An update on the recognition of aging as a treatable medical condition in the ICD:

In the current International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) system, for the code MG2A, the original main designation “Old age” is now fully replaced with the new one: “Aging-associated decline in intrinsic capacity” in the “General Symptoms” category (the change is now also seen in the main ICD website)!

https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/835503193 

The new designation is even better for designing measurable interventions into aging than the previous ill-defined “Old age”. 

Moreover, there are about 14 “matching terms” for this MG2A Code, including “frailty of old age”, “old age atrophy”, “old age exhaustion”, “old age debility” and also “ageing” itself! All these terms allow the direct targeting of aging as a medical condition or as a set of general medical symptoms! 

https://icd.who.int/ct11/icd11_mms/en/release (search “ageing”) 

Moreover, there is a second code in the ICD-11, the XT9T extension code “Ageing-related” in the “Causality” or “Aetiology” category which also permits targeting aging as a medical indication, namely as an underlying cause or risk factor of diseases.

https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/459275392 

Thus, with both codes, Aging can be now directly targeted by biomedical interventions in accordance with the present International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). 

The contribution of longevity research advocates to this inclusion of aging into the ICD-11 as a treatable medical condition has been crucial. 

Now the task is in the hands of medical researchers and practitioners to leverage those ICD codes to design and test interventions directly into aging, including the development of evaluation criteria for the efficacy and safety of such interventions, for the benefit of older persons, prevention of aging-related diseases and extension of healthy longevity!

See our brief article, explaining the principal topics about the inclusion of Aging in the ICD-11:

Ilia Stambler, Aleksey Alekseev, Yuri Matveyev, Daria Khaltourina. Advanced pathological ageing should be represented in the ICD. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 3(1), E11, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00305-6

Also recently, additional articles on the subject were published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(22)00154-4/fulltext 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(22)00102-7/fulltext

Making a little personal celebration: 20 years of involvement in longevity or life extension activism. 10 years ago, by January 2012, I completed my PhD thesis on the “History of Life-extensionism” and co-organized our first demonstration for life extension (on January 20, 2012) and since then became fully involved in longevity or life extension activism. And 10 years before that, around January 2002, after completing the MA, I started to work as a science writer in biotechnology and co-created our first multi-lingual site on life extension, and so became partly involved in longevity (life extension) activism. In these 20 years, one could see the massive shift of public attitude in favor of the possibility and desirability of healthy life extension, hopefully at least in some small measure also thanks to our activism. But still there is a lot of work to be done to bring this possibility and awareness closer to real implementation, to the actual achievement of aging amelioration and healthy life extension (and not a lot of time to do it…). Below are some highlights, summaries, references and pictures from those years.

Ilia Stambler

January 20, 2022

 

1. February-March, 2002. Co-creation of the first multi-lingual site on life extension “Elysian Enterprise”

https://web.archive.org/web/20031022205308/http://elysianenterprise.com/russian/chapters/medicine_science.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20030722093218/http://www.elysianenterprise.com/

2. January 27, 2006. Organizing the first live ImmInst/WTA meeting on life extension in Israel in Bar Ilan University

https://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/9057-1st-isr-imminstwta-mtng-jan27-1030-biu/

 3. September 12, 2006. Co-signing the first Longevity Dividend petition.
https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/75679/annals.1396.050.pdf?sequence=1
http://www.longevityforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Longevity_Dividend_Signatories.pdf

4. 2006-2010. Organizing a series of seminars on life extension/transhumanism in Bar Ilan University (November 6, 2010, the 10^th seminar since 2006)

http://www.singulariut.com/2010/11/260

https://www.singulariut.com/2020/10/3571

https://www.haaretz.co.il/science/1.1196720

https://archive.ieet.org/articles/pellissier20100820.html 

5. October 16-27, 2011. First broad public and academic conferences on life-extension and transhumanism in Israel, in Tel-Aviv Cinematheque, Hemda Science Teaching Center in Tel Aviv and Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem

http://www.singulariut.com/2011/10/325

https://archive.ieet.org/articles/stambler20111101.html

https://www.facebook.com/Utopiafest.org.il/photos/t.672869158/10150390819607668/?type=3

https://archive.ieet.org/

6. January 20, 2012 Demonstration for life extension, Tel Aviv

http://www.singulariut.com/2012/01/510

https://web.archive.org/web/20121023145203/http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/stambler20120126

