Building on the enthusiasm and optimism about ageing and older persons that was generated during 1999 by the UN's International Year of the Older Person, the 2nd World Assembly on Aging (WAA2) comes at a unique time to capture the imagination of individuals, and groups in civil society and governments to seek positive solutions to problems and issues of individual and population ageing. The International Association of Gerontology (IAG) is very pleased to be a part of this process.

The International Association of Gerontology represented 63 organizations in 60 countries with a combined membership of over 46,000.

The objectives of the IAG are to promote research on aging, to promote the training of high quality personnel, to disseminate research information and best practices and to promote the interests of national gerontological societies in international affairs.

Over the past four years, the identification of knowledge gaps and research needed in order to elaborate sound public policy on aging has been a major activity for the IAG. Undertaken to assist the UN Programme on Ageing with the development of a Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21 st Century, the IAG convened a series of expert consultations, which brought together a distinguished group of scholars from around the world. During the meetings of this multidisciplinary group, a number of recurring themes emerged which resulted in the identification of the following six priority areas for policy related research on ageing:
 
 

1) Research into the relationships between population aging and socio-economic development
2) Identification of current practices and options for maintaining material security into old age
3) Research into changing family structures, intergenerational transfer systems and emergent patterns of family and institutional dynamics
4) Research into the determinants of healthy aging
5) Research into the basic biological mechanisms and age associated disease
6) Research into quality of life and aging in diverse cultural, socio-economic and environmental situations

This is the first time in history that a major UN Social Summit has been preceded by a meeting of scientists, researchers, educators and practitioners for the purpose of gathering the scientific evidence base to support the policy considerations of the subsequent United Nations meeting of representatives of Member States.

The Report of the Valencia Forum and the Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21 st Century stress the importance of using the knowledge and understanding of human ageing that has and will be further accumulated, as a basis for formulating sound and achievable policies for action. They also underline the importance of viewing ageing as a positive experience and ageing persons as a major resource to their societies who should be valued and respected. At the same time it is important to recognize that some members of the ageing population, especially the very old (age 85+) have major needs for health care, social services and social support.

There is need for a new vision of ageing that takes a determinants of health approach, addressing both life style and factors influencing health and well-being that are under the control of individuals as well as the "big picture issues". These latter include a concerted effort towards eradication of poverty. The results are in! Research clearly shows a very strong relationship between health and socio-economic status. There is no doubt that to achieve a society in which there is health for persons of all ages, poverty must be squarely addressed as well as societal attitudes that exclude older persons from the mainstream.

At a time when older populations are expanding rapidly especially in the developing world, it is of critical importance to use research knowledge to further our understanding of aging and to assist governments in the formulation of policies on ageing and aged care for the future.

The International Association of Gerontology extends an offer to governments world wide to provide support in national capacity building for undertaking policy related research on ageing. Our membership includes individuals and groups with expertise in applied research - research that includes needs identification, program development and evaluation that can be undertaken at the grass-roots level, with strong input from consumers and their family caregivers. We also have expertise in undertaking studies that enable countries to assess their position with respect to such population health indicators as healthy life expectancy and disability free years. Others have years of experience in conducting large scale, national and cross-national longitudinal studies.

The IAG also stand ready to provide assistance with education and training in gerontology and geriatrics - again, we have members with a broad range of experience in developing, implementing and evaluation personnel training - from grass-roots and primary care workers to high level bio-medical researchers.

Partnerships between governments and experts in research, education, and practice are required if we are to meet the challenge of the greying of nations in an efficient, cost-effective and compassionate manner. The international research community through IAG is ready and willing to help with the task.