Dear friends,

There has been emerging a tradition by longevity researchers and activists around the world to organize events dedicated to promotion of longevity research on or around October 1 – the UN International Day of Older Persons.

This day is sometimes referred to in some parts of the longevity activists community as the “International Longevity Day”. As this is the official UN Day of Older Persons, this provides the longevity research activists a perfect opportunity, perhaps even a perfect “excuse”, to emphasize the importance of aging and longevity research for the development of effective health care for the elderly, in the wide public as well as among decision makers.

The critical importance and the critical need to promote biological research of aging derives from the realization that tackling the degenerative processes and negative biological effects of human aging, at once and in an interrelated manner, can provide the best foundations to find holistic and effective ways for intervention and prevention against age-related ill health. Such an approach has been supported by scientific proofs of concept, involving the evidential increase in healthy lifespan in animal models and the emerging technological capabilities to intervene into fundamental aging processes. The focus on intervention into degenerative aging processes can provide solutions to a number of non-communicable, age-related diseases (such as cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases), insofar as such diseases are strongly determined by degenerative aging processes (such as chronic inflammation, cross-linkage of macromolecules, somatic mutations, loss of stem cell populations, and others). This approach is likely to decrease susceptibility of the elderly also to communicable, infectious diseases due to improvements in immunity. The innovative, applied results of such research and development will lead to sustainable, economically viable solutions for a large array of age-related medical and social challenges, that may be globally applicable. Furthermore, such research and development should be supported on ethical grounds, to provide equal health care chances for the elderly as for the young.

Therefore it is the societal duty, especially of the professionals in biology, medicine, health care, economy and socio-political organizations, to strongly recommend greater investments, incentives and institutional support for the research and development dealing with the understanding of mechanisms associated with the human biological aging process and translating these insights into safe, affordable and universally available applied technologies and treatments.

October 1 – the International Day of Older Persons — provides the researchers and advocates an opportunity to raise these points and make these demands.

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

In 2013, events during or around that day – ranging from small meetings of friends to seminars and rather large conferences, alongside special publications, distributions of outreach materials (petitions and flyers) and media appearances – were held in over 30 countries, and in 2014 in over 20 countries.

Sometimes the events’ dates vary several days around October 1, or even through the entire month of October, designated as the “International Month of Older Persons” or the “International Longevity Month”, and sometimes the events are organized independently and without prior knowledge of other events, but they are all nonetheless unified by the common action and purpose.

http://www.longevityforall.org/october-1-international-day-of-older-persons-longevity-day-2013-2014/

Let us maintain and strengthen this tradition! Let us plan and organize a mutually reinforcing network of events worldwide. If you plan to organize an event for that day or month – either live meetings or on-line publications and promotions – please let your plans be known to encourage others. Together we can create an activism wave of strong impact. 

Among the materials for discussion, distribution and promotion, one may use the position paper on the “Critical need to promote research of aging and aging-related diseases to improve health and longevity of the elderly population”, briefly describing the rationales, technologies and policies needed to promote this research. The position paper is available in 9 languages and can serve as a “universal advocacy paper” both for the grass roots discussions and promotions and for the outreach to officials http://www.longevityforall.org/the-critical-need-to-promote-research-of-aging-around-the-world/. Also one may use in the preparation a presentation briefly listing some topics in longevity science promotion, such as the feasibility and desirability of achieving healthy longevity and public actions that can be taken to achieve it http://www.longevityhistory.com/articles/ab7.php . One may also consider using or modifying the following template flyers, from the Longevity Day campaigns of 2013 Longevity Day – Flyer Template – 2013 and the present 2015 Longevity Day – Flyer Template – 2015 or any other materials of your choice.

For the Longevity Day and Month celebrations in 2015, following the collection of a number of longevity promoting events worldwide in honor of that day, a general public appeal was issued and widely disseminated.

May 15, 2015 – 170th anniversary of Elie Metchnikoff – the founder of gerontology – an opportunity to promote aging and longevity research

On May 15, 2015, we celebrate the 170th anniversary of the founder of gerontology, a foundational figure of modern immunology, aging and longevity science, and of modern medicine generally – Elie Metchnikoff (May 15, 1845 – July 15, 1916). For the proponents of healthy longevity and advocates of aging research, Metchnikoff has a special significance. Metchnikoff is of course known as a pioneering immunologist and microbiologist, a vice director of the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and the Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine of 1908 for the discovery of phagocytosis (a major contribution to the cellular theory of immunity). Yet, he may also be well credited as “the father” of gerontology – the disciplinary term he coined. Both the terms “gerontology” (“the study of aging”) and “thanatology” (“the study of death”) were coined by him in the Etudes On the Nature of Man,published in 1903, which may mark the beginning of these scientific fields. To the present day, his scientific reputation has remained high around the world. In fact, Metchnikoff can be considered a unifying cultural symbol for many nations.

There is a tradition to celebrate the anniversaries of great persons (scientists, artists, writers, politicians, generals) to promote the area of their activity and popularize their ideology. It may be hoped that, in this year, the anniversary of Metchnikoff will serve to promote and popularize the science and ideology of healthy life extension, including the state level. The “Metchnikoff Day” can provide an impulse for organizing topical meetings and conferences, a stimulus for research, and publications in the media, dedicated to Metchnikoff’s legacy and continuation of his life work – the study of aging and longevity. This may play a positive role not only for the advancement and popularization of research of aging and healthy longevity, but also for the promotion of optimism, peace and cooperation.

Currently events in honor of the Metchnikoff Day are being planned in Kiev, Ukraine, on behalf of the Kiev Institute of Gerontology of the Ukrainian Academy of Medical Sciences; St. Petersburg, Russia, on behalf of the Gerontological Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences and I.I. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University; in Moscow on behalf of the National Research Center for Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, and further meetings in Moscow are planned by several public organizations, including the Fedorov Movement, the Russian Transhumanist Movement and the Russian Longevity Alliance; Larnaca, Cyprus, on behalf of the ELPIs Foundation and the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute; Oxford, UK, on behalf of the Oxford University Scientific Society and Biogerontology Research Foundation; in Ramat Gan, in Bar Ilan University, Israel, on behalf of the Israeli Longevity Alliance and the International Society on Aging and Disease (Israeli branch).

It may be hoped that, following these examples, more events and publications, dedicated to research of aging and longevity, will be held around the world in honor of this day or close to it. Thus thanks to Metchnikoff’s continuing inspiration and authority, the interest in aging and longevity research will be increased in all the walks and segments of society.

There is little time left until May 15, perhaps enough to prepare a small publication or meeting, live or online. Yet Metchnikoff’s authority may help us promote the study of aging and longevity also in the next year – July 15, 2016 is the 100th anniversary of Metchnikoff’s death, which can also become an impulse toward meetings and publications, with a greater time for preparation. The organization of several connected events in different countries in the same day (or period) in the framework of an international action, may produce a synergistic, mutually reinforcing effect.  Yet, of course, those are not the only days that could be used for such an effect. An additional convenient day (or period) to conduct an international action in support of aging and longevity research, can be October 1, 2015 – the day officially sanctioned by the UN as the “International Day of Older Persons” (celebrated by some parts of the longevity advocacy community as  the “International Longevity Day”). In 2013-2014, events around that day were conducted by various longevity activists groups, public organizations and scientific centers in tens of countries.

http://www.longevityforall.org/october-1-international-day-of-older-persons-longevity-day-2013-2014/

We hope that thanks to our mutual efforts, from above and from below, thanks to the events, organized on those and other days – the need to promote research of aging and aging-related diseases to improve health and longevity of the elderly population – will be recognized by all parts of society, including the broad public, the professional and scientific community, and decision makers, and will stimulate actions corresponding to the severity and urgency of the problem.

