Det akuta behovet av att främja forskning om åldrande

Advocacy, Swedish Svenska

The English version: http://www.longevityforall.org/nordic-longevity-outreach-english/

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

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

Swedish translation (by Johan Paulsson)

Det akuta behovet av att främja forskning om åldrande och åldersrelaterade sjukdomar i syfte att förbättra hälsa och livslängd för den åldrande befolkningen i Norden och globalt

Under de senaste årtiondena har den genomsnittliga förväntade livslängden ökat globalt, och nått ett genomsnitt på ca 70 år 2014 (6 år längre än 1990) sett till hela världen, jämfört med omkring 80 i industrialiserade länder (jämfört med ca 50 år i i-länderna i början av 20-talet). I de nordiska länderna – Finland, Sverige, Norge, Danmark, Island – är den förväntade livslängden bland de högsta i världen – en bra bit över 80. Även om den ökande medellivslängden återspeglar en generellt positiv mänsklig utveckling, så uppstår nya utmaningar. De härrör från det faktum att åldrande i sig själv är associerat med biologiskt och kognitivt förfall, även om graden och hastigheten av avtagande kognitiv förmåga , fysisk svaghet och psykiska funktionsnedsättningar kan variera individer emellan.

Degenerativa åldrandeprocesser är den huvudsakliga bakomliggande orsaken till icke-smittsamma sjukdomar (NCD), inkluderat cancer, ischemisk hjärtsjukdom, stroke, typ 2-diabetes, Alzheimers sjukdom, obstruktiv lungsjukdom med flera.
Åldrande ökar också risken för sjuklighet och dödlighet i infektionssjukdomar såsom lunginflammation och influensa. Dessutom ökar känsligheten för skada och trauma (såsom fall och hjärnskakning), på grund av försämringar av balans och mentala tillstånd, och även risken att falla offer för våld ökar kraftigt ökar med åldrandet. Även processerna för själva åldrandet förvärrar och förstärker effekten av andra riskfaktorer för icke-smittsamma sjukdomar (tobaksbruk, ohälsosam kost, fysisk inaktivitet, och skadlig användning av alkohol). Sammanfattningsvis är åldranderelaterat hälsoförfall den främsta orsaken till dödlighet och sjuklighet i hela världen och bör åtgärdas på grund av hur allvarligt problemet är. På grund av dessa allvarliga och negativa effekter betraktas åldrande redan som en av de största ekonomiska och samhälleliga utmaningarna som de flesta länder – särskilt i den industrialiserade världen – kommer att ställas inför under de kommande decennierna.

Utmaningen med det åldrande samhället har blivit allmänt erkänd och många forsknings- och utvecklingsprogram runt om i världen har initierats för att ta itu med åldersrelaterade sjukdomar. Men för närvarande är medicinsk forskning och utvecklingsarbete främst inriktat på enskilda sjukdomar som Alzheimers, hjärtsjukdomar, benskörhet, diabetes, cancer mfl. De underliggande degenerativa åldrandeprocesserna, avgörande för uppkomsten av dessa sjukdomar, är ofta mindre uppmärksammade. Nya riktningar inom forskning och utveckling använder ett mer holistiskt synsätt för att ta itu med degenerativa processer och negativa biologiska effekter av människans åldrande, tar itu med flera stora grundläggande orsaker till åldrande och åldersrelaterade sjukdomar på en gång och på ett sammanhängande sätt. Sådana metoder verkar mycket lovande, av följande skäl:
De stöds redan av vetenskapliga konceptbevis, som omfattar bevis för ökning av den hälsosamma livslängden i djurmodeller samt nya tekniska möjligheter att ingripa i fundamentala åldrandeprocesser. All förbättring av denna forskning kan ge kumulativa effekter och påskynda övergången från grundläggande studier till allmänt tillgängliga behandlingar.
Dessa kan ge lösningar på ett antal icke-smittsamma, åldersrelaterade sjukdomar, i den mån sådana sjukdomar starkt påverkas av degenerativa åldrandeprocesser (såsom kronisk inflammation, korslänkning av makromolekyler, somatiska mutationer, förlust av stamcellspopulationer mfl). Dessutom kommer de sannolikt att minska mottagligheten hos de äldre även för smittsamma sjukdomar på grund av förbättrat immunförsvar.
Det innovativa, tillämpade resultatet av sådan forskning och utveckling kommer att leda till hållbara lösningar för ett stort utbud av åldersrelaterade medicinska och sociala utmaningar, som kan vara globalt användbara. Den viktigaste av dem är de besparingar i sjukvårdskostnader för åldersrelaterade sjukdomar och ökning av den produktiva delen av livet för äldre personer. Dessa potentiella effekter gör denna forskning till den potentiellt mest lönsamma formen av allmän och biomedicinsk forskning.
Sådan forskning och utveckling bör stödjas av etiska skäl, för att ge likvärdiga vårdchanser både för de äldre som för de unga.
Därför är det samhällets plikt, särskilt för de yrkesverksamma inom biologi, medicin, sjukvård, ekonomi och samhällspolitiska organisationer att bestämt rekommendera ökade investeringar i forskning och utveckling som handlar om förståelse för de mekanismer som är förknippade med det mänskliga biologiska åldrandet och omsätta dessa insikter till säkra, prisvärda och allmänt tillgängliga tillämpade tekniker och behandlingar.

Därför uppmanar vi dig att ta upp med regeringen, eller någon institutionell krets där du är aktiv och inflytelserik, avsikten att skapa och genomföra följande strategier för att främja forskning om åldrandets biologi och åldersrelaterade sjukdomar, för att förbättra hälsan hos den globala åldrande befolkningen:
1) Finansiering: Agera för att säkerställa en betydande ökning av statliga och icke-statliga medel för målinriktad (translationell) forskning för att förhindra degenerativa åldrandeprocesser och tillhörande kroniska icke-smittsamma sjukdomar och handikapp, och för att förlänga det hälsosamma och produktiva livet.
2) Stimulansåtgärder: Att ta fram och anta lagar och regelverk som ger incitament för målinriktad forskning och utveckling som syftar till att specifikt behandla utveckling, registrering, administration och tillgänglighet av läkemedel, medicinsk teknik och andra terapier som kan komma att förbättra åldrandeprocesser och associerade sjukdomar samt förlänga det hälsosamma livet.
3) Institutioner: Agera för att etablera och expandera nationella och internationella samordnings- och samrådsstrukturer, program och institutioner som styr främjande av forskning, utveckling och utbildning på åldrandets biologi och associerade sjukdomar och utveckling av kliniska riktlinjer för att modulera åldrandeprocesser och tillhörande åldersrelaterade sjukdomar och förlänga den hälsosamma och produktiva livslängden för befolkningen.
Dessa åtgärder är utformade för att minska den ekonomiska bördan av åldrandeprocessen och för att lindra lidandet för de äldre och deras närstående. Sett till den positiva sidan, om det beviljas tillräckligt stöd, kan dessa åtgärder öka den hälsosamma livslängden för äldre, förlänga produktivitet, interaktion med samhället och öka känslan av njutning, syfte, jämlikhet och värdering av livet.

Nordiska länder – grundat på sina beprövade insatser för att öka den hälsosamma livslängden, sina enorma medicinska, vetenskapliga, sociala, ekonomiska och humanitära kapacitet – kan spela en ledande roll för att uppnå dessa mål i regionen och globalt.

Vi uppmanar er att använda tillfället för den Nordiska Kongressen i Gerontologi för att öka medvetenheten om problemet och främja målet att uppnå en ökad hälsosam livslängd för alla genom att stödja biomedicinsk forskning om åldrandet.

Se även: “The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population” Aging and Disease, 6 (1), 2015

http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2014.1210
http://www.longevityforall.org/the-critical-need-to-promote-research-of-aging-around-the-world/

Det kritiske behov for at fremme forskning omkring ældning

Advocacy, Danish Dansk

The English version: http://www.longevityforall.org/nordic-longevity-outreach-english/

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

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

Danish translation (by Poul Martin Jensen)

Vedrørende: Det akutte behov for at fremme forskning omkring ældning og aldersrelaterede sygdomme, og for at forbedre sundheden og levetiden for den aldrende del, såvel som resten af befolkning i de nordiske lande og globalt.

Gennem de seneste årtier er den gennemsnitlige levealder steget globalt, og nåede et verdensomspændende gennemsnit på omkring 70 år i 2014 (6 år længere end i 1990) og omkring 80 år i de udviklede lande (sammenlignet med omkring 50 år i de udviklede lande i begyndelsen af det 20. århundrede).

I de nordiske lande – Finland, Sverige, Norge, Danmark, og Island, er den forventede levetid en en af den højeste i verden, på godt over de 80 år, og selvom den stigende levealder generelt afspejler en positiv menneskelig udvikling, er nye udfordringer følgende opstået.

De stammer fra det faktum, at det at blive ældre er stadig uløseligt forbundet med biologiske og kognitiv degeneration, selvom sværhedsgraden og hastigheden af kognitiv tilbagegang, fysisk skrøbelighed og psykologiske lidelser kan variere mellem individer.

