This is the seventh year of the journal. Geriatrics and gerontology is an issue that is still being ignored in the region and the amount of research in the field is still scant yet the need is high. The journal is a form of encouragement for researchers in the field of ageing in the region.

A paper from Nigeria looked at assessment of the nutritional status of the institutionalised elderly in Nigeria. The authors used a structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and direct weighing of food intake. The authors noted that while the energy and protein intake was adequate according to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), the micronutrient intake was found to be lower than the RDA. On the whole, the diets were low in fruits and vegetables. It is essential for elderly people to eat foods that contain high levels of antioxidants and micronutrients.

A paper from Iran examined the perspectives of clients and health care professionals on the availability and effectiveness of outpatient stroke rehabilitation services in Tehran, Iran. The authors used mixed methods including a survey, key informant interviews and a focus group. The study highlights a misalignment regarding supply and demand for stroke rehabilitation. Given an impending rise in the incidence of stroke, this signals the need to reconsider policy regarding access to rehabilitation services as part of a national health system.

A paper from Erbil looked at the quality of life and morbidity pattern of the geriatric population in Erbil city. A total sample of 700 elderly persons of ?65 year old subjects was selected randomly. Data was collected by direct interview into an especially designed questionnaire. The authors found a relatively high proportion of the participants of both sexes were independent in performing activities of daily living, whereas a low proportion of both sexes had independence in performing of instrumental activities of daily living in comparison to other communities.

A paper from Australia examined the impact of family network and social network on physical, mental and psychological health of elderly men and women using spearman correlation and multiple linear regression methods. The authors used a cross-national sample (N = 4412) of elder people, aged ? 60 years, from four Eastern Mediterranean countries. The results show that social networks and family networks both have a positive association with individual physical, mental, and psychological health status. Also, social networks show higher correlation than family networks for all four nations. Based on the findings from this study, both family network and social network should be considered as important factors in developing health promotion programs for elderly people.

A review paper from Belgium looked at Nutritional Assessment in Geriatric Cancer Patients. The authors stressed that more than half of all new cancers occur in patients 65 years of age or older. Although Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) should evaluate different domains in this co-morbidity, malnutrition has a particular place in it, because it still is a potentially treatable condition. The authors concluded that nutritional assessment should be part of the routine preliminary evaluation of the older oncology patient.

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