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

Thank you for your support!

See also a fuller announcement, including the description of the foundational role of Metchnikoff for the formation of modern science of aging and longevity and a list of events that are being organized in honor of that day (the list will be updated)

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

And a copy of this announcement

http://www.longevityforall.org/may-15-2015-170th-anniversary-of-elie-metchnikoff-the-founder-of-gerontology-an-opportunity-to-promote-aging-and-longevity-research/

Dr. IliaStambler

OutreachCoordinator. International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD)

Department of Science, Technology and Society. Bar Ilan University. Israel

ilia.stambler@gmail.com

972-3-961-4296
http://isoad.org/
http://www.longevityforall.org/
http://www.bioaging.org.il/
http://www.longevityhistory.com

Below is the position paper on the Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging of the International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD http://isoad.org/). This paper briefly details the rationales, the technologies and the policies that are needed to promote this research. Thus it can serve as a generally applicable advocacy or lobbying paper in different countries. Please help spread it. Please contribute to the widest possible recognition and support of biological research of aging and aging-related diseases. We welcome the readers to circulate this position paper, share it in your social networks, forward it to politicians, potential donors and media, organize discussion groups to debate the topics raised (that may later grow into grassroots longevity research and activism groups in different countries), translate this position paper into your language, reference and link to it, even republish it in part or in full (for example, the policy recommendations can fit on a single page flyer), join the ISOAD or other aging and longevity research and advocacy organizations.

Originally published in the ISOAD journal Aging and Disease, 6 (1), 2015 http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2014.1210

The position Paper now appears in full or part in 12 languages, beside English below,  also in Chinese, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Swedish:

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

Chinese http://www.longevityforall.org/the-need-to-promote-aging-research-chinese/

Russian http://www.longevityforall.org/the-need-to-promote-aging-research-russian/

Hebrew http://www.longevityforall.org/the-need-to-promote-aging-research-hebrew/

Arabic http://www.longevityforall.org/the-need-to-promote-aging-research-arabic/

German http://www.longevityforall.org/need-to-promote-aging-research-german/

Italian http://www.longevityforall.org/the-need-to-promote-aging-research-italian/

Spanish: http://www.longevityforall.org/the-need-to-promote-aging-research-spanish/

Portuguese http://www.longevityforall.org/the-need-to-promote-aging-research-portuguese/

Partial (summary) translations:

Danish: http://www.longevityforall.org/det-kritiske-behov-for-at-fremme-forskning-omkring-aeldning/

Finnish: http://www.longevityforall.org/nordic-longevity-outreach-finnish/

Swedish: http://www.longevityforall.org/det-akuta-behovet-av-att-framja-forskning-om-aldrande/

The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population

Summary

Due to the aging of the global population and the derivative increase in aging-related non-communicable diseases and their economic burden, there is an urgent need to promote research on aging and aging-related diseases as a way to improve healthy and productive longevity for the elderly population. To accomplish this goal, we advocate the following policies: 1) Increasing funding for research and development specifically directed to ameliorate degenerative aging processes and to extend healthy and productive lifespan for the population; 2) Providing a set of incentives for commercial, academic, public and governmental organizations to foster engagement  in such research and development; and 3) Establishing and expanding coordination and consultation structures, programs and institutions involved in aging-related research, development and education in academia, industry, public policy agencies and at governmental and supra-governmental levels.

The challenge of the aging society and potential solutions

Over the past decades, the average life expectancy has increased globally, reaching a world-wide average of about 70 years in 2014 (6 years longer than in 1990) and around 80 in the developed countries (compared to about 50 years in the developed countries in the early 20^th century).  This development has been achieved especially due to improvements in sanitation, medical advances, rising living standards and a decline in child mortality. Currently, while the longest life expectancies are still found in the “developed” countries, the fastest and largest increase has been recorded in the “developing” world. Considering the demographics of the world population, between 2000 and 2050 the proportion of people over 60 years will double from about 11% to 22%, which, in absolute terms, means an increase from 605 million to 2 billion people [1-3].

Although the increasing life expectancy generally reflects positive human development, new challenges are arising. They stem from the fact that growing older is still inherently associated with biological and cognitive degeneration, although the severity and speed of cognitive decline, physical frailty and psychological impairment can vary between individuals.

Nonetheless, degenerative aging processes are the major underlying cause for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, ischemic heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and others. Mental health deterioration due to chronic neurodegenerative diseases represents the largest cause of disability in the world, responsible for over 20% of years lived with disability. Hence major efforts must be directed toward their alleviation. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Draft Twelfth General Programme of Work” (April 13, 2013), one of WHO leadership priorities is “Addressing the challenge of non-communicable diseases” [4], and addressing aging fits into this definition and is even necessary to accomplish this priority goal.

Aging also increases the risk of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases like pneumonia and influenza. Moreover, the susceptibility to injury and trauma (such as falls and concussions), due to the impairment of balance and mental state, and even falling victim to violence, are strongly increased by the aging process. Also, the processes of aging exacerbate and reinforce the effects of other risk factors of non-communicable diseases (tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol). In sum, aging-related health decline is the major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and should be addressed according to the severity of the problem. Because of these severe and negative effects, aging is already regarded as one of the greatest economic and societal challenges that most countries – especially in the industrialized world – will face in the coming decades.

Several reports from national governments, international organizations, such as the United Nations (UN) and WHO, as well as insurance companies, welfare organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have referred to the socio-economic and health-related challenges of aging societies [5-9]. These include:

• Increases of health care costs and financial stress for social insurance systems due to the increasing probability of suffering from diseases associated with aging.
• Dementia is often mentioned as especially problematic since it additionally requires intensive care-giving, imposing a heavy burden on working relatives or demanding significant additional costs for the provision of professional care.
• A declining active workforce is already occurring, especially in industrialized countries. Although people might want to participate in the workforce for a longer time, they may not be able to, due to cognitive and physical decline.
• An increasing number of pensioners need to be financed, while a larger number of working people need to provide care services that must remain affordable.
• There are considerable concerns over the quality of life and health status of the elderly due to age-related diseases, biological degeneration and increased risk of succumbing to severe chronic and life-threatening conditions.
• An overall decline in the quality of life deprives many elderly from full social, cultural and intellectual engagement.

The challenge of the aging society has been widely recognized and numerous research and development programs around the globe have been initiated to tackle age-related diseases, such as the Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and/or WHO Diabetes Prevention Program, as well as to develop care-related technologies such as care robots, fall detectors and technologies for Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) or making housing and infrastructure more friendly and accessible to the elderly. Although such investments are laudable and understandable, given the urgency of the problem, they all represent only punctual and rather ad hoc solutions.

In particular, assistive technologies, infrastructural changes or improving nursing and palliative care facilities, do not solve the actual problem of biological degeneration associated with the aging process.  Medical research and development efforts currently are focused mainly on single diseases, like Alzheimer’s dementia, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, etc. The underlying degenerative aging processes, determinative for the emergence of those diseases, are often underemphasized.

While the degenerative aging process, involving the accumulation of structural damage, impairment of metabolic balance and functioning, is a disabling and debilitating process that requires prevention and treatment, the achievement of healthy longevity, characterized by the maintenance of functional capacity and robustness, is its cure.