Degenerative aldrings processer er den væsentligste underliggende årsag til ikke-overførbare sygdomme (NCDs), herunder kræft, iskæmisk hjertesygdom, slagtilfælde, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimers, obstruktiv lungesygdom, og andre.

Aldring øger også risikoen for sygelighed og dødelighed fra smitsomme sygdomme, som lungebetændelse og influenza, såvel som risikoen for skader og traumer (såsom fald og hjernerystelse), på grund af svækkelse af balance og psykiske tilstand, og selv det at blive offer for vold, er en kraftig steget risiko for mange ældre i verden.

Endvidere forværres og forstærkes alderdomsprocesserne under virkningerne af andre risikofaktorer, såsom brug af tobak, usund kost, fysisk inaktivitet og skadelig brug af alkohol.

Kort sagt, alderdomssrelateret dårligt helbred, er den vigtigste årsag til dødelighed og sygelighed på verdensplan og bør behandles i henhold til problemets alvor.

På grund af disse alvorlige og negative virkninger, er aldring allerede betragtet som en af de største økonomiske og samfundsmæssige udfordringer, som de fleste lande – især i den industrialiserede verden – vil stå over for i de kommende årtier.

Udfordringen i det aldrende samfund er blevet bredt anerkendt, og talrige forsknings- og udviklingsprogrammer i hele verden er blevet indledt for at bekæmpe aldersrelaterede sygdomme, men mens medicinsk forskning og udvikling i øjeblikket fokuserer hovedsageligt på enkelte sygdomme, såsom Alzheimers demens, hjertesygdomme, knogleskørhed, diabetes, kræft, osv. bliver underliggende degenerative aldringsprocesser, bestemmende for fremkomsten af disse sygdomme, ofte overset eller tilsidesat.

Nye retninger i forskning og udvikling, tager en mere holistisk tilgang til at tackle de degenerative processer, og negative biologiske virkninger af menneskelig aldring, som omhandlende flere store fundamentale årsager til aldring og aldrings relaterede sygdomme, og interaktionen mellem dem. Sådanne tilgange er meget lovende, af følgende grunde:

De er allerede understøttet af videnskabelige forsøg, involverende bevislige forlænget sund levetid i dyremodeller, og de nyeste teknologiske muligheder for at gribe ind i grundlæggende aldringsprocesser.

Enhver forstærkning i denne forskning kan producere kumulative virkninger og fremskynde muligheden for bredt tilgængelige behandlinger i lignende områder.

De kan levere løsninger til en række ikke-overførbare aldersrelaterede sygdomme, for så vidt som sådanne sygdomme er stærkt bestemt af degenerative aldringsprocesser (såsom kronisk inflammation, cross-kobling af makromolekyler, somatiske mutationer, tab af stamcelle populationer, etc.) og det vil endvidere sandsynligvis også mindske risikoen hos de ældre mht. til smitsomme sygdomme, som følge af forbedringer i deres immumsystem.

De innovative anvendte resultater af sådan forskning og udvikling vil føre til bæredygtige løsninger for en bred vifte af aldersrelaterede medicinske og sociale udfordringer, der kan være globalt gældende.

Den vigtigste af dem er besparelserne i udgifter til sundhedsvæsenet for aldersrelaterede sygdomme, og at de ældre i længere tid kan tage aktivt del i samfundet.

Disse respektive effekter gør denne forskning potentielt den mest rentable form for generel og biomedicinsk forskning.

En sådan forskning og udvikling bør støttes af etiske grunde, med fokus på at give lige så god sundhedspleje for de ældre, som for de yngre.

Derfor er det den samfundsmæssige pligt, især for de professionelle indenfor biologi, medicin, sundhedspleje, økonomi og socio-politiske organisationer, kraftigt at anbefale større investeringer i forskning og udvikling, beskæftigende sig med forståelsen af de mekanismer der er forbundet med den menneskelige biologiske aldringsproces, og udvikle på baggrund af denne forskning, sikre, økonomisk overkommelige, og universelt tilgængelige anvendelige teknologier, mediciner og behandlinger.

Derfor opfordrer vi jer til at slå til lyd for hos folketingets politikere, eller i anden institutionel ramme, hvor i er aktive og kan gøre indflydelse, for oprettelse og gennemførelse af følgende politikker til fremmelse af forskning indenfor biologien bag aldring, og aldersrelaterede sygdomme, for at forbedre sundheden for den globale ældre befolkning:

1) Finansiering: At sikre en betydelig forøgelse af statslige og ikke-statslige midler til målrettet forskning i forebyggelse af de degenerative aldringsprocesser, og de dermed forbundne kroniske ikke-smitsomme sygdomme og handicaps, og for at sikre et sundt liv for alle.

2) Incitamenter: At udvikle og vedtage juridiske og lovgivningsmæssige rammer, der giver incitament rettet mod målrettet forskning og udvikling, designet til specifikt at omfatte udvikling, registrering, administration og adgang til lægemidler, medicinske teknologier og andre behandlingsformer, der vil lindre aldringsprocesser og associerede sygdomme og forlænge et sundt liv.

3) Institutioner: At etablere og udvide nationale og internationale koordinerings og konsultationsstrukturer, projekter og institutioner til at styre fremmelse af forskning, udvikling og uddannelse vdr. biologien bag aldring og associerede sygdomme, og udvikling af kliniske retningslinjer rettet mod at modvirke aldringsprocesser, og tilhørende aldringssygdomme, og til at udvide den sunde levetid for befolkningen.

Disse foranstaltninger er rettet mod at mindske byrden af den aldrende befolkning på samfundsøkonomien, og at lindre lidelserne for de ældre, og sorgen hos deres nærmeste.

På den positive side, hvis den gives tilstrækkelig støtte, kan disse foranstaltninger øge den sunde levetid for de ældre, udvide deres periode med samfundsdeltagelse, og forbedre deres følelse af livsnydelse, formål, ligeværd og værdisættelse af livet.

De Nordiske lande – byggende på deres dokumenterede resultater i stigende (sund) forventet levetid, deres enorme medicinske, videnskabelige, sociale, økonomiske og humanitære kapaciteter – kan spille en ledende rolle i at nå disse mål i regionen og globalt.

Vi opfordrer til at bruge anledning af den Nordiske kongres i Gerontologi, til at øge bevidstheden om problemet, og fremme målet om at opnå en sund langt liv for alle, gennem støtte til biomedicinsk alderdomsforskning.

Se også: “The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population” Aging and Disease, 6 (1), 2015

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

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

See also this letter in English: http://www.longevityforall.org/nordic-longevity-outreach-english/

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

Prospective longevity R&D program in Kazakhstan

Advocacy, Kazakh Қазақша

Potential establishment of a state program in Kazakhstan to improve the healthspan of the population

On May 19, 2016, the World Health Organization released its report “World Health Statistics: Monitoring Health for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, describing the recent state of global health. The study reports rapid improvements in global life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. Though there are still considerable gaps and inequalities within and between countries. Can and should we do better?

Apparently there is one country, within the “developing” cohort, that seriously considers taking some action to improve its national health. On May 25-26, 2016, there took place the global economic and political forum at the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan – The Astana Economic Forum 2016. The speech of Kazakhstan’s president – Nursultan Nazarbayev, is quite indicative of the country’s ambitions to narrow the international gaps. President Nazarbayev made a strong point about the fact that during the 25 years of the country’s existence, since its independence in 1991, the average life expectancy of the Kazakhstan people significantly increased, reaching 72 years (compared to about 64 in the early 1990s). This suggested the improving of health and longevity of the population as one of the main parameters of the country’s progress.

Going from directives to practice, it transpires that some concrete state-supported steps are now being discussed in Kazakhstan that would be explicitly dedicated to improving the country’s healthspan values, via strengthening national biomedical research, development and translation capabilities. A case study has been developed for a global healthspan extension program in Kazakhstan named “The Global Healthspan Extension Initiative”. The focus on healthspan extension is warranted by the increasing life expectancy and the corresponding increases in the incidence of aging-related diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases, despite the current improvements in healthy life expectancy. Reducing these non-communicable diseases is a key priority for the SDG and WHO. As defined by Elya Duissemaliyeva, Managing Director of the Denobi Group and one of the key managers of this initiative, the aim of the program would be to “create a translation biotech hub (not just for basic research) in Kazakhstan with a primary focus on personalized and precision medicine.”

The Global Healthspan Extension Initiative under consideration in Kazakhstan aims to develop the country’s biomedical and biotechnological R&D and translational infrastructure by encouraging fast development and clinical translation of new life- and healthspan extension technologies through clinical trials, manufacturing, improved biospecimens and repositories, and IT infrastructure. It aims to establish new R&D centers and companies, building up collaborations of scientists and biotechnology entrepreneurs. It intends to accelerate R&D process and authorization of advanced new technologies thanks to expedited regulatory pathways and expert roadmaps for clinical trials and technologies approval. In short, the Global Healthspan Extension Initiative, if adopted, would set up the improvement of healthy lifespan, via advancement of biomedical technologies, as one of the explicit and central programs of the country’s development.