7. February 27, 2012. Advocacy in Knesset for establishing the “Israel National Advisory Committee for the Struggle against the Disease of Aging”

http://www.singulariut.com/2012/07/601

 https://web.archive.org/web/20120720024947/http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/stambler201207171

8. July 17, 2012. Publication at Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) of the article “Political Struggle against the Disease of Aging” describing the first efforts of high level longevity advocacy in Knesset

http://www.singulariut.com/2012/07/601

https://web.archive.org/web/20120720024947/http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/stambler201207171

9. July – August, 2012. Co-creation of the International Longevity Party

https://web.archive.org/web/20120901111034/http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/6354

https://web.archive.org/web/20121023133820/http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/6377

https://archive.ieet.org/articles/stambler20120823.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20181009064319/https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/bio/stambler/

10. June 28, 2012. PhD Graduation. Department of Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan University. Thesis subject: “A History of life-extensionism in the twentieth century”

http://www.longevityhistory.com/

https://www.ishps.org.il/blank-9

https://www.sts-biu.org/alumni

https://www.sts-biu.org/post/2018/04/28/april-28-healthy-longevity-promotion-multidisciplinary-perspectives-dr-ilia-stambler-bar

11. August 29, 2014. Publication of the book: “A History of Life-extensionism in the twentieth century”

http://www.longevityhistory.com/

https://www.amazon.com/History-Life-Extensionism-Twentieth-Century/dp/1500818577

12. December 14, 2012. Gathering of the International Longevity Alliance activists at the Eurosymposium on Healthy Ageing, in Brussels, Belgium

https://hplusmagazine.com/2012/12/19/the-brussels-summit-of-longevity-activists/

13. July 2012-2013. Developing International Longevity Alliance (ILA) 

www.longevityalliance.org

https://www.longevityforall.org/groups/

https://web.archive.org/web/20140112094026/http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/stambler20140110

https://longevityalliance.org/about/history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Longevity_Alliance

14. March 10-13, 2013. The 8^thEuropean Congress of Biogerontology, Beer Sheva, and events and media promotions of longevity in Tel Aviv

http://www.mako.co.il/news-channel2/Weekend-Newscast/Article-5552ae448947d31004.htm

 https://www.israel21c.org/israelis-excel-in-finding-keys-to-long-life/

15. September 3-7, 2013. Sixth SENS Conference (SENS6). Reimagine Aging. Queens’ College – Cambridge UK

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/rej.2013.16.sens6abs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoBkf8rEGOo

16. October 1, throughout October, 2013-2021. Longevity Day and Longevity Month Campaign to raise awareness and support for healthy longevity research

https://www.facebook.com/LongevityDay

http://www.longevityhistory.com/longevity-day-and-longevity-month/

https://hpluspedia.org/wiki/Longevity_Day_and_Month

17. March 26, 2014. Pathways to Healthy Longevity. Israel Science Day. Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel, additional events and media promotions of longevity research in the framework of Israel National Science Day.

https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4503579,00.html

https://youtu.be/fwO_jaffJh4

https://www.israel21c.org/rd-for-the-elderly/

18. January – February 2016. Co-organizing the Global Healthspan Policy Institute (GHPI), Washington

https://healthspanpolicy.org/person/ilia-stambler/

https://healthspanpolicy.org/public-policy-implications/

19. September 21-22, 2016. 3rd International Forum on Practical Applications for Aging Research at the Basel Life Science Week. Basel, Switzerland

http://www.basel-life-science-week.eu/2016/basel-life-science-week.html

20. May 23-25, 2017. Mixiii BioMed 2017 Conference, Tel Aviv, with a focus on aging and longevity R&D

https://www.iati.co.il/conference.php?ID=35

https://kenes-exhibitions.com/old/biomed2017/

https://www.israel21c.org/longevity-and-aging-focus-of-israeli-intl-biomed-confab/

