On May 15, there is a significant date in the longevity world – the 180^th anniversary of the birth of Elie Metchnikoff (15 May 1845 – 15 July 1916) – a Nobel Laureate, a founder of cell immunology, and THE founder of the modern science of aging and longevity – GERONTOLOGY, the person who coined the very term “gerontology” in 1903, and paved the way toward its development, from the recognition of aging as a medical condition, to specific areas of interventions for healthy longevity – such as probiotics and microbiome treatments, immunotherapies of aging (vaccines against aging), general healthy longevity promoting and rejuvenative lifestyle regimens.

https://www.longevityhistory.com/read-the-book-online/#_Toc328319983 

It is beneficial for the proponents of a field to commemorate the field’s founding figures, not just to honor their legacy, but to do some “soul searching” of the successes and failures along the way, and seek ways toward future development and improvement. 

In 2015, on Metchnikoff’s 170^th anniversary, many representatives of the longevity community, in several countries, commemorated Metchnikoff’s contribution, with educational events and publications, creating the special “International Metchnikoff Day” campaign around May 15, which helped build up the longevity community and drew additional interest to the longevity field, including the professional community, general public and the press. See an overview of the “Metchnikoff Day” on his 170^th anniversary on 15 May 2015, and yet another celebration of the Metchnikoff Day on his 175th anniversary around 15 May 2020.

https://www.longevityforall.org/170th-anniversary-of-elie-metchnikoff-the-founder-of-gerontology-may-15-2015/

https://www.longevityforall.org/anniversary-of-the-founder-of-gerontology-elie-metchnikoff-lessons-from-history-and-hope-for-the-future/

On May 15, 2025, we mark the Metchnikoff Day on his 180^th anniversary. Few special events and publications commemorate this occasion. Many other events and topics command global attention. Yet, this day is an opportunity to encourage the historical evaluation, analyzing and strategizing the longevity field, building the longevity community and drawing additional interest. We can express our gratitude to the historical creators of healthy longevity science and medicine, and boost the hope of emulating and hopefully surpassing their achievements!

On May 15, there is a significant date in the longevity world – the 180^th anniversary of the birth of Elie Metchnikoff (15 May 1845 – 15 July 1916) – a Nobel Laureate, a founder of cell immunology, and THE founder of the modern science of aging and longevity – GERONTOLOGY, the person who coined the very term “gerontology” in 1903, and paved the way toward its development, from the recognition of aging as a medical condition, to specific areas of interventions for healthy longevity – such as probiotics and microbiome treatments, immunotherapies of aging (vaccines against aging), general healthy longevity promoting and rejuvenative lifestyle regimens.

https://www.longevityhistory.com/read-the-book-online/#_Toc328319983 

It is beneficial for the proponents of a field to commemorate the field’s founding figures, not just to honor their legacy, but to do some “soul searching” of the successes and failures along the way, and seek ways toward future development and improvement. 

In 2015, on Metchnikoff’s 170^th anniversary, many representatives of the longevity community, in several countries, commemorated Metchnikoff’s contribution, with educational events and publications, creating the special “International Metchnikoff Day” Campaign around May 15, which helped build up the longevity community and drew additional interest to the longevity field, including the professional community, general public and the press. See an overview of the “Metchnikoff Day” on his 170^th anniversary on 15 May 2015. Perhaps we could repeat this happening also on the 180^th anniversary, on 15 May 2025.

https://www.longevityforall.org/170th-anniversary-of-elie-metchnikoff-the-founder-of-gerontology-may-15-2015/ 

It may be also beneficial to commemorate Metchnikoff’s 180^th anniversary, with more special events and publications, to help the historical evaluation, analyzing and strategizing the longevity filed, building the longevity community and drawing additional interest. Longevity enthusiasts are encouraged to organize such events, meetings and publications, on Metchnikoff’s anniversary on May 15, or around it in May! This reminder of Metchnikoff’s anniversary is made in advance, as preparations for commemoration may take time. It is also possible to mention Metchnikoff legacy, as a vital part of the longevity movement history, in existing longevity events, not necessarily planned in relation to Metchnikoff. 