Some effects of degenerative aging processes can be modified by social and economic factors, as well as lifestyles (diet, exercise, etc.), but only to a modest extent. Hence, there is a need to promote research into the biology of aging and aging-related diseases as the way to improve the health of the elderly more substantially.

New directions in research and development take a more holistic approach for tackling the degenerative processes and negative biological effects of human aging, addressing several major fundamental causes of aging and aging-related diseases at once and in an interrelated manner. For example, at the 2013 US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Geroscience Summit, the following priority research areas have been identified: Adaptation to Stress, Epigenetics, Inflammation, Macromolecular Damage, Metabolism, Proteostasis, and Stem Cells/Regeneration [10,11], but there are several other examples of similar approaches, prioritizing research of major sets of aging processes [12-17]. Instead of targeting single age-related diseases, the mechanisms of the aging process itself are being analyzed with the goal of finding ways for intervention and prevention.

Such approaches are very promising, for the following reasons:

• They are already supported by scientific proofs of concept, involving the evidential increase in healthy lifespan in animal models and the emerging technological capabilities to intervene into fundamental aging processes [12,18-23].
• They can provide solutions to a number of non-communicable, age-related diseases, insofar as such diseases are strongly determined by degenerative aging processes (such as chronic inflammation, cross-linkage of macromolecules, somatic mutations, loss of stem cell populations, and others) [24-28]. Moreover, they are likely to decrease susceptibility of the elderly also to communicable diseases due to improvements in immunity [29].
• The innovative, applied results of such research and development will lead to sustainable solutions for a large array of age-related medical and social challenges, that may be globally applicable.
• Such research and development should be supported on ethical grounds, to provide equal health care chances for the elderly as for the young.

Therefore it is the societal duty, especially of the professionals in biology, medicine, health care, economy and socio-political organizations to strongly recommend greater investments in research and development dealing with the understanding of mechanisms associated with the human biological aging process and translating these insights into safe, affordable and universally available applied technologies and treatments.

Thus there may be great benefits for society, the economy and our overall quality of life to prioritize and accelerate the research, development and innovation in the field, including the following:

• Regenerative medicine – including the development of stem cell technologies and their products, in vivo and ex vivo regeneration of organs and tissues; controlled cell death, immuno-elimination of senescent or cancer cells.
• Tissue engineering – culturing and assembling of a wide variety of replacement organs and tissues, vascular and non-vascular, using such methods as 3D tissue printing, biodegradable scaffolding, bioreactors or self-organization.
• Regulation of whole body homeostasis, including regulators of the circadian rhythm, neurohumoral and molecular bioregulators.
• Geroprotective substances – e.g. anti-glycemic, statins, anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, hormone-modulating, mitochondria-modulating, anti-inflammatory, probiotic and bioregulating medications.
• Detoxification at the cellular and molecular level – e.g. chelators, enterosorbents, AGE-breakers, oxido-reductive depolymerization, immunoclearance, enzymatic clearance, etc.
• Dietary supplementation – establishing dietary nutrient requirements for the elderly and during the entire life-course, e.g. using supplementation with vitamins, microelements, macroergics.
• Gene therapy and gene modulation – e.g. safe genetic engineering, epigenetic and pharmacological stimulation of “Longevity Genes” (e.g. Sirtuins and FOXO), attenuation of “Decay Accelerating Factors” (DAF), manipulation of longevity promoting genetic pathways (e.g. mTOR pathway), stimulation of telomerase activity, RNA interference, genetic and epigenetic longevity sequencing and screening.
• Nanomedicine – e.g. nanoparticles for drug delivery, emerging prototypes of artificial immunity and oxygen supply micro- and nano-devices, potentially devices for macromolecular tissue repair.
• Artificial organ replacement and electrophysiological interfaces and stimulation – e.g. functional organ and limb prostheses, neuro-prostheses, advanced brain-computer interfaces, electrophysiological stimulation of impaired neurological and muscle functions.
• Quantified self – comprehensive self-monitoring and personalized diagnosis of vitality and age-related conditions, calculating regimens for balanced and healthy nutrition and sufficient physical activity for the aged.
• Data mining – large health data analytics, discovering effective candidate interventions, formal and quantitative as well as visually accessible and interactive models of aging processes and diseases and anti-aging interventions.
• Cryopreservation and chemopreservation – beneficial for organ or tissue transplantation and for a deeper insight into the physiology of aging.

Addressing aging-related debilitating processes through such biomedical means should become a new and powerful approach and medical standard for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, which affect most people at the later stages of life. The purpose of preventive medicine for the elderly, using advanced biomedical technologies, is to preserve health of an aging individual so as to prevent functional decline.

Governments should ensure the creation and implementation of the following policies to promote research into the biology of aging and aging-related diseases, for improving the health of the global elderly population:

1)               Funding:

• Ensuring a significant increase of governmental and non-governmental funding for goal-directed (translational) research in preventing the degenerative aging processes, and the associated chronic non-communicable diseases and disabilities, and for extending healthy and productive life, during the entire life course.

           Specifically:

• Dedicating a designated percentage of budget within relevant ministries, such as ministries of health and/or science, particularly in the divisions concerning research and treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases.
• Dedicating a specific percentage of the profits of commercial pharmacological, biotechnology and medical technology companies to such research and development.
• Establishing relevant research grant programs on a competitive as well as goal-directed basis.
• Doubling of funding for such research every 5 years for the next 20 years.

2)               Incentives:

• Developing and adopting legal and regulatory frameworks that give incentives for goal-directed research and development designed to specifically address the development, registration, administration and accessibility of drugs, medical technologies and other therapies that will ameliorate the aging processes and associated diseases and extend healthy life.

           Specifically:

• Developing criteria for efficacy and safety of geroprotective therapies.
• Facilitating in silico and animal testing, and ethical safety-enhanced human testing of such therapies.
• Deploying and ensuring geroprotective therapies in the status of adjuvant and life-extending therapies.
• Providing a shortened approval pathway for therapies with high level of efficacy evidence in preclinical and early clinical trials, as well as in cases of advanced degenerative and seemingly futile conditions.
• Granting a special recognition, status and benefits to commercial and public entities engaged is such research and development.

3)               Institutions:

• Establishing and expanding national and international coordination and consultation structures, programs and institutions to steer promotion of research, development and education on the biology of aging and associated diseases and the development of clinical guidelines to modulate the aging processes and associated aging-related diseases and to extend the healthy and productive lifespan for the population.

           Specifically:

• Establishing Biogerontology specialty and courses in Biogerontology as a common part of university curriculum.
• Developing and disseminating geroprotective regiments, based on the best available evidence, as part of authoritative health recommendations.
• Establishing cooperative centers of excellence for fundamental, translational and applied studies, alongside centers for strategic analysis, forecast, education and policy development on aging and longevity research, at academic institutes and various governmental and supra-governmental agencies.

These measures are designed to reduce the burden of the aging process on the economy and to alleviate the suffering of the aged and the grief of their loved ones. On the positive side, if granted sufficient support, these measures can increase the healthy life expectancy for the elderly, extend their period of productivity and their interaction with society, and enhance their sense of enjoyment, purpose, equality and valuation of life [30].

