Definitions vary, case histories are very sparse, and medical historical reflection remains to be written. Neither the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders nor the WHO's International Classification of Diseases has ever included specific reference to it, however. Gerontophilia has often been taken to denote a 'paraphilic' interest in the elderly and in forensic contexts might be fitted into the diagnostic slots of DSM-5 'Other Specified' or 'Unspecified Paraphilic Disorder' (APA, 2013, p. Keywords: gerontophilia, paraphilias, review, historical perspectives

This review briefly discusses (1) coinage of the term and early history of the notion of gerontophilia (2) its consecutive conceptual frameworks finally, (3) implications for contemporary, wider discussions around the forensics of paraphilia and sex crime.