Biomedical gerontology in the Netherlands

In this review a brief historical view on biomedical gerontological research in the Netherlands is given. In the sixties and seventies this research, started in 1953, was mainly done at the TNO Institute for Experimental Gerontology and devoted to the topics pathology, immunology and organ and cell physiology (mainly the liver). Current research mainly concentrates on the brain, the immune system, the liver, the cardiovascular system, the locomotor system and the eye. It can be concluded that due to the SOOM (Steering Committee for Research on Aging) and ZWO (Fundamental Scientific Research) the amount and quality of biomedical gerontological research in the Netherlands has greatly increased. It is hypothesized that in the near future no spectacular developments are to be expected. Nevertheless, in the long term, on the basis of advances in molecular biology, the mechanisms of the aging process may be elucidated. Consequently, pathological changes can be recognized so that diagnosis, prevention or therapy may be possible. Especially, the prevention or therapy of the Alzheimer's disease or of osteoporosis looks promising.