International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD)

Executive Committee:

Prof. Kunlin Jin. Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas, Health Science Center. Fort Worth, Texas, USA. ISOAD Chair

Email: kunlin.jin@unthsc.edu

Prof. James W. Simpkins. Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University. Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. ISOAD President

Email: jwsimpkins@hsc.wvu.edu

Prof. Xunming Ji. Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. Beijing, China. ISOAD Vice Chair

Email: jixunming@vip.163.com

Dr. Miriam Leis. Fraunhofer Society for the Advancement of Applied Research. Munich, Germany. ISOAD Policy Advisor

Email: miriam.leis@zv.fraunhofer.de

Dr. Ilia Stambler. Department of Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan University. Ramat Gan, Israel. ISOAD Outreach Coordinator

Email: ilia.stambler@gmail.com

References

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[2] Human Mortality Database. Accessed December 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.mortality.org.

[3] United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2011). World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. Accessed December 2014. Retrieved from:  http://esa.un.org/wpp/.

[4] World Health Organization (2013). Draft Twelfth General Programme of Work. Accessed December 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/about/who_reform/programme_priority/en/.

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[8] Lozano R, Naghavi M, Foreman K, Lim S, Shibuya K, Aboyans V, et al. (2012). Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 380:2095-2128.

[9] Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. (2012). A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, Lancet, 380:2224-2260.

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[16] Goldman DP, Cutler D, Rowe JW, Michaud PC, Sullivan J, Peneva D, Olshansky SJ (2013). Substantial health and economic returns from delayed aging may warrant a new focus for medical research. Health Aff, 10:1698-1705.

[17] Rae MJ, Butler RN, Campisi J, de Grey ADNJ, Finch CE, Gough M, et al. (2010). The demographic and biomedical case for late-life interventions in aging. Sci Transl Med, 2:40cm21.

[18] Kanfi Y, Naiman S, Amir G, Peshti V, Zinman G, Nahum L, et al. (2012). The sirtuin SIRT6 regulates lifespan in male mice. Nature, 483:218-221.

[19] Atala A. Extending life using tissue and organ replacement (2008). Curr Aging Sci, 1:73-83.

[20] Baati T, Bourasset F, Gharbi N, Njim L, Abderrabba M, Kerkeni A, et al. (2012). The prolongation of the lifespan of rats by repeated oral administration of [60] fullerene. Biomaterials, 33:4936-4946.

[21] Kheir JN, Scharp LA, Borden MA, Swanson EJ, Loxley A, Reese JH, et al. (2012). Oxygen gas-filled microparticles provide intravenous oxygen delivery. Sci Transl Med, 4:140ra88.

[22] Shawn M. Douglas SM, Bachelet I, Church GM (2012). A logic-gated nanorobot for targeted transport of molecular payloads. Science, 335:831-834.

[23] Kennedy BK, Pennypacker JK (2014). Drugs that modulate aging: the promising yet difficult path ahead. Transl Res, 163:456-465.

[24] Chung HY, Cesari M, Anton S, Marzetti E, Giovannini S, Seo AY, et al. (2009). Molecular inflammation: Underpinnings of aging and age-related diseases. Ageing Res Rev, 8:18-30.

[25] Lunn JS, Sakowski SA, Hur J, Feldman EL (2011). Stem cell technology for neurodegenerative diseases. Ann Neurol, 70:353-361.

[26] Baylis D, Bartlett DB, Patel HP, Roberts HC (2014). Understanding how we age: insights into inflammaging. Longev Healthspan, 3:6.

[27] Dai DF, Chiao YA, Marcinek DJ, Szeto HH, Rabinovitch PS (2014). Mitochondrial oxidative stress in aging and healthspan. Longev Healthspan, 3:6.

[28] Zieman S, Kass D (2004). Advanced glycation end product cross-linking: Pathophysiologic role and therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease. Congest Heart Fail, 10:144-149.

[29]      Bredenkamp N, Nowell CS, Blackburn CC (2014). Regeneration of the aged thymus by a single transcription factor. Development, 141:1627-1637.

[30] This position paper of the International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD) was published on behalf of the ISOAD Executive Committee as: Kunlin Jin, James W. Simpkins, Xunming Ji, Miriam Leis, Ilia Stambler (2015). The critical need to promote research of aging and aging-related diseases to improve health and longevity of the elderly population. Aging Disease, 6(1):1-5

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

There has been emerging a tradition by longevity researchers and activists around the world to organize events dedicated to promotion of longevity research on or around October 1 – the UN International Day of Older Persons. This day is sometimes referred to in some parts of the activists community as the “Longevity Day”, and the extended period of activity coinciding with it as “Longevity Week” or even “Longevity Month”. This symbolic day and period can be a great opportunity to raise the topic of longevity research in the mainstream.

In 2013, events during or around that day and period – ranging from small meetings of friends to seminars and rather large conferences, alongside publications, distributions of outreach materials (petitions and flyers) and media appearances – were held in over 30 countries, and in 2014 in over 2o countries.

Some reports and pictures coming from around the world can also be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/LongevityDay

Some events were purposely planned to coincide with the International Day of Older Persons, some just coincided. Often the events were organized by quite unrelated organizations. Also, some events included in the lists below took place at some time from October 1, to indicate not just a “Longevity Day” but an entire “Longevity Month”.

Yet, they all emphasize the tremendous importance of research and development in Biology of Aging and Longevity for the health, well-being and longevity of older persons.

Please join these research and advocacy efforts by organizing, supporting, promoting or participating in educational events or conferences dedicated to biology of aging and longevity in your area! This is valid not just for the month of October, but for the entire year!

By our joint efforts, we can contribute that biology of aging and longevity shall become one of the main (if not the main) topics on the scientific and healthcare agenda – the place this topic deserves and requires!

Below is the report about the celebrations of events to promote longevity research on or around October 1, the International Day of Older Persons, that took place back in 2013, and following it in 2014. Hopefully, similar or better events will take place in the years to come!

“In 2013 The world’s first International Longevity Day took place on or around October 1 (the UN International Day of Older Persons), in over 30 countries! http://www.longevityday.org/ These were many small steps on the great road to healthy longevity for all through support of longevity research!

1. Belgium

A large press conference took place, were three experts spoke to journalists (representatives of the French-speaking press):

• Laurent Alexandre, physician, creator of the medical website Doctissimo, author of the book “La mort de la mort. Comment la technomédecine va bouleverser l’humanité” (The death of death. Technomedicine and how it will change humanity).
• Didier Coeurnelle, co-chair of Heales (http://www.heales.org), author of the book “Et si on arrêtait de vieillir ! Réalité, enjeux et perspectives d’une vie en bonne santé beaucoup plus longue” (“What if we stopped aging: Reality, challenges and prospects for much longer and healthier life).
• Miroslav Radman, cellular biologist, member of the French Academy of Sciences, author of the book “Au-delà de nos limites biologiques” (Beyond our biological limitations).

The amount of press and exposure to longevity from this event was great! At least 10 journalists were present from Belga, the RTBF, RTL, La Libre Belgique, Le Vif l’Express and other smaller media. Some media reports online: Levif, RTL, Lesoir Pictures of the press conference.  Slightly earlier, an pro-longevity public relations action was conducted by the European Healthy Life Extension Society – Heales – at the Night of Researchers gathering on September 27 inBrussels. Thanks Martine Verhaeghe de Naeyer for this great work, especially the contacts with the journalists. Thx Guy Weets for filming. Thanks to Frederik Cheeseman for the pictures. Thanks Alexander Tietz and Victor Bjork for being there ready to help Thanks to all who made this possible! 