If indeed adopted and implemented, the impacts of the Global Healthspan Extension Initiative can be far reaching, not only for Kazakhstan, but globally. It may be safely stated that, if approved and implemented, the Global Healthspan Extension Initiative would be one of the first, or even the first state-level program specifically dedicated to improving the healthspan for the country’s population via development of biomedical technologies. Moreover, if adopted and implemented, this would be one of the first, or even the first state-level program explicitly aimed to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. It may be highly informative to see how this experiment proceeds, to learn from its successes and failures. Just the fact of its planning and establishment may stimulate other countries to consider analogous or enhanced programs.

 

By Ilia Stambler, PhD

More on this initiative from Longevity for All http://www.longevityforall.org/prospective-longevity-rd-program-in-kazakhstan/

the National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan https://nla.nu.edu.kz/en/news/3857.html

And the Biogerontology Research Foundation, UK http://scienmag.com/kazakhstan-weighs-life-sciences-and-precision-medicine-as-a-new-economic-sector/

Developing countries – help yourselves! A case study of Kazakhstan

Advocacy, Kazakh Қазақша

On May 19, 2016, the World Health Organization released its report “World Health Statistics: Monitoring Health for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” describing the recent state of global health. The news is rather encouraging. The global life expectancy increased by 5 years, from about 66.5 to 71.4 presently, recording the fastest increase since the 1960s. The rightly so-called “developing” countries generally showed a much faster improvement compared to the complacently “developed” ones. Thus, Africa generally had the lowest life expectancy. The worst life expectancy was in Sub-Saharan Africa, just above 50 years of life expectation for the newborns in countries like Sierra Leone, Angola, Chad and Central African Republic. But at the same time Africa also had the fastest rate of increase, from about 50 years in 2000 to about 60 in 2015. Think about it: Every single year, about 8 months are added to the life expectancy in Africa, compared to about 4 months of yearly improvement globally. It gets better. Apparently, not only the general life expectancy is improving, but the healthy life expectancy, the number of years a newborn can expect to live in good health, is improving even faster. For 2015, the healthy life expectancy stood at 63.1 years globally, compared to about 56 reported for 2000 – over 7 years increase. In other words, the world has added almost half a year of healthy life expectancy for every passing year. Not only are people living longer, but they are also living healthier. This increase in fact demonstrates the possibility of a significant healthy lifespan (or “healthspan”) extension on a massive scale. Can and should we do better?

Still, the gaps in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between the richer and poorer countries and between the richer and poorer segments in particular societies are quite appalling. About 30 years of expected life divide some countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, from the highest ranking countries with over 80 years of life expectancy, like Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Israel. The BRIC giants – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are struggling in the middle and upward, with the life-expectancies ranging around 68-76 years. Life expectancy is not a stand-alone parameter, but corresponds to and reflects other values of human development, such as education level and quality of life. Should the situation be improved? Apparently it should be. At least this is the directive of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), adopted back in September 2015, for which the present WHO health statistics report provides the data. Thus the Sustainable Development Goal – SDG 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” asks the global community if they would please “Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines.” Do you know what your country and your government is doing or plans to do to accomplish those goals?

Apparently there is one country, within the “developing” cohort, that seriously considers taking some action to improve its national health. On May 25-26, 2016, there took place at the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan a global gathering of economic and political elite – The Astana Economic Forum 2016. The speech of Kazakhstan’s president – Nursultan Nazarbayev, is quite indicative of the country’s ambitions to narrow the international gaps. President Nazarbayev emphasized the great disparities in the present levels of economic development and quality of life between countries. Thus, for example, as he pointed out, only 3.5% of the global education expenditures are dedicated to the poor countries of South-Eastern Asia and Africa, which are home to 45% of the children of the world. He estimated that about 50 billion dollars are required to finance universal basic education in poor countries, and suggested to finance it via restricting and/or taxing the offshore assets that currently amount to $30-40 trillion globally. To coordinate the efforts, he suggested creating a dedicated global “Foundation for the Development of Human Capital”. For Kazakhstan, such an improvement in education is not just a noble and commendable goal. It is vitally needed in order to shift the country from the current faltering “natural resources based economy” toward the “knowledge and innovation based economy”. Indeed president Nazarbayev strongly emphasized the necessity of this shift, the need for the “development of human capital”, strengthening the education and health systems, developing health and green technologies. He made a strong point about the fact that during the 25 years of the country’s existence, since its independence in 1991, the average life expectancy of the Kazakhstan people significantly increased, reaching 72 years (compared to about 64 in the early 1990s). This suggested the improving of health and longevity of the population as one of the main parameters of the country’s progress.

Going from directives to practice, it transpires that some concrete state-supported steps are now being discussed in Kazakhstan that would be explicitly dedicated to improving the country’s healthspan values, via strengthening national biomedical research, development and translation capabilities. A case study has been developed for a global healthspan extension program in Kazakhstan named “The Global Healthspan Extension Initiative”. The focus on healthspan extension is warranted by the increasing life expectancy and the corresponding increases in the incidence of aging-related diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases, despite the demonstrated improvements in healthy life expectancy. Reducing these non-communicable diseases is a key priority for the SDG and WHO. As defined by Elya Duissemaliyeva, Managing Director of the Denobi Group and one of the key managers of this initiative, the aim of the program would be to “create a translation biotech hub (not just for basic research) in Kazakhstan with a primary focus on personalized and precision medicine.” “We intend to build a translation engine to drive massive biomedical innovation into the country,” she emphasized. The underlying idea is that it may be difficult for Kazakhstan to quickly reach the advanced R&D capabilities of the current leaders in the field by following in their footsteps. But it may be easier to “leapfrog” them – to create the favorable regulatory environment and incentives to rapidly draw in and help realize the most advanced R&D ideas that are currently struggling against various “brick walls” and “glass ceilings” in theirs countries of origin. “We will perform the meta-analysis and selection of advanced and emerging technologies in the field of healthspan extension, considering their potential efficacy and safety, with the aim to solve social and economic issues” — adds Professor Zhaxybay Zhumadilov, General Director of the National Laboratory Astana, at Nazarbayev University – one of the main prospective performance sites for the program. The architects of this initiative envision an end to the entrenched dichotomy between the “developing” vs. “developed” countries, but anticipated a new distinction between “innovative” and “less-innovative” countries.

Some of the negotiations on the program were conducted in mid-April at the invitation-only forum at the University of Oxford and in Astana in mid-May at the Nazarbayev University, coinciding with the 4th International Conference on Regenerative Medicine and Healthy Aging. The Global Healthspan Extension Initiative  under consideration in Kazakhstan aims to develop the country’s biomedical and biotechnological R&D and translational infrastructure by encouraging fast development and clinical translation of new life- and healthspan extension technologies through clinical trials, manufacturing, improved biospecimens and repositories, and IT infrastructure. It aims to establish new R&D centers and companies, building up collaborations of scientists and biotechnology entrepreneurs. It intends to accelerate R&D process and authorization of advanced new technologies thanks to expedited regulatory pathways and expert roadmaps for clinical trials and technologies approval. In short, the Global Healthspan Extension Initiative, if adopted, would set up the improvement of healthy lifespan, via advancement of biomedical technologies, as one of the explicit and central programs of the country’s development.

If indeed adopted and implemented, the impacts of the Global Healthspan Extension Initiative can be far reaching, not only for Kazakhstan, but globally. For Kazakhstan it could help ease the entrenched dependence on natural resources, generally modernize the economy, improve the country’s healthcare system and productivity. Globally, beyond regular professional cooperation that must be involved in setting up such a program, it may also serve as a model to consider, adapt or refine for other national contexts. It may be safely stated that, if approved and implemented, the Global Healthspan Extension Initiative would be one of the first, or even the first state-level program specifically dedicated to improving the healthspan for the country’s population via development of biomedical technologies. Moreover, if adopted and implemented, this would be one of the first, or even the first state-level program explicitly aimed to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. It may be highly informative to see how this experiment proceeds, to learn from its successes and failures. Just the fact of its planning and establishment may stimulate other countries to consider analogous or enhanced programs. As one of the main players in Central Asia, generating 60% of the region’s GDP, one of the active members of the Eurasian Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with the territory comparable to Western Europe, the place where practical space exploration started — the capacity and impact of Kazakhstan can yet be widely felt.

 

By Ilia Stambler

 

About the author: Ilia Stambler, PhD, is the founder and chair of the Israeli Longevity Alliance (ISRLA, www.longevityisrael.org). He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Bar Ilan University, Israel, from the department of Science, Technology and Society. He has been strongly involved in education and advocacy for biomedical aging research, in Israel and Internationally. He is an affiliate scholar with the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, executive committee member and outreach coordinator of the International Society on Aging and Disease, and coordinator for the Longevity For All advocacy network.  He is the author of A History of Life-extensionism in the Twentieth Century (http://www.longevityhistory.com/) and numerous academic papers on aging and longevity science, history and advocacy.

 

Казахстан – из «развивающейся» страны в лидеры инновации?