21. August 7, 2017. Publication of the book “Longevity Promotion: Multidisciplinary Perspectives”

http://www.longevityhistory.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Longevity-Promotion-Multidisciplinary-Ilia-Stambler/dp/1974324265/

22. 2013-2017. The main sites for longevity promotion (created and co-created)

www.longevityisrael.org
www.longevityhistory.com

www.longevityforall.org
www.longevityalliance.org
www.healthspanpolicy.org
www.isoad.org

23. October 15, 2017. Conference “Pathways to Healthy Longevity” Bar Ilan University (organized)

https://www.longevityisrael.org/conference/

https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Mechanism-discovered-to-extend-life-of-mice-by-tens-of-percentage-points-507753

https://www.facebook.com/VETEK.ISRLA/posts/1593609234034686

24. November 7, 2017. Launch of the Knesset Lobby “For Advancing the Preparedness of the Country for the Population Aging” and the Knesset Committee “For Creating the National Masterplan on Ageing” (at the same time)

https://oknesset.org/committees/2042.html

25. November-December 2017. Successful campaign for the inclusion of Aging into the WHO Work Program for 2019-2023

http://www.longevityforall.org/aging-is-now-included-into-the-who-work-program-thanks/

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2017.1120

26. May 29, 2018. Launch of the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange on Ageing – BIRAX Ageing.

http://www.longevityisrael.org/call-for-proposals-britain-israel-research-and-academic-exchange-partnership-on-ageing-birax-ageing/

https://www.britishcouncil.org.il/en/birax/projects/ageing

https://www.britishcouncil.org.il/sites/default/files/birax_ageing_call_for_proposals.pdf

https://www.britishcouncil.org.il/en/birax/call-for-proposals

27. May 8, 2018. Joining of forces for longevity activism in Israel, via the Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafi_Eitan

https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-564969

https://www.longevityisrael.org/scientific-board/

https://www.longevityisrael.org/news/

http://www.longevityisrael.org/press/

28. July 9, 2018. Organizing a special session in Knesset at the Science and Technology Committee on “Enhancing Research, Development and Education for the Promotion of Healthy Longevity and Prevention of Aging-related Diseases”

https://www.longevityisrael.org/special-discussion-of-the-knesset-committee-on-science-and-technology-for-the-first-time-for-the-strengthening-of-research-and-development-for-improving-the-quality-of-life-and-longevity-and/

29.  July 25, 2019. Thanks to the initiative of the Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life, the topic of “Research, Development and Education for Healthy Longevity and Prevention of Aging-related Diseases” is included in the summary report of the Knesset Committee for Creating the National Masterplan on Aging, as a strategic area for further discussion.

http://www.longevityisrael.org/research-development-and-education-for-healthy-longevity-is-included-in-israel-national-masterplan-on-aging/

https://main.knesset.gov.il/activity/committees/labor/Pages/CommitteeReports.aspx

https://oknesset.org/meetings/2/0/2072962.html

https://oknesset.org/meetings/2/0/2076804.html

30. July 12, 2018. Summary meeting of the Israeli Longevity Alliance (ISRLA) board

https://www.longevityisrael.org/

https://www.longevityisrael.org/news/

31. May 21, 2019. Raising awareness about healthy longevity research, development and education in cooperation with the “Disabled, Not Half a Person” association

https://www.lohetzi.co.il/%D7%90%D7%95%D7%93%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95/

32. 2012-2020. Promoting longevity activism online

http://www.longevityhistory.com/outreach-materials-for-longevity-promotion/

https://www.longevityforall.org/faq-of-the-ethics-of-lifespan-and-healthspan-extension/

http://www.longevityforall.org/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-ethics-of-lifespan-and-healthspan-extension/

https://hpluspedia.org/wiki/Ilia_Stambler

33. March 12, 2019. Publication of the analytical report “Longevity Industry in Israel”

https://www.aginganalytics.com/longevity-in-israel

https://www.longevityisrael.org/longevity-industry-in-israel-joint-report-by-vetek-association-and-aging-analytics-agency/

https://mindmaps.longevity.international/longevity-leaders-israel

34. March – July, 2019. Initiative to include R&D on aging into US-Israel cooperation. The bill passed the US House of Representatives, but did not go further.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1837/text

http://www.longevityisrael.org/us-israel-collaboration-on-aging-related-rd-is-planned/

https://www.longevityisrael.org/the-subject-of-aging-is-removed-from-the-us-israel-assistance-bill/

https://healthspanpolicy.org/israel-can-and-should-become-an-important-contributor-to-international-geroscience-research-development-applications-and-education