2. Netherlands

A small circle meeting was organized by Amanda Stoel in Bussum, Netherlands. The meeting included a discussion about how realistic longevity was, about google now taking on anti-ageing and about specific holistic ways to promote health and longevity. http://wellnesscoachamanda.tumblr.com/https://www.facebook…ty.Netherlands/.

3. Ireland

Martin O’Dea and Brian Collins report: On International Longevity Day Eve, the Irish group ‘Combat Degenerative Ageing’ held its inaugural meeting in Dublin. There were 6 attendees, though 3 others, to whom we must apologise profusely, turned up only to miss us due to our organisational teething issues!! Sorry guys! The meeting was very engaging and a presentation was visited through the event which ran from a supposed one hour and a half to much longer. The level of interest evident in the issues of longevity research and advocacy again indicative of what so many know – that when openly and honestly discussed this is just the most interesting field for interest and involvement for people with all different backgrounds, and is ultimately about us all. We look forward to holding monthly meetings and developing the organisation in other ways and in conjunction with the ever growing number of similar efforts around the world.

4. Australia

A meeting for Longevity Day was organized by Adam Ford in Melbourne, Australia. As the original announcement eloquently put it: “Lets celebrate the impetus for research and development into mitigating the harmful effects of aging, increasing the likelihood of a world free of age-related disease! Now you know you should be coming for a fascinating discussion on recent developments in R&D into longevity/rejuvenation research.  Can you dig it?” Adam Ford reports: “We had about 20 people turn up. … There were a lot of great discussions.” Also in honor of the International Longevity Day and the almost concurrent Google’s Anti-Aging initiative (announced on September 18 and appearing on the cover of Time magazine on September 30), interviews were conducted by Adam Ford with stalwarts of the worldwide longevity movement: Ben Goertzel, Aubrey de Grey, Christine Peterson, Karl Hale, James Hughes, Anders Sandberg: See also the group https://www.facebook…ianceAustralia/  

5. Israel

On October 1, the International Day of Older Persons/ International Longevity Day, the conference took place in Tel Aviv, at the Hemda Science Education Center, titled “From Biology of Aging to Longevity and Quality of Life”. The conference was a success! Over 70 researchers and research students participated, from all the universities in Israel, with 16 presentations by some of the top researchers. Over 30 submissions were made for the excellence prize for the research of biology of aging, longevity and quality of life, and 8 prizes were awarded to 8 applicants from 8 different laboratories! Many thanks to Dr. Eitan Krein, director of the Science program at Hemda Science Education Center in Tel Aviv and Yanki Margalit, the social entrepreneur and Chairman of SpaceIL Foundation – for making this event possible! Many thanks to the judges of the excellence prize: Prof. Vera Gorbunova (US), Prof. Zipora Yablonka-Reuveni (US), and Prof Gil Atzmon (US). Here is the conference program,  Video-recordings of the conference presentations and some pictures. In addition, over 150 people attended the session for the general public that was held after the conference. Special thanks to Dr. Yaakov Ben Shaul for helping to spread the word about the conference and the subject of longevity research in the Israeli mass media on that day, including several tv, radio and newspapers interviews! Many thanks to all the wonderful people who attended, contributed proposals and presentations, helped and supported! Hopefully, many more activities in support of longevity research will follow – raising public awareness and lobbying for the field of the biology of aging and longevity research and its importance for the public health in Israel and everywhere!

6. India

Two seminars on longevity research were organized in India by members of India Future Society http://indiafuturesociety.org/ One was organized by Siddartha S Verma in Bangalore.  As Siddartha reports: The event started with 6 to 7 people in Bangalore. In the first session, a video talk on “Google vs. Death- Google’s and other Anti-Aging Initiatives” by Ben Goertzel  was shown to the audience. Then, a video talk on “Google Vs. Death: an Anti-Aging initiative- Progress in regenerative medicine” by Aubrey de Grey was shown. A half an hour break was provided to the audience for lunch, in which Italian Pizzas were offered for free to them. Following that, there was a talk on “Longevity Day” for 30 minutes (by Siddartha). Audience were then engaged in a Game Round for 45 minutes, in which a list of Longevity related questions were asked to them. An interesting set of answer was obtained. Each of these rounds were followed by a Question and Answer session. Penultimate session was a 30 minutes TED talk by Aubrey de Grey on- “Anti-aging research and Biology”.  Last session was a closing and feedback session for all the people. Some pictures from the meeting.

Another longevity day event was organized in Uttar Pradesh by Avinash Kumar Singh of the India Future Society

As Avinash reports: The Longevity Day event/open discussion was conducted at Harcourt Butler Technological Institute Kanpur on 1st October, 2013. The target audience of this event were Professors and Researchers. The Agenda of the discussion was: 1. What is Longevity ? 2. Why is it needed ? 3. What are the possible ways of Longevity ? The main speaker of the event was Mr Rahul Singh, who is a researcher in the Vedic Sciences. He explained about possible longevity ways, trends and reasons behind the death. In the open discussion most of the people agreed and concluded that Digital Immortality is the only possible way. People also believe that Indian Vedic Science already has several ways to achieve longevity. One of the most common ways is the Kundalini Energy Control or in other words advanced level of Yoga to achieve Longevity. At the end of Open Discussion, We’ve shown a movie “Transhuman” of about 30 min focused on Digital Immortality. Some pictures from the meeting.

7. Pakistan

Two meetings for longevity day were organized in Pakistan by members of Longevity Pakistan group. One was organized at the Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan, by Wisal Khan. As Wisal reports, about 70 people participated including advanced students (MSC, MPhil, and PhD) and about 10 Faculty members. A presentation was shown about the basic concepts of Transhumanism and Life extension An additional event was organized by Prof. Muhammad Aslamkhan at the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, where about 30 people participated. The paper was read by Prof. Aslamkhan entitled “Longevity: Add Years to Your Life – But How?”

8. Russia

Longevity Day in Moscow. Elena Milova reports: The Russian Transhumanist Movement – RTM (http://transhuman.ru/) and the Culture Center “NEGA” jointly conducted the celebration of the International Longevity Day on October 5, 2013, aligning with the International Day of Older Persons. The speakers were the futurologist Danila Medvedev and gerontologist Igor Artyuhov. They convincingly told the audience about the latest achievements of medicine allowing us to hope for a radical extension of longevity, already in the next 20-30 years. There was an encouraging wave of questions and a short discussion dedicated to problems of implementing the already existing technologies. Among other topics, there was discussed the necessity to recognize aging as a disease. Such a recognition should introduce into practice the prevention of degenerative aging, which, among other benefits, would simplify the procedures for registration and massive application of geroprotective substances. The complete video-recording of the meeting And photographs,  including photographs from the NEGA website. During the meeting, there were shown video greetings from supporters of life extension from other countries, representatives of the International Longevity Alliance (ILA): Ilia Stambler, the longevity scientist and activist from Israel (in Russian and English) and a team of longevity scientists and activists from Ukraine: Anton Kulaga, Dmitry Shytikov, and others (in Russian and English). Information and advice regarding the prevention of the aging process by the already known methods were presented by representatives of the Russian Transhumanist movement. These were accepted with gratitude and interest. Later, in the lobby, interested persons could buy the book by Aubrey de Grey – “Ending Aging” in Russian and the book by Mikhail Batin “Cures against Aging”. After the event, the participants had hot beverages and simple refreshments, and networked with speakers and activists of the Russian Transhumanist Movement in an informal atmosphere. Three days after this event, on October 9, 2013, the Culture Center NEGA hosted the meeting of the RTM speaker Elena Milova and the young scientist Yury Matveev with the club of WWII veterans – “My Dear Friend”. The supporters of radical life extension told the veterans about the activity of the RTM in the field of science popularization, and the key task – the delay and reversal of aging thanks to advances of the Scientific and Technological Progress. Despite the advanced age of the majority of the meeting participants, they actively participated in the discussion, asked questions, commented on the situation with healthcare and expressed ideas on what they can do to help science. In addition, the Longevity Day initiative was supported by the Russian Science for Life Extension Foundation (http://www.scienceagainstaging.org/) and the Fedorov’s movement (http://nffedorov.ru/)