Advocacy, Kazakh Қазақша

19 мая 2016 года, Всемирная Организация Здравоохранения опубликовала отчет под названием “Всемирная статистика здравоохранения: мониторинг состояния здоровья в целях устойчивого развития (ЦУР)”. С 2000 до 2015 год, продолжительность жизни в мире увеличилась в среднем на 5 лет, примерно от 66,5 до 71,4. Это самый быстрый темп роста, наблюдающийся с 1960-х годов. Не только общая продолжительность жизни улучшается, но и ожидаемая продолжительность здоровой жизни, т.е. число лет, которое новорожденный может рассчитывать прожить в добром здравии, растет еще быстрее, с 56 до 63,1 лет. Другими словами, каждый год в мире прибавляется пол года здоровой продолжительности жизни. Люди не только живут дольше, но и живут дольше здоровыми. Этот прирост наглядно демонстрирует возможность увеличения здоровой продолжительности жизни или «здорового долголетия» в массовом масштабе.

Нужно ли стремиться к дальнейшим улучшениям? Видимо, нужно. По крайней мере, это предписывает одна из директив Целей Устойчивого Развития ООН, принятых в сентябре 2015 года, для которых данный отчет ВОЗ предоставляет статистику. А именно – Цель 3 «Обеспечение здорового образа жизни и содействие благополучию для всех в любом возрасте» настоятельно призывает мировое сообщество «Оказывать содействие исследованиям и разработкам вакцин и лекарственных препаратов для лечения инфекционных и неинфекционных болезней, которые в первую очередь затрагивают развивающиеся страны, обеспечивать доступность недорогих основных лекарственных средств и вакцин». Знаете ли вы, что делает или планирует ваша страна и ваше правительство для достижения этих целей?

В одной из стран об этом задумываются всерьез. Это было отчетливо видно на прошедшем 25-26 мая в столице Казахстана – IX Астанинском экономическом форуме. В своем пленарном выступлении, Президент Нурсултан Назарбаев подчеркнул колоссальные неравенства в современных уровнях экономического развития и качества жизни между странами. Эти неравенства можно преодолеть только путем развития и сохранения «человеческого капитала» — всеобщего улучшения уровня образования и здоровья. С целью координации международных усилий в этом направлении, он предложил создать специальный глобальный “Фонд развития человеческого капитала”. Как подчеркнул президент, «никакое государство не сможет развиваться без грамотных, образованных, здоровых и предприимчивых людей». Для Казахстана – это жизненно необходимо, чтобы перейти от “экономики ресурсов” к “экономике знаний и инноваций”. Значительное увеличение средней продолжительности жизни Казахстанцев (с 64-х до 73-х лет с момента обретения независимости в 1991 году) отмечалось как один из основных показателей прогресса страны. Другие участники форума разделяли оптимистичное видение. Как заявил известный китайский предприниматель, основатель концерна «Алибаба» Джэк Ма, «Мы будем жить дольше, решим проблему рака».

В настоящее время в Казахстане обсуждаются конкретные государственные меры, направленные ​​на увеличение здоровой продолжительности жизни в стране, путем укрепления национальной инфраструктуры биомедицинских исследований и разработок и их внедрения в клиническую практику. Проводится базисное исследование для глобальной программы продления здоровой жизни в Казахстане под названием “Глобальная инициатива медицины продления здоровой жизни”. Задача эта становится все более насущной, ввиду общего увеличения продолжительности жизни и соответствующего увеличения частоты возрастно-зависимых заболеваний, таких как рак, диабет, сердечно-сосудистые и нейродегенеративные заболевания, несмотря на текущие улучшения ожидаемой продолжительности здоровой жизни. Сокращение этих неинфекционных заболеваний является ключевым приоритетом программ ВОЗ и Целей Устойчивого Развития ООН.

Как отметила Эля Дуйсемалиева, управляющий директор группы Деноби, и одна из ключевых фигур этой инициативы, цель программы будет заключаться в “создании в Казахстане центра притяжения для практического внедрения биотехнологических разработок (не только и не столько фундаментальных исследований) в основном в сфере персонализированной и прецизионной медицины”. “Мы намерены создать механизм трансляционного внедрения, для привлечения и стимулирования массовых биомедицинских инноваций в стране” — подчеркнула она. Основная идея состоит в том, что для Казахстана может быть трудно достичь научных и технологических возможностей современных лидеров в этих областях, просто следуя по их стопам. Но этого можно будет достигнуть путем создания благоприятной регуляторной среды и стимулов для ускоренного привлечения и помощи в реализации наиболее передовых научно-практических идей. В настоящее время, во многих странах, многие важные медицинские разработки душатся бюрократическим прессом, с трудном пробивают себе дорогу через различные «непробиваемые стены» и «стеклянные потолки». При благоприятном климате, они смогли быть расцвести в Казахстане. “Мы проведем анализ и отбор передовых технологий в области продления здорового долголетия с учетом эффективности и безопасности,  для решения социальных и экономических вопросов» — добавляет профессор Жаксыбай Жумадилов, Генеральный директор Национальной Лаборатории Астана, Назарбаев Университета – одного из основных планируемых мест выполнения программы.

Детали программы обсуждались в середине апреля на эксклюзивном форуме в Оксфордском университете и в Астане в середине мая в Назарбаев Университете, во время 4-ой Международной конференции по регенеративной медицине и здоровому долголетию. “Глобальная инициатива медицины продления здоровой жизни”, рассматриваемая в Казахстане, призвана «облегчить жизнь» ученых, разработчиков, предпринимателей, для развития в стране инфраструктуры для биомедицинских и биотехнологических исследований и разработок и их быстрой трансляции в клиническую практику. Планируется стимулировать клинические испытания, промышленное производство лекарственных средств, создавать и совершенствовать новые биологические ресурсы и хранилища, информационно-технологические инфраструктуры и базы данных, инициировать новые центры кооперации. В целом, “Глобальная инициатива медицины продления здоровой жизни”, в случае ее утверждения, поставит цель улучшения здоровья и активного долголетия благодаря развитию новых биомедицинских технологий, как одну из центральных программных целей развития страны.

В случае, если эта программа будет принята и реализована, это может иметь далеко идущие последствия, не только в Казахстане, но и в мире. В Казахстане это может помочь преодолеть зависимость от природных ресурсов, в целом модернизировать экономику, улучшить систему здравоохранения. На международном уровне, она может стимулировать сотрудничество и создание подобных программ по продлению здоровой жизни во многих других странах, в первую очередь в так называемых «развивающихся странах». При успешном развитии, эта инициатива может помочь положить конец разделению стран на «развивающиеся» и «развитые», а станет примером нового разделения на «инновационные» и «не инновационные» страны.

 

Др. Илья Стамблер

 

Об авторе: Др. Илья Стамблер является основателем и председателем Израильской Ассоциации за Продление Жизни (ISRLA, http://longevityisrael.org/). Он получил степень доктора философии в университете Бар-Илан, в Израиле, на кафедре науки, технологии и общества. Он активно участвует в образовательной и просветительской деятельности в поддержку медико-биологических исследований старения, в Израиле и на международном уровне. Он является аффилиированным исследователем в Институте Этики и Новых Технологий (IEET http://www.ieet.org/), членом исполнительного комитета и координатором по общественным связям Международного общества по изучению старения и болезней (ISOAD, http://isoad.org/), а также координатором активистской сети – «Долголетие для Всех» (http://www.longevityforall.org/). Он автор книги «История Идей о Продлении Жизни в Двадцатом Веке» (http://www.longevityhistory.com/) и многочисленных академических работ по различным научным, историческим и социальным аспектам старения и долголетия.

 

 

 

Kriittinen tarve edistää ikääntymistutkimusta, ikääntymiseen liittyvien sairauksien parantamista sekä lisätä terveyttä ja elinikää vanhuksille pohjoismaissa sekä maailmanlaajuisesti.