35. September 4-5, 2019. Co-organizing the conference International Perspectives in Geroscience, at Weizmann Institute of Science, with NIH sponsorship

http://www.weizmann.ac.il/conferences/IPG2019/international-perspectives-geroscience-israel

https://www.longevityisrael.org/geroscience-conference-program-weizmann-institute-september-4-5-2019/

https://nathanshockcenters.org/international-perspectives-on-geroscience-meetings

36. 2014-2022. Outreach coordinator and executive committee member of the International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD), including: Publication of the position paper “The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population” of the International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD). Since its publication in December 2014, until January 2022, this position paper had over 200 academic citations, appeared in 12 languages, was submitted to several governments. More position papers by the ISOAD were published, and in 2021 ISOAD obtained the special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

http://www.longevityforall.org/the-critical-need-to-promote-research-of-aging-around-the-world/

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2014.1210

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?oi=bibs&hl=en&cites=1393722017588130205,11094363600232984061

https://esango.un.org/civilsociety/consultativeStatusSummary.do?profileCode=649295

http://isoad.org/Data/List/Officers

http://isoad.org/Data/List/Chapters

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2017.1120

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2019.1230

37. 2012-2022. Research on the evaluation of aging health, utilizing information-theoretical measures. The Quantified Longevity Guide project

https://www.longevityisrael.org/quantified-longevity-guide/

https://ec.europa.eu/eip/ageing/commitments-tracker/a3/
quantified-longevity-guide-qlg_en

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/14483/clinical-evaluation-criteria-for-aging-and-aging-related-multimorbidity

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301008215300599?via%3Dihub

https://expertscape.com/au/information+theory/Stambler%2C+Ilia

https://expertscape.com/au/aging/Stambler%2C+I

38. 2020-2021. Promoting the amelioration of aging as a critical means to fight the epidemiological (e.g. COVID-19) crises

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/we-can-do-more-to-help-the-elderly-cope-with-the-covid-19-crisis-642408

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2020.0629

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2020.0228

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2020.0603

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2020-showed-need-promote-aging-ameliorating-therapies-ilia-stambler/

https://www.longevityforall.org/we-call-for-open-anonymized-medical-data-oncovid-19-and-aging-related-risk-factors/

https://www.longevityforall.org/metchnikoff-day-may-15-online-conference-may-16/

39. 2012-2022. Promoting the recognition of aging as a treatable medical condition

http://www.singulariut.com/2012/07/601

https://web.archive.org/web/20120720024947/http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/stambler201207171

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2017.0130

https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-69892-2_399-1

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.764874/full

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(21)00305-6/fulltext

40. 2021-2022. Continued promotion of healthy longevity research, development, education and application

http://www.longevityhistory.com/about-the-author/

Updates 2022, 2023, 2024,…. (as of January 20, 2025)

Continuing to keep this anniversary, 3 more years of longevity activism have passed, more work was done.

https://www.longevityforall.org/23-years-of-longevity-activism/

2022

In 2022, the activity mostly focused on writing academic and popular papers, and educational promotions on line at conferences and lectures.
https://www.longevityisrael.org/longevity-education-in-2022/

 2023

The activities in 2023 mostly focused on developing the Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life in Israel, its conference (Longevity Nation, on March 26-27, 2023), online platform, collaborations, administration, policy outreach, public demonstration and campaigns, media coverage, scientific and popular scientific publications.
https://www.longevityisrael.org/vetek-association-yearly-report-2023/

2024 

The activities in 2024 mostly focused on developing International Longevity Alliance (ILA), in particular encouraging the Longevity Month campaign in October and increasing the ILA membership and exposure.

https://www.longevityforall.org/ila-yearly-report-2024/

and developing the Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life in Israel, especially organizing the Longevity Nation conference in Bar-Ilan University on October 28-31 (end of the Longevity Month)

https://longevitynation.org/

https://www.longevityisrael.org/

In relation to activism (generally strengthening the involvement in the longevity field), also research and educational work was done (publications and conferences).

https://www.longevityhistory.com/about-the-author/

Hopefully, it will be possible to make or encourage additional contributions to our common goal of healthy longevity for all.