9. Ukraine

In Kiev, Ukraine, the International Longevity Day was celebrated at the Institute o Gerontology of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (Kiev, Vyshgorodsky St. 67), in the main conference hall. The presentations included – Foreword by the organizing committee; a video-greeting to the conference participants from several countries: France, Israel, Venezuela Lectures were presented by Anton Kulaga (International Longevity Alliance) on International activism for life prolongation, Dmitry Shytikov (Laboratory of immunology and pathophysiology of the Kiev Gerontology Institute) – Crowdfunding as a method of financing lifespan extension experiments – practical experience, Alexander Kolyada (Laboratory of Epigenetics of the Kiev Gerontology Institute) – genetics and epigenetics of aging, and Volodymir Semenyuk– The role of citizen science in the combat of aging. At the time of the Longevity Day, a pioneering initiative was being conducted by the Ukrainian longevity activists and scientists, in cooperation with international activists – the crowdfunding effort to fund lifespan extension experiments in mice: http://www.indiegogo…-to-live-longer The crowd-funding campaign was a success! As the organizers, Anton Kulaga, Edouard Debonneuil, Irina Pishel, Dmitry Shytikov, and Daniel Wuttke report: Little mouse crowdfunding campaign – mission accomplished! So now it is time for hard work on experiments and producing valuable results. Thank you so much for making this possible!http://www.indiegogo…nger?c=activity

10. France 

A Longevity Day meeting was organized in Sceaux, close to Paris, France, by Edouard Debonneuil, head of the Longévité & Santé (Longevity and Health) Association. The meeting took place on Saturday afternoon, October 5th. This interactive conference included presentations by prominent researchers of the biology of aging, such as Fathi Moussa, who presented on his work on “Fullerens and Longevity”.

On October 1, a discussion group about Longevity Research was organized at the University of Bremen, Germany, by Hashem Al-ghaili. In addition Hashem published a promotional appeal about the Longevity Day via his extensive social network (over 25,000 followers). Hoping for more field activity and online presence for longevity in Germany! The same can be said for Austria, where efforts to organize meetings and create website presence have been made in Vienna. 

12. The UK

Several events took place in the UK in conjunction with the Longevity Day. On September 29, the eve of the Longevity Day, David Wood, head of London Futurists, organized a public broadcast on Projects to accelerate radical healthy longevity the London Futurists hangout with Franco Cortese Ilia Stambler, Maria Konovalenko and Aubrey de Grey. The exploration started with a meetup, held as a Google “Hangout On Air” and broadcast live on YouTube, in which four panellists shared news and views on: • Projects they (or their organisations) have recently completed • Projects they are working on and/or planning to do next • Any issues that are blocking them from doing more. The panellists also discussed ways in which a wider community of people can usefully become involved in activities to accelerate radical healthy longevity. http://hplusmagazine…aubrey-de-grey/ Here is the complete video-recording Complete project description. – An additional meeting was held at Queen’s Larder, in London, by members of the Zero State group, on September 28: According to the organizer, Amon Kalkin: One of the most energetic areas associated with Futurism, Transhumanism, & Singularitarianism is that of longevity research and advocacy. While Zero State has not run any kind of longevity research or advocacy project up until this point, we intend to set up a group to explore the possibility of supporting longevity activism led by other organizations, with particular emphasis upon those which are affiliated with the broader Wave movement for positive social change through technology (of which ZS is a part). In short, Zero State is evolving to become part of something larger and even more exciting, and that process is marked by a new engagement with longevity activism. We’re very excited about this, and hope to become a significant part of the movement to defeat ageing over the next few years, particularly through vigorous support of other organizations. Please read the full report about this meeting here: http://wavism.wordpr…eeting-summary/ Or here: http://www.longevity…ed-kingdom.html

In addition, the Longevity Day was endorsed by several UK life-extensionist organizations, such as:

Longevity Intelligence Communications (LIC), recently started by Stuart Calimport, promoting collective actions and public affairs for longevity http://lonintelcomms.tumblr.com/ Longevity Intelligence Communications also promoted a petition in support of the Longevity Day https://secure.avaaz…_Older_Persons/

The leader of the British Longevity Society, Marios Kyriazis, also expressed his support. A major action of the society is planned for October 29, when the society will organize a meeting with the Minister for Care and Support Mr Norman Lamb, at the House of Commons. Also, support for the Longevity Day was expressed by several prominent members of the Methuselah Foundation and SENS research foundation, also during the recent SENS6 conference, earlier in September in Cambridge http://www.sens.org/…nferences/sens6. Most prominently by Aubrey de Grey.

13. The US

On October 1, there was a special meeting titled “Hacking Health: Dr Sean Mooney on how computer geeks are fixing our biology” at  Health ExtensionSalon, in San Francisco, California. As well said by the organizer, Joe Betts Lacroix: “Most biologists are now underqualified to interpret massive genetic data, so we need to bring in the tech community to save our lives. Dr. Sean Mooney, the director of the Bioinformatics Department at the Buck Institute on Aging, described how people with computer skills are making the next wave of discoveries relating to our biology, and in particular, how we can learn to prevent age-related diseases by mining the data in our genomes. Soon, that data will multiply by orders of magnitude, as DNA sequencing goes clinical. Celebrate INTERNATIONAL LONGEVITY DAY! = Oct 1st

In addition, the Longevity Day was endorsed by many life-extensionist organizations in the US, including:

Longecity, whose director Justin Loew also endorsed this day on TV. http://www.longecity…y-on-october-1/ Fight Aginghttps://www.fightagi…ngevity-day.php IEET – Institute for Ethics and Emerging Tecnnologieshttp://ieet.org/inde…IEET/print/8217 Humanity Plus Magazinehttp://hplusmagazine…aubrey-de-grey/ Immortal Life http://immortallife….ow-your-support Which slightly earlier held a large conference in support of Longevity research in Washington DC, on September 22. Brighter Brainshttp://brighterbrain…l-longevity-day

And several others.

14. Egypt

A ground-breaking effort to promote Longevity Advocacy was made in Egypt, led by Ahmed Adel Ibrahim. Some of the activities included building probably the first of its kind pro-longevity websites in Arabic, including: Egypt Plus http://www.egyptplus.org/ Longevity Egypt  http://longevityegypt.wordpress.com/ and Egyptian Cryonics Societyhttp://egyptiancryon….wordpress.com/ And initiating a longevity interest group: Longevity Egypt – الرابطة المصرية لإطالة الحياة https://www.facebook…LongevityEgypt/ A strong effort was made to organize a meeting in support of longevity research for Longevity Day in Cairo. Even though it was not possible to conduct such a meeting, these pioneering efforts will grow inexorably. Additional efforts to organize groups and meetings have been made in Iraq, and Iran (Tehran specifically). Though, in these cases too, it was not yet possible to organize meetings. Yet, there is very little doubt that pro-longevity events will take place there rather sooner than later! To encourage such activities and information outreach in the Middle-Eastern languages (Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Turkish, Kurdish, Urdu, and others), a new site is currently under construction: Longevity Middle  East www.longevitymideast.orghttps://www.facebook…vityMiddleEast/ Contributions are welcome!

