Clarifying the search: A note on 'Journal of Aging and Rehabilitation'
When seeking information about scientific journals, the Journal Impact Factor (IF) is a key metric. This factor is calculated annually by Clarivate for journals indexed in Web of Science. Searches for a journal with the exact title "Journal of Aging and Rehabilitation" in major academic databases do not typically yield results, suggesting the query may refer to journals covering similar topics.
Prominent journals in aging and rehabilitation
Many well-regarded journals publish research at the intersection of aging and rehabilitation. These cover various aspects, including clinical practice, social sciences, and digital health. Here are some notable journals and their recent impact factors:
- JMIR Aging: Focuses on digital health for older adults and had a 2025 Impact Factor of 4.8.
- Aging (US): Publishes broad research on aging and reported a 2021 Impact Factor of 5.955.
- Journal of Aging Studies: Covers social, behavioral, and humanities aspects of aging and had a 2019 Impact Factor of 2.078.
- Research on Aging (ROA): An interdisciplinary journal with a 2025 Impact Factor of 1.8.
- Journals of Gerontology: Series A: A highly-respected gerontology journal with a 2022 Impact Factor of 5.1.
- Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation: Specifically focuses on geriatric rehabilitation and had an approximate 2024 Impact Factor of 0.7.
What is a journal impact factor, and why is it important?
A journal's impact factor measures the average frequency with which its articles are cited in a given period, indicating its influence. The calculation involves dividing the number of citations in the JCR year to articles published in the previous two years by the total number of citable articles in that period. A high impact factor can be significant for academics for career advancement and helps researchers identify influential journals.
Limitations and alternative metrics
The impact factor has limitations, including variations across disciplines and focusing on average citations rather than individual article quality. Alternative metrics offer different perspectives:
- CiteScore: Measures average citations per document over three years (from Scopus).
- SJR (SCImago Journal Rank): Weights citations based on the authority of the citing journal.
- Article-level metrics: Track citations or downloads for individual articles.
Choosing the right journal for aging and rehabilitation research
The appropriate journal depends on the research's specific area. For example, JMIR Aging suits digital health research, while Aging (US) is better for biological mechanisms, and Journal of Aging Studies focuses on social aspects.
| Feature | JMIR Aging | Aging (US) | Journal of Aging Studies | Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Digital health, health tech for older adults | Broad aging research (cellular, disease, anti-aging) | Social, behavioral, and humanities aspects of aging | Specific to geriatric rehabilitation techniques and studies |
| Scope | Open access, technology-focused | Open access, diverse scientific focus | Social sciences and humanities | Clinical and research focus |
| 2025 IF | 4.8 | N/A (2021 IF 5.955) | N/A (2019 IF 2.078) | Approx. 0.7 |
| Key Metric | JIF, CiteScore | JIF, JCI | JIF | JIF, CiteScore, SJR |
For further guidance on journal metrics, a helpful resource is available from USF Health Libraries: https://libraries.health.usf.edu/c.php?g=293821&p=9103345
Conclusion
Although a major journal with the precise title "Journal of Aging and Rehabilitation" is not widely indexed, the fields of aging and rehabilitation are well represented by numerous reputable journals. Researchers should use authoritative sources like JCR or Scopus to find relevant journals and understand that various metrics exist to evaluate journal and research influence.