Hoping for a continuation of productive activism for the promotion of healthy longevity.
https://www.longevityforall.org/20-years-of-longevity-activism/

https://www.longevityforall.org/23-years-of-longevity-activism/

https://www.longevityhistory.com/about-the-author/

Happy and proud to see our correspondence article published in “Lancet Healthy Longevity”, entitled “Advanced pathological ageing should be represented in the ICD”

By Ilia Stambler, Aleksey Alekseev, Yuri Matveyev, and Daria Khaltourina

(free and open access)

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00305-6

And happy to join forces with another correspondence article, in the same issue of “Lancet Healthy Longevity”, with the same title, by Evelyne Bischof, Andrea B Maier, Kai-Fu Lee, Alex Zhavoronkov, and David Sinclair.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00303-2

These articles appeared in response to a campaign raised by some gerontologists to remove the designation “Old age” from the new version of the International Classification of Diseases – ICD-11 (the code “Old Age” MG2A), as they claimed this designation would sound discriminatory against older people simply because of their age (“ageist”).

This campaign is exemplified by the article of Debanjan Banerjee et al. “Not a disease: a global call for action urging revision of the ICD-11 classification of old age” in “Lancet Healthy Longevity” to which we respond

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(21)00201-4/fulltext

As well as others

https://www.paho.org/journal/en/articles/old-age-and-new-icd-11-position-latin-american-academy-medicine-older-persons

https://www.ageing.ox.ac.uk/blog/ICD-11-and-an-argument-about-old%20age%20

https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha-100-anos/2020/08/queremos-morrer-velhos-mas-nao-de-velhice.shtml

https://www.portaldoenvelhecimento.com.br/a-velhice-e-uma-doenca/

There was perceived the danger that, because of this campaign, this entire category code would be removed, and thus aging would no longer be recognized as a contributor to disease or a part of age-related pathogenesis, which would have detrimental outcomes for the research, development and therapy specifically designed to address and prevent aging-related ill health. Thus the removal of this code could in practice damage the health of older people that the campaign wished to protect from ageist labels.

So our articles were intended to defend the remaining of this code, in order to draw attention and resources for research, development and treatment specifically to address and improve aging-related ill health.

And indeed, due to the campaign, an ICD revision was introduced concerning this code (made public after our articles were accepted).

https://icd.who.int/dev11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/835503193

Yet the result turned out to be even better for the purposes of supporting healthy longevity R&D and treatment, than the earlier version. It would not remove the code entirely, but just rename the main term from “Old age” to “Ageing associated decline in intrinsic capacity”. Indeed, the term “old age” was rather scientifically ambiguous, while the new main term encourages practical projects to define, measure and improve the “intrinsic capacity” of older persons (which is currently not well defined or widely adopted). At the same time, all the code synonyms that would help address aging as a medical condition remained, including over 40 “index terms” altogether, such as ‘Ageing’, ‘Senescence’, ‘Senile state’, ‘Frailty’, and ‘Senile dysfunction’, that we also mention in our article and whose practical utilization we support.

https://icd.who.int/dev11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/835503193

At the same time it should be noted that the new revision (“Ageing associated decline in intrinsic capacity”) is set in motion, but the official released version of ICD-11(that came into effect on January 1, 2022) still mentions “Old age”.

https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http%3a%2f%2fid.who.int%2ficd%2fentity%2f835503193

https://icd.who.int/ct11/icd11_mms/en/release (search “ageing”)

