Whether increasing life expectancy leads to better health remains still controversial. The authors contribute to the discussion on trends and patterns in health among the elderly by focusing on vanguard groups, the social and behavioral determinants of health, and the trends and patterns among vulnerable groups, particularly migrants. These three topics are embedded in the context of current international research interests, and feature prominently alongside the individual research questions each article addresses. From the Contents: * Welfare State and Disability. The relationship between stroke and disability depends on the health care system * Spatial Patterns of Dementia Prevalence and its Vascular Risk Factors in Germany * Does Education Matter for Incidence and Prevalence in Long-term Care Among the Elderly in Germany? Evidence from German Micro Census Panel data (2001-2004) * Spatial Patterns in German Long-term Care and their Relationship with Socioeconomic Factors * Mental Health Among Immigrants. Is there a disadvantage in later life?