This analysis was designed to provide information ondoctoral research training performed in France from 1971 to 1985. Dissertation titles have been obtained by computer and manual searches. They have been classified by chronological year, institution, subject matter, type of diploma and presumed gender of author. Half of the titles were defended in Paris universities. About 50% of the authors were women. Most titles were on biological or sociological aspects. Compared to the total numbers of dissertations defended, during this 15-year period the proportion of dissertations dealing with problems on aging increased from about 0. 10% in 1971-1975 to 0.26% in 1981-1985.