style, 7th edition. References must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables Review articles must include no more than 10 elements. Each table and figure must be editable and placed on separate pages at the end of the main document in a section labeled "Tables/Figures" rather than embedded in the text. Table titles and figure captions must be typed on a separate page following the references, and alt text must be included directly under each relevant figure legend.
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Systematic Reviews

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be structured.
Manuscript Main text must not exceed 8,000 words. Review articles must be grounded in a conceptual or theoretical framework. Manuscripts must include three to five keywords below the abstract, and any AI tool used in writing, image or graphical production, or data collection and analysis must be disclosed in the Materials and Methods or similar section.
References References must not exceed 75. References must follow APA style. Reference list must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables Figures, tables, and other elements combined must not exceed 10. Tables and figures must be placed on separate pages at the end of the main document rather than embedded in the text. Each table and figure must be editable, and table titles and figure captions must be typed on a separate page following the references.
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Scoping Reviews

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be no more than 250 words. Abstract must be structured.
Manuscript Main text must be limited to 8,000 words. Scoping reviews must be grounded in a conceptual or theoretical framework and provide a rationale for the selected synthesis method supported by relevant evidence.
References References must not exceed 75. Manuscripts must follow APA 7th edition style. References must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables Figures, tables, and other elements combined must not exceed 10. Tables and figures must be placed on separate pages at the end of the manuscript rather than embedded in the text.
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Meta-Analyses

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be structured.
Manuscript Main text must be limited to 8,000 words. Review articles must be grounded in conceptual or theoretical frameworks and structure the text using the headings included in the structured abstract. Manuscript must address practice and/or policy implications and include three to five keywords below the abstract.
References References must not exceed 75. References must follow APA style. Reference list must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables Figures and tables combined must not exceed 10 elements. Each table and figure must be editable and placed on separate pages at the end of the main document rather than embedded in the text. Tables and figures must be included in a section labeled "Tables/Figures" following the references, and table titles and figure captions must be typed on a separate page.
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Umbrella Reviews

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be no more than 250 words. Abstract must be structured.
Manuscript Main text must be limited to 8,000 words. Review must be grounded in a conceptual or theoretical framework and the text must use the headings included in the structured abstract.
References Review must include no more than 75 references. References must follow APA style. Reference list must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables Review must include no more than 10 elements. Each table and figure must be editable and placed on separate pages at the end of the main document rather than embedded in the text.
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Measurement Articles

Cover Letter If appealing the manuscript text word count limit, the cover letter must indicate that permission from the Editor-in-Chief has been granted.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 250 words. The abstract must be structured.
Manuscript The main text must be limited to 6,000 words. The manuscript must fully describe scale or instrument development and validation procedures, situate the scale or instrument within an explicit conceptual framework or theory, and use the headings included in the structured abstract. The manuscript must address practice and/or policy implications, include three to five keywords below the abstract, and disclose any AI tools used in writing, image or graphical production, or data collection and analysis in the Materials and Methods or similar section.
References The manuscript must include no more than 50 references. References must follow APA style, 7th edition. References must be arranged alphabetically by author surname, must not be numbered, and must include only works cited in the text.
Figures & Tables The manuscript must include no more than 5 elements. Each table and figure must be editable and placed on a separate page at the end of the main document in a section labeled "Tables/Figures" rather than embedded in the text. Tables must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals and brief titles, and alt text must be provided directly under each relevant figure legend.
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Recent Publications

Advancing Brain Health and Dementia Research in Canada: Insights from Focus Groups with the Dementia Research and Innovation Funders Alliance

Juanita-Dawne R Bacsu, Alixe Ménard, Cheltey Berlinguette, Wendy Hulko, Megan E O’Connell, Sarah Fraser, Jim Mann, Sheila Blackstock, Myrna Norman, Melba Sheila D’Souza, Marc Viger

10.1093/geront/gnag124
View Publication

“How did I get here?”: A qualitative life-course analysis of Australian women’s experiences of elder abuse

Bianca Brijnath, Rachel Muoio, Jake Najman, Shelby Marrington, Alexandra Clavarino, Tara Renae McGee, Anna Gilbard

10.1093/geront/gnag122
View Publication

Reimagining the Academic Environment: Applying the Age Inclusivity Domains of Higher Education (AIDHE) Model

Joann M Montepare, Nina M Silverstein, Lauren Marshall Bowen, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Katherina Nikzad-Terhune, Allyson S Graf, Michelle M Porter

10.1093/geront/gnag123
View Publication

The Thursday Murder Club’ s deadly charms and other attractions

Rose Capp

10.1093/geront/gnag120
View Publication

Long-term trends in HIV-related stigma among older adults with and without HIV: a cohort study from Mbarara, Uganda

Chase Mandell, Janet Seeley, Samuel Maling, Noeline Nakasujja, Robert Paul, Zahra Reynolds, Eliza Passell, Christine S Ritchie, Susanne S Hoeppner, Flavia Atwiine, Deanna Saylor, Meredith Greene, Edna Tindimwebwa, Jeremy A Tanner, Brianne Olivieri Mui, Stephen Asiimwe, Mark J Siedner, Alexander C Tsai

10.1093/geront/gnag119
View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Median days from submission to first decision, median days from submission to final decision, and median days from acceptance to publication are provided as journal-level metrics.

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Is a cover letter required?

Cover letter is optional. For humanities and arts research articles, the cover letter should clearly state whether the paper uses a humanities- or arts-based inquiry or an evaluation of a humanities or arts intervention. Appeals to exceed word count limits require prior permission from the Editor-in-Chief and authors should indicate in the cover letter that permission has been granted.

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What are the publication costs?

No open access charge to pay for eligible authors at participating institutions; the charge is included in the institution’s agreement.

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Research Topics

Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes Aging and Gerontology Research Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving Health and Well-being Studies Retirement, Disability, and Employment Health disparities and outcomes Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research Human auditory perception and evaluation Elder Abuse and Neglect Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies Technology Use by Older Adults Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues Frailty in Older Adults Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues Urban and spatial planning Health and Wellbeing Research Global Health Care Issues Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health Healthcare Policy and Management Identity, Memory, and Therapy Older Adults Driving Studies Family Caregiving in Mental Illness Employment and Welfare Studies Family Support in Illness

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