Advocacy, Finnish Suomi

The English version: http://www.longevityforall.org/nordic-longevity-outreach-english/

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

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

The Finnish version (by Antti Peltonen):

Kriittinen tarve edistää ikääntymistutkimusta, ikääntymiseen liittyvien sairauksien parantamista sekä lisätä terveyttä ja elinikää vanhuksille pohjoismaissa sekä maailmanlaajuisesti

Viimeisen vuosikymmenen aikana, keskimääräinen elinikä on maailmanlaajuisesti noussut, ja oli vuonna 2014 noin 70 vuotta (6 vuotta enemmän kuin vuonna 1990) ja noin 80 ikävuotta kehittyneissä maissa . Kehitys on ollut hurjaa, 1900-luvun alkupuolella keskimääräinen elinikä kehitysmaissa oli 50 vuotta, ja suomessakin 50-55 vuotta vielä 1940-luvulla. Pohjoismaissa – Suomi, Ruotsi, Norja, Tanska ja Islanti – elinajanodote on korkein maailmassa, ja on selvästi yli 80 vuotta. Siitä huolimatta, että elinajanodote yleisellä tasolla heijastelee kehitystä, uusia haasteita kuitenkin nousee esiin kaiken aikaa. Nämä uudet ongelmat kumpuavat siitä tosiasiasta, että vanhentuessaan ihminen alkaa kärsiä enenevissä määrin biologisista ja kognitiivisista rappeumista, siitä huolimatta, että näiden ongelmien vakavuus ja kehittymisen nopeudet vaihtelevat yksilöittäin. Rappeuttavat ikääntymisprosessit ovat suurin pinnan alla oleva ei-tarttuvien tautien, kuten syövän, sydänsairauksien, aivohalvausten, tyypin 2 diabetes, Alzheimerin taudin, sekä keuhkosairauksien aiheuttaja. Ikääntyminen lisää kuolemisen riskiä tartuntataudeissa, kuten keuhkokuumeessa ja influenssassa. Alttius vahinkoihin ja traumoihin (kuten kaatumiset ja aivotärähdykset) ihmisen vanhetessa johtuu vanhuuden heikentyneestä tasapainosta ja mielentilasta, sekä myös riski joutua fyysisen väkivallan kohteeksi lisääntyvät merkittävästi iän myötä. Ikääntyminen lisää ja pahentaa epäterveellisistä elintavoista, kuten tupakoinnista, huonosta ruokavaliosta, liikkumattomuudesta ja alkoholin käytöstä aiheutuvia terveyshaittoja. Yhteenvetona voidaan todeta, että ikääntyminen, siihen liittyvine terveyshaittoineen, on tärkein kuolleisuuteen ja sairastavuuteen liittyvä syy maailmanlaajuisesti, ja siihen pitäisi myös suhtautua ongelman vakavuuteen suhteutetulla tavalla. Näiden vakavien ja negatiivisten vaikutusten takia ikääntymistä pidetään jo nyt yhtenä suurimmista taloudellisista ja sosiaalisista haasteista, jotka useimmat maat – erityisesti teollistuneet maat – joutuvat kohtaamaan tulevina vuosikymmeninä.

Ikääntyvän yhteiskunnan haaste on jo pitkään tunnustettu ja lukuisia tutkimus- ja kehityshankkeita maailmanlaajuisesti on aloitettu ikääntymisen negatiivisten vaikutusten hidastamiseksi tai välttämiseksi. Kuitenkin moni lääketieteellinen tutkimus- ja kehitystyö keskittyy pääsääntöisesti yksittäisten tautien, kuten Alzheimerista johtuvan dementian, sydän- ja verisuonitautien, osteoporoosin, diabeteksen, syövän jne. torjuntaan. Kuitenkin alla piilevä, hajottava ikääntymisprosessi, joka on ratkaisevassa asemassa näiden tautien syntyyn, on usein alipainotettu. Uusi, kokonaisvaltaisempi tutkimussuunta, tai ajattelutapa, ottaa jalansijaa ikääntymistutkimuksessa ja vaikuttavampien lääkkeiden kehitystyössä, jossa keskitytään muutamaan tärkeimpään, mutta toisiinsa liittyviin, ikääntymisen perussyistä kerralla. Tällaiset lähestymistavat ovat erittäin lupaavia seuraavista syistä:

– Niitä tukee jo nyt tieteellinen näyttö, joka sisältää tieteellistä todistusaineistoa eliniän pidentämisestä eläinmalleilla ja uusimmista teknologisista innovaatioista, joilla voidaan puuttua suoraan itse ikääntymisen mekanismeihin. Kaikkea tätä tukeva tutkimus vaikuttaa kumulatiivisesti ja siten nopeuttaa muutosta ikääntymisen perustutkimuksesta laajasti saatavilla oleviksi terapioiksi.

– Näistä on apua myös moniin ei-tarttuviin ikääntymiseen liittyviin tauteihin, kunhan kyseiset taudit ovat vahvasti sidoksissa ikääntymisen rappeuttaviin prosesseihin (kuten krooniset tulehdukset, makromolekyylien sakkautuminen, somaattiset mutaatiot ja kantasolujen väheneminen). Lisäksi parantuneen immuniteetin ansiosta, näillä on mahdollisuus vähentää vanhusten alttiutta saada jokin tarttuva tauti.

– Innovatiivisesti käytettynä nämä johtavat kestäviin ratkaisuihin monissa ikääntymiseen liittyvissä lääketieteellisissä ja sosiaalisissa haasteissa, jotka ovat mahdollisesti globaalisti sovellettavissa. Tärkeimpänä on mittavat säästöt ikääntyneiden terveydenhuoltokuluissa, sekä pitämällä ikäihmiset pidempään tuotteliaina ja vähemmän taakkana yhteiskunnassa. Tämänkaltaiset näkymät tekevät yleisestä ja biolääketieteen tutkimuksesta potentiaalisesti tuottavinta mahdollista tutkimusta.

– Tätä tutkimusta ja kehitystä pitäisi tukea eettisistä syistä, jotta kaiken ikäisille olisi tarjolla tasa-arvoista terveydenhuoltoa ikään katsomatta.

Näistä syistä, erityisesti biologian asiantuntijoilla, terveydenhuoltohenkilöstöllä, sekä talous- että poliittisilla järjestöillä on velvollisuus suositella suurempia investointeja ikääntymisen biologian selvittämiseen, ja kääntämään tästä saadut tulokset turvalliseen, kannattavaan ja yleisesti saatavilla oleviksi teknologioiksi ja hoidoiksi.

Näin ollen, kehotamme teitä viemään eteenpäin maan hallituksen, tai oman alanne verkostojenne kautta joissa vaikutatte, alla lueteltuja toimenpiteitä, toimenpiteitä joilla edistetään ja laitetaan toteen ikääntymisen biologian selvittämistä, ikääntymistutkimusta, jotta ikääntyneiden terveyden tilaa saadaan parannettua:

1) Rahoitus: Toimia lisäämään merkittävästi yksityistä ja valtion rahoitusta tavoitehakuiseen tutkimukseen, joka tähtää rappeuttavien ikääntymisprosessien kehittymisen estämiseen, ikääntymiseen liittyvien kroonisten ei-tarttuvien tautien ja kyvyttömyyden ehkäisyyn, sekä lisäämään tervettä ja tuotteliasta aikaa koko elinkaaren ajaksi.

2) Kannustimia: Toimia kehittämään ja omaksumaan lakeja ja säätelyä, jotka kannustavat tavoitehakuiseen tutkimukseen ja kehittämiseen, ja jotka on erityisesti suunnattu ikääntymisprosessien selvittämiseen, ikäihmisten sairauksien vähentämiseen ja terveellisen elämän edistämiseen.

3) Instituutiot: Toimia perustamaan, edistämään ja laajentamaan kansallista ja kansainvälistä koordinaatiota, konsultaatiorakenteita, ohjelmia ja instituutioita ohjaamaan tutkimusta, kehittämistä ja koulutusta. Nämä toimet tulisi kohdentaa ikääntymisen biologian selvittämiseen ja ikääntymiseen liittyvien sairauksien hoitamiseen ja kliinisten ohjeiden kehittämiseen, joilla moduloidaan ikääntymisprosessia ja lisätään tervettä ja tuotteliasta elinikää koko väestölle.

Nämä toimet on suunniteltu vähentämään ikääntymisprosessien luomaa taakkaa taloudelle, sekä lievittämään ikääntyvien kärsimystä ja omaisten surua. Positiivinen uutinen on se, että mikäli tukea myönnetään riittävästi, näillä toimilla saadaan lisättyä ikäihmisten tervettä elinajanodotetta, lisättyä ikäihmisten tuottavuutta ja kanssa käymistä yhteiskunnassa, vahvistettua heidän elämän arvostusta, sekä vahvistettua heidän ilon, merkityksen ja tasa-arvon tunnetta

Pohjoismaissa on todistettavasti korkeat elinajanodotteet, terveimmät vanhukset, mahtavat lääketieteelliset, sosioekonomiset ja humanitaariset resurssit, joten on luontevaa että juuri täällä voitaisiin myös näyttää tietä muulle maailmalle, kuinka yllä luetellut tavoitteet olisi mahdollista saavuttaa niin alueellisesti, kuin myös maailmanlaajuisesti.

Me painotammekin siis teitä käyttämään tilaisuutta  pohjoismaisessa gerontologian kongressissa hyväksi, ja nostamaan tietoisuutta näissä asioissa ja edistämään tavoitetta saada terveempi ikääntyminen kaikkien saataville, tukemalla ikääntymisen biolääketieteellistä tiedettä.

Katso myös: The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population” Aging and Disease, 6 (1), 2015

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

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

 

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

Advocacy, Finnish Suomi

Flag_of_FinlandFlag_of_Sweden.svg2000px-Flag_of_Norway.svgFlag_of_Denmark.svg2500px-Flag_of_Iceland.svg

This is an outreach letter that was launched toward the 23rd Nordic Congress of Gerontology that took place in Tampere, Finland, on June 19-22, 2016. This was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the need to promote longevity research in Nordic countries. Suggestions are welcome for planning further outreach and helping to spread the word.