15. Spain

For the longevity day, a meeting took place in Seville, Spain, of a working/initiative group of prominent Spanish and Portuguese transhumanists, including:  Sergio Tarrero and Javier Ruiz (from Spain) and José Raeiro and Mafalda Dias (from Portugal) and others. More news will be soon forthcoming from Spain! Stay tuned!

Several events in support of longevity research were organized in several Latin American countries toward the International Longevity Day. These events are path-setting!

16. Venezuela

On October 1, a conference took place at Jose Antonio PaezUniversity San Diego, Carabobo, Venezuela Titled “The Longevity Day: Overcoming the Biological Barriers” According to the organizer, Abelardo Jesus Marquez ofLongevity Venezuela: There were made presentations made by Edison Alexander Duran, explaining the way to transhumanism and radical life extension thanks to the latest developments in science and technology, and by Abelardo Jesus Marquez talking about the latest developments in robotics and how these will help us improve the human. A strong support for the Longevity Day was given by the prominent Venezuelan futurist Jose Cordeiro, who recorded an inspiring video greetingfor that day that was distributed from Peru to Ukraine, and who also promoted the idea of Celebrating the Longevity Day during his travels in East Asia during this period: in North and South Korea and China. As Abelardo Marquez reports: The feedback after the event was really positive, many of the attendees commented to us that they had no idea of the current state on scientific developments towards longevity and that they would from now on, try to know more about it. Please read the full report and see some pictures from the meeting here: http://www.longevity…/venezuela.html

17. Mexico

A meeting was being organized by a small group of Mexican longevity activists in Mexico City. Hoping for increased activity.http://www.longevity…org/mexico.html http://100ciaysalud.blogspot.mx

18. Brazil

Efforts were being made to organize meetings in Brazil: in São Paulo and Santa Maria. Yet, eventually it was not possible to conduct the meetings. Nonetheless, the Longevity Day was promoted in the widely read media outlet by Andre Massaro from São Paulo. This was probably one of the premier pieces of advocacy for longevity research in Brazil! Every little bit of action and information counts! http://exame.abril.c…da-longevidade/

19. Argentina

A screening of a video by Aubrey de Grey was done by a group oflongevity supporters in Mar de Ajo in Buenos Aires area, organized by Sebastian Andres Presta. Hoping for more actions!

20. Colombia

Yet, the strongest activity for Longevity Day in Latin America was conducted by the Colombian Longevity Alliance, led by Adrian Correa. Also special thanks to Julio Andres Acosta for his support! Toward the International Longevity Day, the Colombian group took on itself the creation of the logo for the International Longevity Alliance, as well as the creation of most of the promotional materials (flyers and posters). A radio interview was conducted in honor of that day by Adrian Correa as well as several promotional recordings on youtube.

But the main achievement was the creation of the site for the promotion of different branches of longevity research in Spanish!

http://alianzalongevidad.com/

Thanks Adrian Correa!  This site is hoped to help increase the global awareness and involvement of speakers of Spanish – the second most spoken language in the world – with almost 400 Million speakers. Yet, information about Longevity Research and Advocacy is extremely scarce in Spanish. This will be probably one of the first sites (if not the first) dedicated specifically to the topic. This is a ground-breaking development. Hopefully, there will be more sites created to promote longevity research and advocacy in various national languages, in which information is scarce. There is little information in such languages as German, French and Italian. And it is extremely scarce for languages of Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia! We must help to replenish this scarcity!

21. Italy.

Toward the International Longevity Day, there was an activation of the Italian group of the International Longevity Alliance (Longevisti  http://longevisti.it/) According to the activists Massimiliano Maidano, David de Biassi, and Sergio Bossi, A group of 6 people met in Turin, Italy, for a discussion of longevity science during the Longevity Day – Oct. 1. Apparently this is the first group of Italian longevity activists to meet in a physical setting. As members of the Italian Longevity Alliance are scattered across Italy and even other countries, a skype meeting of the most active members was conducted on that day. The main conclusion was to encourage the creation of other “offline” local groups of activists in other cities, on the example of Turin. In addition, the Italian group (especially Massimiliano Maidano and David de Biassi) was instrumental in developing the concept of the International Longevity Alliance logo (that was finalized toward the Longevity Day) and the development of the Longevity Art group https://www.facebook…s/LongevityArt/. Furthermore, the site of the Italian branch of the Longevity Alliance was elaborated and expanded – increasing the amount of information and outreach in Italian. http://longevisti.it/

22. Serbia

A radio program about anti-aging research was organized in Belgrade by Dragan Tabakovic (Longevity Serbia group).

23. Romania

A study session on anti-aging and longevity research was organized in Constanta, Romania, by Alexandru Chircu. According to Alexandru: We’ve talked about the importance of delaying aging, about it’s ethics, then we presented a list of substances that help us stay young (mostly racetams). There was not enough interest from the participants for a study group, but we hope to have better luck next year. See the emerging groups of Romanian longevity activists: Longevity Constanta and Longevity Party Romania

24. Czech Republic

Toward the Longevity Day, the Czech longevity activism group was created. According to the founder, Gunther Kletechka “The group was created and several people joined. There was no too much activity in the group other that occasional posting. The most significant was that the group was created.”

25.Slovakia

Also the Slovak longevity activism group was created toward the Longevity Day. The group that will work in tight cooperation with the Czech and Austrian group. Thanks Nicola Gigante for your initiative! Looking forward to more activism. 26.Bulgaria And yet another Easter European longevity activism group was established by Lilia Lens-Pechakova, originally from Bulgaria. This group is called “Closing the East-West Gap” and is dedicated to bring the level of longevity and longevity research in countries of Eastern Europe to that of Western Europe – and both to an ever higher level! Closing the East-West Gap group: https://www.facebook…theeastwestgap/ Longevity Bulgaria Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HLEBg/

27. Poland

On 26-27 September 2013, during 1st International Interdisciplinary Conference on CHALLENGES IN LANGUAGE and in Conjunction with the International Longevity Day, there was held  a conference at Instytut Języków Obcych PWSZ w Nowym Sączu (at the General Philological Institute at Nowy Sacz, Poland). Dr. Monika Madej-Cetnarowska organized a special session at the conference about the legacy of Nikolay Fedorov, suggesting Longevity and the Fight with Death as the common unifying task of humanity. 3 papers were presented on this subject. Group: http://www.facebook….ityPartyPoland/

28.Finland

On October 1, a meeting was held in Helsinki According to Antti Peltonen, Ville Salmensuu, and Teo Piitulainen: There was 3 of us. There was Ville’s report in Longevity Finland facebook group (but in Finnish). Which went pretty much like: “We were gathered by the invitation of Antti, to discuss about how longevity could work in Finland. We decided to establish a web community (compare LessWrong, Stack Overflow, Slashdot), where we could share practical and reliable information about long and healthy life, in Finnish and for Finns. Still looking for a good name for it. The whole thing would aim to healthy lives. We would meet up again after couple of weeks to check progress and discuss more. Probably in conjunction with LessWrong meeting. We have to see how it starts to progress from this onward. See the group “Longevity Finland” See also the emerging site of Longevity Finlandhttp://longevity.fi/  Photo from the meeting.