For example, in Israel, there are longevity events in May, such as the Sheba Longevity conference on May 7-8, and the longevity session at the Biomed Israel conference in Tel Aviv on May 21 https://www.longevityisrael.org/news/ – which even though not planned in relation to the anniversary, will include some mention of Metchnikoff’s legacy, at least in some of the presentations.

And there could be many events and publication directly or tangentially linked to the Anniversary.

They could express our gratitude to the historical creators of healthy longevity science and medicine, and boost the hope of emulating and hopefully surpassing their achievements!

(Painting: I. Mechnikov by Nik. Dm. Kuznetsov, 1886 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ilya_Ilyich_Mechnikov)

https://www.longevityhistory.com/180th-anniversary-of-elie-metchnikoff-the-founder-of-gerontology-may-15-2025/

On January 20, I created my own personal celebration, marking an anniversary of my involvement in longevity activism. On January 20, 2022, I marked 20 years of my longevity activism: 10 years part time involvement – between January 2002 (establishing our first multilingual website on life extension) to January 2012 (completing the PhD on the history of life-extensionism), and then 10 years essentially full time involvement – between January 20, 2012 (our first public demonstration for life extension) to January 2022 (encouraging calls for research proposals on aging and healthy longevity).

https://www.longevityforall.org/20-years-of-longevity-activism/

https://www.facebook.com/media/photoalbum/

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

 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) and associated promotions and partnerships.

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/   

In more details, during 2024, I published 15 academic papers (6 book chapters and 9 peer-reviewed articles, 7 alone and 8 in co-authorship – 13 printed in 2024, and 2 more went to print during the year), altogether published 76 academic papers (27 book chapters and 49 articles), plus 2 books (h-index 19, ~2660 citations, ~2300 citations since 2019).
https://www.longevityhistory.com/about-the-author/  
https://scholar.google.co.il/citations?user=5xHyqe0AAAAJ&hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159210233619159&set=pb.672869158.-2207520000&type=3

In 2024, I was strongly involved in organizing 2 international conferences on longevity research: The International Baltic Conference on Healthy Longevity in Riga, Latvia (https://longevitybaltics.org/) and the Longevity Nation conference in Tel-Aviv, Israel (promoting the longevity field in Israel and cooperation with Israel in the longevity field, despite the current situation here https://longevitynation.org/)

https://longevitynation.org/videosandphotos/ 

Overall, during 2024, participated as an invited speaker in 10 international academic conferences, physically and online, altogether presented as an invited speaker in 75 academic conferences. https://www.longevityhistory.com/about-the-author/  

Considering in more details the activities in Israel, the Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life, Israel, in 2024, received a good governance certificate for the 7th year in a row, and brought into the association about 100,000 USD in donations.

https://www.longevityisrael.org/donate/

https://longevitynation.org/register-and-donate/

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

https://www.longevityisrael.org/press/

Largely thanks to the advocacy work at Vetek association, there were encouraged and formulated calls for research proposals on aging and healthy longevity in Israel.

https://www.longevityisrael.org/healthy-aging-is-included-into-the-israel-national-call-for-research-proposals-by-the-ministry-of-innovation-science-and-technology/ 

Also, contributed to developing the International Longevity Alliance (ILA), which, in 2024, grew to include 68 non-profit associations and social enterprises as federated members, working in 58 countries https://longevityalliance.org/members/

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

The plans for 2025 are to continue the promotion of healthy longevity research, development and education. Planning to produce in 2025 a new collected volume “Healthy Longevity: Policies and Practices” in the Springer Nature Healthy Aging and Longevity series, that will hopefully encourage the healthy longevity policy discussion and outreach, in academia and among decision makers and the general public. https://www.springer.com/series/13277  
Additional publications are in progress.
In 2025, planning to be strongly involved in the organization of several international conferences on healthy longevity, in Israel (Longevity Nation 2025, in Bar-Ilan University on June 25-26, 2025 https://longevitynation.org/) and several other countries, including Portugal (Porto), Latvia (Riga), Switzerland (Geneva) and perhaps others. Thereby also hoping to encourage more international cooperation in the longevity field.

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.

Sincerely, Ilia Stambler
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/

 

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