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

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

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

The English version:

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

On behalf of the International Society on Aging and Disease, the Longevity Finland association and other allied longevity research advocacy organizations, we would like to address you toward the 23rd Nordic Congress in Gerontology (Tampere, Finland, June 19-22, 2016, http://23nkg.fi/), and bring the following open letter to your attention.

Over the past decades, the average life expectancy has increased globally, reaching a worldwide 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 20th century).  In the Nordic countries – Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland – the life expectancy is of the highest in the world, well over 80. 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.  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, obstructive lung disease, and others. 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 main 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.

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. Yet, 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. 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.  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. Any reinforcement in this research can produce cumulative effects and speed up the translation from basic studies to widely available therapies.
  • 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). Moreover, they are likely to decrease susceptibility of the elderly also to communicable diseases due to improvements in immunity.
  • 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. The most important of them are the savings in healthcare costs for aging-related diseases and increase in the period of productivity of older persons. These prospective effects make this research potentially the most profitable form of general and biomedical research.
  • 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.

Hence we urge you to advocate with the government, or in any institutional framework where you are active and influential, for 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: Act to ensure 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.

2)               Incentives: Act to develop and adopt 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.

3)               Institutions: Act to establish and expand 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.

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.

Nordic countries – building on their proven achievements in increasing healthy life expectancy, their tremendous medical, scientific, social, economic and humanitarian capabilities – can play a leading part in achieving these goals in the region and globally. We urge to use the occasion of the  23rd Nordic Congress in Gerontology to raise the awareness of the issue and advance the goal of achieving healthy longevity for all through the support of biomedical science of aging.

See also: “The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population” Aging and Disease, 6 (1), 2015

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

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

 

Frequently asked questions about life extension

Advocacy, English

The most frequently asked questions about life extension (or extended longevity, lifespan or healthspan extension) concern the possibilities of its accomplishment, potential changes in individual and social identity and meaning, ethical values, and the availability of resources due to expected life extension, as well as questions about some possible actions that should be undertaken to accomplish life extension. In the presentation below, you may find some materials that may help address some of these questions:

The Tasks of Longevity Promotion: Science, Ethics and Public Policy – Potential presentation topics on longevity research

Ilia Stambler, PhD

Originally published at: http://www.longevityhistory.com/all-articles/

The task of healthy life extension, or healthy longevity extension, dictates a broad variety of questions and tasks, relating to science and technology, individual and communal ethics, and finally public policy, especially health and research policy. Despite the wide variety, the related questions may be classified into 3 groups. The first group of questions concerns the feasibility of the accomplishment of life extension. Is it theoretically and technologically possible? What are our grounds for optimism? What are the means to ensure that the life extension will be healthy life extension? The second group concerns the desirability of the accomplishment of life extension for the individual and the society, provided it will become some day possible through scientific intervention. How will then life extension affect the perception of personhood? How will it affect the availability of resources for the population? Yet, the third and final group can be termed normative. What actions should we take? Assuming that life extension is scientifically possible and socially desirable, and that its implications are either demonstrably positive or, in case of a negative forecast, they are amenable – what practical implications should these determinations have for public policy, in particular health policy and research policy, in a democratic society? Should we pursue the goal of life extension? If yes, then how? How can we make it an individual and social priority? Given the rapid population aging and the increasing incidence and burden of age-related diseases, on the pessimistic side, and the rapid development of medical technologies, on the optimistic side, these become vital questions of social responsibility.

Download Presentation

LONGEVITY PROMOTION

Aging research meetings calendar

Advocacy, English

Aging research meetings calendar

Gathered by John D. Furber

Disease Drivers of Aging: 
2016 Advances in  Geroscience Summit
April 13-14, 2016, New York City
Co-sponsored by AFAR, GSA, NIH, NYAS
Cognitive Aging Conference
April 14-17, 2016, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
31st International Conference
Alzheimer’s Disease International
April 21-24, 2016, Budapest, Hungary
Biomedical Innovation for Healthy Longevity
April 25-28, 2016, St. Petersburg, Russia
Australian Biology of Ageing Conference
April 29, 2016, Coogee NSW, Australia
Registration is FREE, including snacks and lunch.
Keystone Symposium:  
Epigenetic and Metabolic Regulation of Aging and Aging-Related Diseases
May 1—5, 2016, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Oxygen Club of California World Congress
Redox Medicine and Nutrition
May 4-6, 2016, University of California at Davis
Abstract deadline extended to April 12. (Proceed although web site says March 31 😉
MITOCHONDRIAL MEDICINE: 
DEVELOPING NEW TREATMENTS FOR MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE
May 4-6, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
Closed: Past registration deadline
Conference on Translational Research in Healthy Ageing
Healthy Ageing Research Centre (HARC)
May 11-13, 2016, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
2016 NHLBI/NIDDK Mitochondrial Biology Symposium: 
Novel Roles of Mitochondria in Health and Disease
May 19-20, 2016, Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Registration is FREE. Register by May 6.
Abstract deadline: April 8, 2016
Bay Area Aging Meeting
May 26, 2016, University of California, Berkeley
3rd World Congress on Glycation & Maillard Reaction
International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health (ISANH)
May 26–27, 2016, Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
This congress talk about all the fields related to glycation: pathologies & diseases, mitochondria, microbiota, food, RAGE, i-RAGE, etc.
Early registration deadline: March 17, 2016
Oral abstracts deadline: April 11.
Poster abstracts deadline:  May 8.
American Aging Association 45th Annual Meeting
“Targeting Aging: the Ultimate Preventative Medicine”
June 3-5, 2016, Seattle, Washington
held in conjunction with the
Nathan Shock Center Summit on Personalized Geroscience
June 1 – 2, 2016. Note: Registration fee to the Nathan Shock Summit will be waived for those registering for the American Aging Association meeting.
President and Meeting Chair: Matt Kaeberlein
Abstracts due April 15, 2016
Alzheimer’s Disease Congress
June 7-9, 2016, London, England, UK, EU
The Asian Conference on Aging & Gerontology 2016
AGEN2016
June 9 – 12, 2016, Art Center of Kobe, Kobe, Japan
Abstract Submission Deadline: April 15, 2016
Mitochondria: balancing health and disease
June 14, 2016, University College London
Registration deadline:  June 2, 2016
FREE, but registration is required.
Harvard/Paul F. Glenn Symposium on Aging
June 17, 2016, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Please register Free online at:
You can download the upcoming program, as well as past programs and photos here:
23rd Nordic Congress of Gerontology
‘Good ageing – better society’
June 19-22, 2016, Tampere, Finland
Comparative and Experimental Approaches to Aging Biology Research
Training Course
MDI Biological Laboratory
June 19 – July 3, 2016, Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA
This is a 2-week intensive research training course using comparative models and approaches to explore biological aging. Models include C. elegans, Drosophila, mice, and African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri).
Cellular Senescence: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities
July 3-6, 2016, Israel
Cell Symposium:  Aging and Metabolism
July 10-12, 2016, Melia Sitges, Spain
Thirteenth International Symposium on Neurobiology and Neuroendocrinology of Aging
July 17-22, 2016, Gasthof Hotel Lamm, Bregenz, Austria
Organizer: Holly M. Brown-Borg, Ph.D., Univ of North Dakota
Early discounted registration before March 1, 2016
Aging, Metabolism, Stress, Pathogenesis, and Small RNAs in C.elegans
July 21-24, 2016, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Abstract deadline: May 9
Alzheimer’s Association International Conference AAIC 16
July 22-28 2016, Toronto, Canada
RAAD Festival
The Coalition for Radical Life Extension
August 4-7, 2016, San Diego, California
Gordon Research Conference on Thiol-Based Redox Regulation & Signaling
“Thiols in Biology and Medicine: Innovations Driving Disease Prevention, Therapeutics and Quality of Life”
August 7-12, 2016, Stowe, Vermont, USA
     ( Note: An affiliated Gordon Research Seminar for graduate students and postdocs will take place on the preceding two days.  Separate registration is required.
“Redox Biology in Diseases of Aging: Fundamental Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential”
EMBO Workshop: Molecular mechanisms of ageing and regeneration – 
From pluripotency to senescence
August 16-24, 2016, Spetses, Greece
Registration deadline:  May 1, 2016
Abstract deadline:  June 15, 2016
EMBO Workshop:  Organelle Contact Sites:
Intracellular Communication and Role in Disease
September 15-18, 2016, Domus de Maria, Italy
Registration deadline:  July 15, 2016
Abstract deadline:  June 15, 2016
Basel Life Sciences Week – BLSW – MipTec 2016
September 19-23, 2016, Basel, Switzerland
Aging and Drug Discovery Forum
September 21-22, 2016
Deadline for abstract submission is 21 April 2016
4th World Parkinson Congress
September 20-23, 2016, Portland, Oregon
Abstracts due 25 April 2016
Early registration discount before July 5, 2016
Future of Ageing
10th European Congress of Biogerontology
6th Biogerontological Meeting at the Nencki Institute
September 23-24, 2016, Warsaw, Poland
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting on 
Mechanisms of Aging
September 26 – 30, 2016, New York
Abstract Deadline: July 25, 2016
Organizers:  Vera Gorbunova, Malene Hansen, Scott Pletcher
International Conference on Aging and Disease (ICAD)
International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD)
September 30 – October 2, 2016, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
    Proposal Submission Deadline: May 1, 2016
    Abstract Submission Deadline: September 1, 2016
Eurosymposium on Healthy Ageing (EHA)
September 29 – October 1, 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Canadian Association on Gerontology
45th Annual Scientific & Educational Meeting
October 20-22, 2016, Montreal, Quebec
Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
69th Annual Scientific Meeting
“New Lens on Aging: Changing Attitudes, Expanding Possibilities”
November 16-20, 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
Abstracts deadline: March 15, 2016
Society for Redox Biology and Medicine: 23rd Annual Meeting.
Society for Free Radical Research International 18th Biennial Congress.
(SFRBM and SFFRI joint meeting)
November 16 – 19, 2016, San Francisco, California
21st IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics
“Global Aging and Health: Bridging Science, Policy, and Practice.”
with GSA
July 23 – 27, 2017, San Francisco, California
GSA is the largest membership organization of IAGG and will serve as the host society for the IAGG World Congress. GSA will not convene its own Annual Scientific Meeting that year. IAGG convenes every four years.
IAGG Abstracts deadline: July 15, 2016
Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
Annual Scientific Meeting
“Aging as a Lifelong Process”
November 14–18, 2018, Boston, Massachusetts
####### END OF AGING RESEARCH MEETINGS LIST #######
Compiled by John Furber.
Several other lists on related topics are at the following websites:
Society for Free Radical Research International: http://www.sfrr.org
FASEB Scientific Meetings: http://faseb.org/Home.aspx
FASEB Science Research Conferences: http://faseb.org/Science-Research-Conferences.aspx
Gordon Research Conferences: http://www.grc.org
Alzheimer’s Research Forum:  http://www.alzforum.org/res/res/conf/default.asp
UCL Consortium for Mitochondrial Research:  http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mitochondria/meetings
A variety of biology-related conferences are listed at F1000Research: 
See some of the excellent interviews and lectures online at http://thesciencenetwork.org
For example:
     **  Stem Cells on the Mesa
     **  20 Jan 2011 Barzilai and Cuervo on The Science Network
     **  Interview with Paul F. Glenn
Poster and oral presenters might wish to deposit their posters and slides in the Open Access F1000Research website, so that more people can see them.
By John D. Furber
Legendary Pharmaceuticals