But those semantic distinctions may not be crucial, as in either case, with the main stated significance of this code being the “general symptoms” of ageing, the attention would be drawn to addressing aging pathology and improving aging-related ill health, the need for which we also argue in our article. Notice additionally that neither version directly refers to aging as a “disease”, but refers to “general symptoms” (similar to the “general symptoms” of “cachexia”, fatigue”, “shock”, “sleep disturbance” etc. that are also in the ICD). This designation as “general symptoms” may help address aging as a medical condition generally. This is in addition to the “XT9T Ageing-related” ICD-11 code in the “Etiology” or “Causality” category.

https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/459275392

Thus the main message and fact remain:

AGING IS NOW IN THE ICD AND CAN BE OFFICIALLY ADDRESSED AS A MEDICAL CONDITION!!! And this can help address and improve aging health!

It should also be noted that mere semantics will not be effectual for the good or bad of aging health. In order to practically implement the ICD aging categories, it will be necessary to develop and implement evidence-based metrics and clinical evaluation criteria for aging, not just to predict the trajectory of aging health but also necessary to test the effects of geroprotective or healthspan improving interventions, as we also argue elsewhere.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.764874/full

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2017.0130

Hopefully our joint work, with the other co-authors and partners, will further stimulate this discussion and research. It was a great honor to be a part of this stellar team!

(Just to note, the views expressed in this post are my personal views, following our article publication and the public introduction of the new main term “intrinsic capacity” after our article was accepted). These are not necessarily the views of the other co-authors and partners. For our joint views, please see the articles themselves. Thanks for your consideration! Ilia Stambler)

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00305-6

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00303-2

#aging #longevity #oldage #geroscience #ICD11 #medicalcondition

The 2020 was a difficult year for many people and in many regards. Yet, if there is one lesson to be learned from this crisis that most strongly affected the older people, it is the realization of the need to therapeutically treat degenerative aging processes to prevent aging-related ill health as a whole, including both aging-related chronic degenerative non-communicable diseases and communicable infectious diseases for which the older persons are most vulnerable. This has been the mission of the International Longevity Alliance (ILA) and this year emphasized how important it is to advance this mission. 

This year the ILA continued to follow its mission and throughout the year promoted research and advocacy for aging amelioration and healthy longevity. 

Below is a list of some of the works and achievements of the ILA during the year. Thanks to all who were the involved and all who supported this vital mission!

(All ILA archived news)

–  In March 2020, the ILA, Open Longevity, and many other leading longevity organizations, activists and experts created a joint petition for data openness on COVID-19 and aging-related risk factors, which has been distributed and submitted to WHO officials.

http://chng.it/cLwkxSsP 

– Also in March, ILA members massively endorsed the joint petition to World Health Organization – “WHO must prioritise the needs of older people in its response to the covid-19 pandemic”. See: BMJ 2020; 368 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1164

https://ifa.ngo/open-letter-to-who-signatures/

https://ifa.ngo/news/open-letter-requesting-action-from-the-who-regarding-covid-19-and-older-people/

–  This year, the mouse test with senolytic treatments started and proceeded in Leipzig University financed from the ILA-collected donations.

 – An article on classification of aging as a disease in the ICD-11 system “Aging Fits the Disease Criteria of the International Classification of Diseases” was published in the scientific journal Mechanisms of Aging and Development, following the inclusion of aging as a modifier of disease into the ICD-11 classification system mainly thanks to the ILA initiative. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047637420300257?via%3Dihub&

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(18)30214-6/fulltext

 – A special research topic was included in the scientific journal Frontiers in Genetics, driven by ILA members and scientific advisors, concerning “Clinical evaluation criteria for aging and aging-related multimorbidity”

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/14483/clinical-evaluation-criteria-for-aging-and-aging-related-multimorbidity

– A position paper “The Urgent Need for International Action for Anti-aging and Disease Prevention’ was published and promoted with the ILA participation

http://www.aginganddisease.org/article/2020/2152-5250/ad-11-1-212.shtml

– Another position paper with the ILA participation “Geroscience in the Age of COVID-19” advocated for the vital need to promote geroscience research, development and application for effectively tackling the COVID-19 crisis and possible future crises resulting from deteriorating health of older persons.

http://www.aginganddisease.org/article/0000/2152-5250/ad-0-0-0-2007060732-1.shtml  

2020 was a challenging year for many of the ILA federated members. Yet their activities were maintained.

