The Gerontopole Brussels Centre of expertise of Gerontology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The general aims of the Gerontopole Brussels as an inter-disciplinary network are to run a comprehensive multidisciplinary research program
o identifying the factors hindering Active and Healthy Ageing, and
o developing strategies to facilitate Active and Healthy Ageing
Given the very broad field of interest related to Active and Healthy Ageing, the research program will be elaborated stepwise in consecutive, more focused projects. In a first phase, we will focus on elderly aged 80+, which are worldwide the fastest growing age-group. In a starting project (first 4-5 years), our first aim will be to identify the medical, physical and privacy-related legal factors hindering Active and Healthy Ageing in the oldest old. Within the research program, a large cohort of elderly aged 80 years and over will be recruited in several, consecutive 'waves' (one every 4-5 years). This study design will allow to portray the frailty characteristics in the oldest old as main prospective determinants of Active and Healthy Ageing in this age-group, as well as to gradually cover all multidisciplinary aspects of Active and Healthy Ageing. On the long term, the insights gathered from the prospective cohort study will allow to design and run randomized controlled intervention studies aimed at improving and/or facilitating specific aspects of Active and Healthy Ageing.