http://LegendaryPharma.com/chartbg.html

A Celebration Of The Oldest Person On Record: Calment’s Day

Advocacy, English

A Celebration Of The Oldest Person On Record: Calment’s Day

On the 21st of February this year there will be a celebration of the birthday of 122-year old Jeanne Calment, the oldest verified human being ever  [1875 – 1997]. This is an initiative launched by longevity advocate Victor Björk, and the celebration involves posting a picture of oneself consuming Calment’s favourite foods (olive oil/dark chocolate/port wine)

So who was Jeanne Calment?

Calment lived alone without any help at all until aged 110, when she moved into a nursing home, not because she needed to, but because of a fire in her apartment. Aged 114 she was still able to take care of herself and walk up and down stairs without help. However, shortly before her 115th birthday she fell down a stairway and never fully recovered her ability to walk. When Calment was 118 years old she went through several thorough cognitive tests, and surprisingly she scored within the normal range of a person without dementia, despite by now being physically frail and requiring a wheelchair.

Since aging itself is the major cause of death, extreme ages are only reached by people aging biologically slower. Calment is therefore so far the slowest-aging individual ever recorded. It is also clear from looking at pictures of her that she looked better than expected at different ages, so all that we know is that “something” (a rare genetic combination paired with epigenetic expression) slowed her aging process. But what was that “something”? We will likely not find out, as an autopsy was not done and genome sequencing did not exist back then.

Personally, I think the historical lack of research on maximum lifespan is a problem, reducing focus on what stops us from getting even older. While lots of biomedical research is chasing low-hanging fruit like diabetes, as of 2016 precious little is being done to study the pathologies of the oldest old, which sharply limit human lifespan (Read more on this in a previous article)

The new Calment’s of the future?

Dmitry Kaminskiy, Moldovan businessman and director of Deep Knowledge Ventures (a company focusing on investment in upcoming anti-aging biotechnologies) offers a $ 1 million dollar price for the first person to reach 123 (201 days older than Calment at age of death). This might superficially seem like an easy record since longevity is increasing globally, however 98% of people living to 110 fail to reach 115 and no one else has reached within 3 years of Calment’s age at death. Nevertheless it remains an interesting question who the first 123-year old is going to be, and one should expect someone to reach it within at least a few decades. However will that 123-year old have achieved this “naturally”, or will it be a centenarian who has been treated with some partially “rejuvenating” medical treatments?.

So on the 21st of February we will commemorate Calment by consuming her favourite foods, olive oil/dark chocolate/wine. Post your picture and check out the facebook event here

Future Day – March 1, 2013 – theme “longevity”

Advocacy, English

Since 2012, there has been a global initiative to institute March 1 as an international “Future Day” dedicated to envisioning and working for a better future. In 2013, it was proposed to make “Longevity” the special theme of that day in that year, and mark this theme by conducting meetings and study groups in different countries, dedicated to discussions of longevity, on that day. That first of its kind international action in support of longevity research was a success. People from over 20 countries organized events, ranging from meetings with a few like-minded friends to mini-conferences and seminars, through lobbying actions to online communications. This was just a first drill and further actions of this kind will take place in the future.  Such events can be a very positive and unifying force both for the local and international life-extensionist communities and organizations, and ultimately for the social acceptance of our cause. Notably, the celebrations of the Future Day were not (and could not) be restricted just to the topic of longevity, and many organizations were involved and organized events, including International Longevity Alliance (ILA), Humanity+, Heales, LongeCity, various national transhumanist and life-extensionist associations, such as British Longevity Society, the Russian Transhumanist Movement, the Brazilian Transhumanist Association, the Mormon Transhumanist Association, and many more – with members often belonging to several allied organizations at one at the same time. Below I list all the events celebrated on that day that I am aware of, regardless of their “official” affiliation and emphasis. Yet, essentially, in all of these events, people expressed an optimistic and proactive attitude toward the future, in which the promotion of longevity is an indispensable component, moreover the promotion of longevity almost automatically brings in its train the advancement of other positive life-preserving and life-enhancing tasks: peace, science, education, quality of life, equality. It is to be hoped that all our joint efforts will contribute even minimally to their achievement.

Ilia Stambler – event coordinator.

And here are the reports from around the world (as were made back in 2013):

1. Russia. Maria Konovalenko and Daria Khaltourina report: We celebrated Future Day yesterday. Actually, even twice) Alexey Turchin, Peter Fedichev and Mikhail Batin discussed the possible future scenarios of our civilization at Expert Online round table. Life extension and its social implications were the main topics of this stimulation conversation. Later in the evening the Russian Transhumanist Movement celebrated Future Day under the sign of radical life increase. Valeria Pride, Danila Medvedev, Maria Konovalenko, Daria Khaltourina, Viktor Zykov, Elena Milova, Igor Kirilyuk, and others gathered together to celebrate and to share their plans in fighting aging for the following year.

 

 

In the picture, celebrations by the Russian Transhumanist Movement (left to right): Maria Konovalenko, Viktor Zykov, Igor Kirilyuk, Daria Khaltourina.

 

In the picture: Round Table at Expert TV, including: Alexey Turchin, Maria Konovalenko, Peter Fedichev, Mikhail Batin

2. Ukraine Elen Obabkova, Andrey Vergazov and Anton Kulaga report: An open conference was organized on the Future Day in Smart Cafe Bibliotech in Kiev, by Ukrainian Transhumanists. The program included presentations by Alexander Koliada “On the way to personalized medicine,” Vania Pasechnik “Hacker space – the community of the future” Evgeny Sluzko “Venus project – future without politics, poverty and war”, Anton Rzhevsky “Ecology and technology: How do we influence the Future”.

 

 

In the picture, the future day organizers and presenters: Elen Obabkova, Anton Kulaga, Evgeny Sluzko,  Andrey Vergazov, Alexander Koliada, Anton Rzhevsky, Vania Pasechnik

 

In the picture: the attendees of the Kiev Celebration of the Future Day.

3. Venezuela: Greetings and mutual support were kindly and generously shared among different countries during this day. Thus the Ukrainian event was greeted by Jose Cordeiro – President of the Venezuela branch of the “Millenium Project”, professor at the Singularity University, and an active promoter of radical life extension in South America and around the world. Here’s the video greeting. On March 1, Jose was preparing a documentary about Radical Life Extension for the History Channel.

