Welcome to the Discipline of Medical Gerontology

Professor Joseph Harbison, Head of the Discipline of Medical Gerontology

We are in the midst of a silent revolution, one that extends well beyond demographics, with major economic, social, cultural, and psychological and spiritual implications."  
Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General

In Ireland, as in the rest of the world, greater numbers of people are living longer with one in four of us expected to be aged 65 or over by 2036.  The fastest growing and oldest group (those who are over 75 or over) is expected to rise by 66% in approximately the same period.  With this demographic shift the prevalence of age associated illness such as stroke and dementia also dramatically increases, creating a substantial shift in health care demands and a growing requirement for experts in the field of gerontology. 

The Discipline of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College is committed to equipping health professionals with the unique skills and education necessary to meet these demands. Our objective, to create highly trained professionals in the field of gerontology, will help to make Ireland one of the best places in the world to grow old.

The Discipline's multidisciplinary and integrative approach is supported by our education and training policies which focus on the social, psychological and biological aspects of ageing.  Our programmes span a broad range of research areas including basic sciences, translational research as well as health and social policy research.