29. Benin

Serious effort was made to organize meetings in Benin, West Africa, that must be mentioned, as well as in Uganda, East Africa,  and in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and in Africa Generally https://www.facebook…ongevityAfrica/Let us hope – the level and scope of Longevity Activism and research in Africa will increase, as soon as possible!

30. Canada

The group of the Canadian Longevity Alliance has been established in this period, led by Franco Cortese. As Franco Cortese reports: The CLA will focus on representing the mission and vision of the ILA, and their policy and law-change initiatives, on the Canadian front. A shorter-term focus will be forming a network of Canadian activists, providing activists with free resources (like printable signs, petitions and informative literature to distribute to interested onlookers) to help reduce the logistical challenges facing activists and demonstration-organizers in organizing and implementing an activism demonstration, encouraging activists to become advocates on behalf of the CLA at speaking engagements and events, encouraging activists to directly participate in education and outreach initiatives, and organizing effective and actionable activist demonstrations in Canadian locales. Please read the full report here: http://longevityalli…evity-alliance/ Please visit the group: https://www.facebook…ongevityCanada/

31. Georgia

On the initiative of the longevity researcher and activist, Dr. Jaba Tkemaladze, on October 1, a petition was presented to the Head of State of the Republic of Georgia, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, requesting to include in the budget for 2014 the financing for a small group of experts under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Social Insurance. The tasks of this group would be: 1) Search for ways and implementation of methods for complete elimination of disability. 2) Search for ways and implementation of methods to produce organs from the patients own cells, rather than transplantation from the donor. 3) Search for ways and implementation of methods for increasing the age of working capacity of the people. To realize these tasks, the petitioners requested the state to finance the work of a group of experts consisting of 3 people.

Similar legislative initiatives in support of longevity research, can and should be replicated around the world! http://longevityalli…rent-countries/

See the group of the Georgian longevity activists: https://www.facebook…ityPartyGeorgia And the page: https://www.facebook…ityPartyGeorgia

32. Japan

A meeting was being organized in Tokyo by John Leonard of Japan Longevity Alliance. See the Japan Longevity Alliance Website: http://www.japanlong…projectsevents/ And the group: http://www.facebook….ongevity.Japan/

Yet, generally, the participation in the Longevity Day from the emerging groups of the International Longevity Alliance in East Asia was limited. A certain disconnection is felt. Hopefully more cooperative events will be take place during the next concerted actions!

This equally relates to the emerging groups in Asia: China https://www.facebook…vityPartyChina/ Taiwán https://www.facebook…ityPartyTaiwan/

Korea https://www.facebook…53668691441017/ Thailand https://www.facebook…60726163937652/

Philippines https://www.facebook…rtyPhilippines/ Indonesia https://www.facebook…99662436778941/

Vietnam https://www.facebook…76090562663541/ and Singapore  https://www.facebook…PartySingapore/

33. Turkey

A group of international longevity activists – Daria Khaltourina, Didier Cournelle and Ilia Stambler – gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, at the International Initiative on Aging for Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa (October 4-7). Together they helped to introduce the topic of longevity research at 3 panels at the Conference – “Human Rights”, “The Pursuit of Longevity” and “Social Perspective of Ageing” and will endeavor to promote the longevity research and advocacy agenda further.

Moreover, a petition was presented to the UN to officially institute the celebrations of the Longevity Day, on October 1 or some other day.

An online version of the petition can be found and signed here: https://secure.avaaz…_Older_Persons/

Looking forward to more and stronger concerted actions in support of longevity research and for improving healthy longevity for all around the world!

And here are some events and conferences that were conducted on or around the Longevity Day – October 1, 2014 – in different countries and by various organizations. Looking forward to more!

• Belgium. Brussels. Eurosymposium on Healthy Aging. Belgium. October 1-3. (Link) Report (Link) Recordings (Link/HealesMovies ;   Playlist)
• The US. New York, USA – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting on Aging – “Molecular Genetics of Aging”. September 29-October 3. (Link) 
• Beginning of SENS Research Foundation/Fight Aging Fundraising Campaign. October 1. (Link) 
• New York. Longecity Chapter Meeting. October 1. (Link) 
• Russia. Moscow.  LightSpan Action. October 1 (Link1; Link2) Recordings of people’s appeals (Link)
• Russia. Moscow. Conference – Older Patient. Quality of Life – October 6-7 (Link) 
• Israel. Bar Ilan University. Longevity Research and Its Social and Policy Implications. October 1 (Link1; Link2) Publication of the book: A History of Life-extensionism in the Twentieth Century (Link, Link)
• Canada. Huntington University.  Canadian Institute for Studies in Aging (CISA). Seminar on muscle wasting and oxidative damage in aging. October 1 (Link) 
• Canada. Mount Saint Vincent University. Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP). Longevity: The Road to a Longer Life. October 15. (Link) Recording (Link)
• Spain. Oropesa. Biology of Human Aging. September 19-22 (Link1; Link2)
• Spain. Seville. Pablo de Olavide University. 9th European Congress on Biogerontology (ECB). October 16-18  http://upo.es/9ECB/
• The  UK. London. London Futurists Meetup. The new future of old age. September 27. http://www.meetup.co…ents/201867002/
• The UK. London. Alzheimer‘s Disease: An Overview. October 1-2 http://www.globaleve…se-an-overview/
• The UK. London. 11th Anti-aging Conference. October 9-11 http://www.antiageingconference.com/
• Germany. Frankfurt am Main. Goethe University. Fondazione IBSA for scientific research. Aging. Is it a Disease? September 27 (Link)
• Morocco. El Jadida. Replication as a Source of DNA Damage – From Molecules to Human Health. September 30-October 3 (Link) 
• Cyprus. Larnaka. Stegi and Kyriazis Medical  Museum. Presentations addressing general health problems affecting older people. October 1. (Link)
• India. Bangalore. Meeting of India Future Society. October 5. (Link 1; Link 2). The videoconference recording (Link)  Special publication in honor of the Longevity Day at “DNA India” http://www.dnaindia….esearch-2025654
• Pakistan. Lahore. October 1. Special Appeal in Honor of the International Day of Older Person on behalf of the Pakistan National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) (Link)
• Brazil. Sao Paulo. Publication “On Challenges of Longevity” (Link)
• Colombia. Bogota. “No Death” Action (Link)
• Bulgaria. Sofia. Online meeting of activists of “Closing the East-West Gap” (Link)
• Sweden. Stockholm. Meeting of the Swedish Life Extension Society. October 1. Launch of the Society’s new website (http://www.slfs.se/upprop/)
• Finland. Helsinki. Meeting of Longevity Finland activists. October 1 (Link 1;  Link 2) 
• Belarus. Gomel. Institute of Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Gerontological aspects of anthropogenic factors. September 25-26. (Link) 
• Switzerland. Basel. International symposium on geroprotectors: Practical Applications of Aging Research for Drug Discovery. September 23-25. (Link 1; Link 2)
• Netherlands. Amersfoort. Permanent Beta. The Future of Life Extension. October 15. (Link)
• China. Beijing. International Conference on Aging and Disease. The International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD). November 1-2   (Link) Conference Resolution: The Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases as a Way to Improve Health of the Global Elderly Population (Link) – can be considered as the common conclusion and message of the “Longevity Month” of October 2014.