4. Republic of Georgia, Jaba Tkemaladze reports: On March 1, students and professors of the International Black Sea University interested in Transhumanism, as well as students of Grigol Robakidze University, Tbilisi, gathered at the conference hall of Grigol Robakidze University to celebrate Future Day. Ministers of health and of education were invited, but did not attend. The newspaper “Asaval – Dasavali” interviewed the organizer, Dr. Jaba Tkemaladze. After the meeting at Grigol Robakidze University, an additional meeting took place at the Club of Young Scientists with the representative of Shota Iamanidze Foundation – Irina Iamanidze, and editor of the cultural-philosophical journal “Homli” Nino Sadgobelashvili. There was reached an agreement to cooperate. Technical details of the cooperation were considered. There emerged the idea to create an educational internet portal for those who wish to live in the future-oriented civilization, and are even now ready to change their habits of life.

 

In the picture: Dr. Jaba Tkemaladze conducts a Seminar on the Future Day at Grigol Robakidze University, Georgia.

5. UK. Dr. Marios Kyriazis reports: The activities in the UK went very well. We concentrated mostly on targeted political information, specifically: – We contacted members of the UK Parliament with information about longevity, life extension and the need for dialogue and funding. – We discussed issues of longevity and politics at a meeting with senior members of age-related organisations in the UK, and planned a way forward. For example, we planned a major meeting at the House of Lords in 29th October 2013. For the 1st October we will be organising meetings in Cyprus as we will be there for some weeks.

6. Israel. Ilia Stambler (myself) reports: On March 1, Future Day dedicated to the pursuit of longevity, a seminar was held in Bar Ilan University. The program included a lecture on the “Past and present of life extension”, a report about activities of the “International Longevity Alliance”, and then a brainstorming session on the ways Israeli pro-longevity activists can make a practical impact. Several long time veterans in the fight for healthy longevity were present: Dr. Yaakov Ben-Shaul, Dr. Rafael Marilus, Dr. Amit Fliess, Dr. Tal Galili, Dr. Eli Eshed, as well as participants from all walks of life – students, soldiers, workers. Some of the potential actions may include cooperation in collecting and processing data related to aging, social promotion of preventive medicine, and creating study groups.

 

In the picture: Bar Ilan University, Israel, the venue of the Future Day seminar. In the heat of discussion, i forgot to take pictures of the meeting. So here is a picture of Bar Ilan university, that people believe i was there (not perfect). The picture goes to all those who did not take or did not send pictures…

7. France. Edouard Debonneuil reports

I held a meeting in Café el Sur in Paris. It was a nice first try, there were good friends of mine as well as people I had not met yet. The discussion was great and covered a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on associations (ILA, Heales, Longévité & Santé, Sceaux Longévité Santé, Association Française Technoprogressiste), projects (Quantified Health and incitative pedometers, Linking Researchers, next conferences in France, an ongoing thesis), PR (longevity & health, aging as the root of most diseases today), organizational structures (fonds de dotation lié à une association reconnue d’intérêt général), health data collection and law (CNIL, données minimales requises et possibilité de travailler avec des des données non personnalisées), promises of ongoing research (in worms, in mice, NBIC) and how society gradually integrates longevity increases.

 

 

In the picture: Dinner on Future Day at Café el Sur. Paris. (Edouard – second from right)

8. Japan. John Leonard reports: The Longevity Alliance Japan had our first meeting on March 1st (Future Day) 2013 in Akihabara, Tokyo. Our group was small but I think it was a very big step! Meeting with each other in person created inspiration and motivation to really pursue longevity causes. And Miriam Ji Sun (Miriam Leis) adds: Mainly we discussed our interest in future-oriented topics (incl. robotics, biostasis research, biotech, regenerative medicine and longevity research) and how we came to got to know about them. It turned out that we all have similar networks in common. Some next steps would focus on growing our network in Japan.

 

In the picture (left to right): Miriam Ji Sun, Erico Narita, John Leonard

9. USA. Utah. Lincoln Cannon reports: The Mormon Transhumanist Association sponsored a Future Day lunch at Thanksgiving Point in Utah. All enjoyed casual conversation on such subjects as news of brain-to-brain interfacing between mice, comparisons of libertarian socialism and benevolent authoritarianism, and release of a new edition of Mormon scriptures by the LDS Church. A particularly passionate debate arose around the topic of maintaining identity during radical longevity or shared consciousness. We look forward to continuing these and related conversations at the 2013 Conference of the Mormon Transhumanist Association on 5 April in Salt Lake City. In the US, further meetings on Future Day (as far as I am aware) took place at Stanford University, California, and San Jose, California.

10. Portugal. Vanderlei Martinianos reports: A meeting was held at Café A Brasileira in the heart of Lisbon, and after gathering everybody, the participants headed to have dinner at Fabulas Restaurant. At Fabulas the participants celebrated the day as well as discussed about “The Evolution: The Future”, a novel written by Marco Santini (Foreword by Vanderlei Martinianos)  that was freely distributed. Mind uploading and longevity were also discussed.

 

 

According to Vandelei Martinianos: This is a picture related to the Future Day’s celebration in Lisbon. Note that I have created the F sign made with hands to recall the word F as in FUTURE. So I asked everybody to do it in order to celebrate the day.

11. Brazil.    Vandelei Martinianos together with Leo H.M. Arruda, Isabel Alves and Gustavo Rosa Diego Caleiro and João Lourenço coordinated two meetings that were held on Future Day in Rio De Janeiro and São Paulo. A third meeting took place on that day in Brazil in Santa Maria (in the Southern part of the country): Mateus Stein reports about the meeting in Santa Maria: We had a great conversation about longevity, transhumanism, emerging technologies and our expectations about the future for almost three hours. It was worth it to have had this meeting because of our conversation and friendship, but I’m still disappointed because it would be better if more people could be with us.

12. Belgium. Didier Coeurnelle reports: A meeting was held in Brussels, on 1st of March, in the Café ‘A la mort subite’. We had an interesting conversation during two hours among other things about · The most important progresses that we expect/hope to see concerning longevity in the next decades · The biggest risks related to (opposition to) life extension technological progression that we are afraid to see in the next decades

13. Canada, Edmonton. According to Kim Solez: University of Alberta Campus featured music by Joel Crichton, two student presentations by Damon Monroe – Plight of Globalization of Technology, Vanessa Rogers – From Sense to Intelligence: Enhancement of the Human Mind.; Excerpts from Doug Wolens The Singularity documentary with some fun interruptions, Three more student presentations, by Matt Herman – The Future of Freedom and Security. Peter Wood – Echocardiography: The Future of Cardiac Imaging. Diane Laverty – Genomics: Letting the Gen(i)e out of the Bottle. More Joel Crichton music, dancing and merriment!

14. Australia. According to Adam Ford, Future Day was held in Melbourne as a joint project of Amplify, Second Tree, Humanity+ and Singularity Summit AU. The program included: Welcome by Adam Ford, Director Humanity+, and presentations by Peter Ellyard on “Rapid prototyping the Future” (extremely participatory), a presentation, by Mark Ciotola (formely at NASA) on“The Future of Space Exploration”, and by James Newton-Thomas (Engineer, Field Roboticist) on “Automation, and The Future of Work.”

15. China Special thanks to Adam Ford for providing this interview with Dr. Ben Goertzel (currently researching AI in Hong Kong, China) — the man who originated the idea of the Future Day. And now Ben joined in the celebration of Longevity on that day. Watch the video of Ben Goertzel on Longevity

16. India. According to Siddartha S. Verma

A meeting was held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. Attention and awareness to this day will let the younger generation to understand the hidden potential behind emerging technologies and rapid technological acceleration.

17. South Africa. According to Belinda Metlitsky Silbert

“Since 2012, there has been a global initiative to institute March 1 as an international “Future Day” dedicated to envisioning and working for a better future.” In honor of that day, Belinda Metlitzky Silbert  gave a free talk on Healthy Longevity at Marina Da Gama, SA. 18. Finland.  The future day was celebrated in Tampere, Finland, by Longevity Finland.

19. Romania. According to Mihai Cirimpei

A meeting in support of longevity was held in Bucharest at the CUGET research group. 

20. Korea. Dr. Kyung-Jin Min delivered a lecture on aging research at the retreat of Incheon Central Church.

 

In the picture: Prof. Kyung-Jin Min with a group of students at the spring camp of Incheon Central Church.

21. The Netherlands. On March 1, Amanda Stoel organized “Health and Longevity Day” for a narrow circle in Bussum, near Amsterdam.

22. Italy. David de Biasi reports (according to Massimiliano Maidano): We met at the Galleria Alberto Sordi (A gallery dedicated to a famous Italian Actor ) in Rome. We talked about cryonics, politics and technology for a couple of hours.

23. Germany. Daniel Wuttke organized the submission of two proposals for longevity research to develop the Denigma (Deciphering the Enigma of Aging) platform (http://www.denigma.de/): “Quantified Self Intelligent Collective Platform For More Healthy Life Years” as a Commitment to the Action Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP AHA) and another entitled “Crowdsourcing for the Biological Sciences: Open Distributed Science for Ageing Research”.

In several more countries there were efforts to organize events dedicated to longevity on the Future Day: Egypt, Mexico, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, Uganda, Philippines.  Yet, it was still difficult to gather the initial support. This is not at all discouraging, for the mere fact that such efforts take place is the best hope for the international movement for healthy longevity for all.

Looking forward to more and even stronger initiatives of this kind!