– Thus, a reference site of the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Aging (EIP-AHA), aimed to promote distributed anti-aging tests, was developed in France, by the ILA France branch and federated member “Longévité et Santé”.

https://ec.europa.eu/eip/ageing/reference-sites_en

– The German longevity community of the ILA federated member “The Society for Healthy Aging and Prevention”, due to the pandemic, could not continue their regular activities (local meetings of activists, events in cooperation with fitness centers and retirement homes). However, they were successful in maintaining their non-profit status (important within the German tax system). They also created a new support group to help with repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic (ExCoronaHilfe https://excoronahilfe.de/).   

– On May 16, in honor of the 175th anniversary of the founder of gerontology – Elie Metchnikoff, the ILA organized the international online conference “The 1st Metchnikoff’s Day Online Conference – Aging, Immunity and COVID-19”. The conference emphasized the importance of enhancing the immune system in older persons, the research topic that goes back to the foundations of gerontology.

– In June, the ILA federated member – the Slovenian Society for Vital Life Extension – organized an international conference on longevity research and advocacy, with the support of ILA and a strong participation of ILA members.

– In July, the ILA members and partners in Bulgaria, including the University of National and World Economy, Sofia, and Bulgarian Academic Simulation and Gaming Association, organized an international online conference with a special focus on longevity research, with the support of ILA and strong participation of ILA members.

– In October, following the tradition since 2013, the ILA organized the International Longevity Day / Longevity Month educational and advocacy campaign in support of longevity research. As physical meetings were difficult to organize this year, a series of online events and promotions took place, including media coverage, involving thousands of participants from around the world.

https://www.facebook.com/LongevityDay

– Among the events with the strongest impact was the Eurosymposium on Healthy Aging that took place online on October 1, and brought together leading international longevity researchers and over 150 participants, and created media coverage. The event was chiefly organized by Healthy Life Extension Society (HEALES) in cooperation with the ILA.

http://www.eha-heales.org/

– Following the conference on October 1st, the Eurosymposium on Healthy Ageing created and distributed a declaration on “Aging biomarkers and clinical tests”.

– As part of the Longevity Month campaign, the International Longevity Alliance organized the first of its kind prize Competition to support longevity activism, advocacy and raising public awareness about longevity research. 11 excellent contributions arrived from around the world – Russia, Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Nigeria, Morocco, India, Brazil, USA. With all the difficulty to select, the winners were announced, and additional commendations provided. Indeed, the aim of this competition was not to “select the best”, but to encourage more longevity activism. The ILA hopes this prize has contributed to this aim and we hope this tradition will continue.

https://www.longevityforall.org/longevity-activism-prize-winners-announced/

 – In October, the ILA federated member – Forbladi Association (Morocco) that joined the ILA this year, launched its project “Longevity Research Support”. It is hoped that this project will help significantly advance longevity research and advocacy in Africa and the Arabic-speaking community.

https://longevity.ma/

– In 2020, the ILA grew to include 23 non-profit associations from 20 countries as federated members.

If you represent a non-profit association from anywhere in the world, you are welcome to submit your application to join the ILA as a federated member, to expand the global support network for longevity research and advocacy. For this and other forms of cooperation, welcome to write to the ILA board: ila-lead@googlegroups.com

– With the technical difficulties experienced by the main ILA site http://www.longevityalliance.org/ by the end of 2020, currently, the ILA is working to develop its new website format, that will include enhanced features for outreach and community building, such as an interactive longevity activists map, a newsletter, auxiliary pages for local activists groups, and more. Currently, the site http://www.longevityforall.org/ serves as an auxiliary site of the ILA.

All the ILA activities show that longevity activism, even in this difficult period, is alive and actively working for its vital mission to build up public support for more longevity science, for a better, more healthy and resilient future for all of us. Hopefully, more longevity activism will be done in the future. And hopefully, more support, both human and other resources, will be given to longevity activism, to enable it to succeed in its mission. 

 ILA board