Book excerpt: The "Bone and Joint Decade" draws our attention with increased intensity to the problem of the changes related to aging of our musculoskeletal system and the associated socioeconomic implications. In view of the increasing age of the worldwide population the impact seems to be tremendous. The editors of The Aging Spine pick up this interesting topic and engage opinion leaders to contribute their knowledge in this supplement. The various contributions cover most of the important problems, which are included in the vast specter of aging spine: osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, and tumors of the spine. The aging spine will be an everpresent issue in the life of a physician taking care of the different pathologies of the spine. This text will help to better understand the nature of the different changes in the spine of the elderly. It contributes to enabling us to diagnose and to treat this complex problem in an appropriate way.