Davos 2019 - Press Conference: The Science of Healthy Ageing

TL;DR

European Commissioner for research science and innovation discusses the importance of healthy aging and the role of the European Research Council in addressing the challenges of aging in Europe.

Transcript

hello and welcome everybody at this press conference today at the World Economic Forum in Davos it's Thursday and today we will be talking with some distinguished speakers they've joined me here today about the topic of healthy aging all the speakers are as a matter of fact from the European Union so we'll talk also in a little bit more granularity... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 Healthy aging is a major challenge for politicians, alongside climate change and the digital world.
• 🖐️ The European Research Council plays a vital role in supporting research on healthy aging and advancing scientific understanding in various fields.
• 🤕 Interventions, such as dietary restrictions and drug repurposing, show promise in extending healthy lifespan and preventing age-related diseases.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is extending healthy lifespan achievable, or does it simply push back the period of ill health to later in life?

Research suggests that interventions can compress the period of ill health at the end of life, allowing for a longer period of good health before age-related conditions occur. The goal is to achieve a longer lifespan with a shorter period of ill health.

Q: What is the European Research Council's role in addressing healthy aging?

The European Research Council provides funding for research on healthy aging and supports a wide range of scientific fields. The aim is to advance understanding of the biological processes of aging and develop interventions to improve healthy lifespan.

Q: What is the outlook for the UK's involvement in European research after Brexit?

The European Research Council aims to maintain collaboration with the UK in research and science. The proposal for the next program of science includes provisions for UK participation, which will depend on the overall agreement between the UK and the European Union.

Q: How can grandparents play a role in improving healthcare and social networks?

Research suggests that involving grandparents in the care of grandchildren can have multiple benefits, including improved health outcomes and social support. Finding ways to integrate older adults into families and communities can contribute to better overall well-being.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The European Commissioner for research science and innovation emphasizes the importance of healthy aging as one of the big challenges for politicians, alongside climate change and the digital world.

• Researchers discuss the increasing life expectancy in Europe and the need to address the growing burden of multiple medical conditions in older adults.

• The researchers highlight the potential for interventions, such as dietary restrictions and drug repurposing, to extend healthy lifespan and prevent aging-related diseases.