Summary of STS forum 2016Concurrent Session 203: [Life Sciences] Healthy Aging[Session Chair]
Kurokawa, Kiyoshi, Chairman, Health and Global Policy Institute; Adjunct Professor, National
Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), JAPAN[Speakers]
Akiyama, Hiroko, Professor, Institute of Gerontology, University of Tokyo, JAPANAndrews, William H., President & CEO, Sierra Sciences, LLC, U.S.A.
Duszyński, Jerzy, President, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), POLAND
Holt, Matthew, Co-Chairman, Health 2.0, U.S.A.
Jones, Allan, Chief Executive Officer, Allen Institute, U.S.A.
Oni, Tolu, Senior Lecturer, Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health andFamily Medicine, University of Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Opening Remarks
The chair began the session by explaining thatlife expectancy had almost doubled, from the40s to the 80s, in the last 100 years. Thisis undoubtedly a positive and outstandingachievement. However, it also creates newchallenges, such as the increasing number ofpeople suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.
A number of countries have recognized theimportance of tackling dementia. For example,
the UK in 2013 hosted Dementia Summit at
its G8 Summit, starting the World Dementia
Council. In addition, statements were issued
on the subject at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit
and the G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting in Kobe.
Chair: Kurokawa, Kiyoshi
Nevertheless, more efforts are needed, andleaders in government, academia, and business have a shared responsibility to address theissues associated with the aging of the world’s population.
The first speaker raised three points. First, it is not enough to simply think about how totreat medical issues resulting from aging. Efforts for prevention and health promotion are170171

also needed. These must begin at younger generations. Second, for the first time in theworld, there are more people living in urban areas than rural areas, and it is necessary totake into account issues associated with such demographic changes. Third, it is important
to consider the question, “healthy for whom?” We cannot promote human health to thedetriment of biodiversity, the environment, and so in addressing healthy aging, we need tobe cognizant of, and aim for, equilibrium between a growing population living longer andplanetary health (i.e. implications for the environment).
The second speaker explained four stages in which the delivery of healthcare was changing.
The first stage is the introduction of social, mobile, analytics, and cloud (SMAC) into healthcare. The second stage is users connecting with physicians through Skype and other online
means. The third stage is for healthcare to continue to reach patients in their home, notonly in the doctor’s office. The fourth stage is finding a way to use data to drive personalized healthcare. In addition, smartphones are becoming an important tool for diagnostics,
prevention, and treatment, which can be leveraged to provide healthcare to senior citizens.
Robotics also has a role, for example, in making up for a lack of healthcare workers. Despite
these advances in technology, ultimately, the most important question in relation to healthy
aging is a human one, namely, “how do we want to age?”
Talking about aging in Japan and a possible solution, the third speaker stated that thepublic likes to believe that everyone ages gracefully. However, that is not the case, and infact many people suffer from various diseases and ailments in old age. Japan is about to be172

hit by a so-called “Silver Tsunami.” In 2030 approximately 30% of the population in Japan
will be over 65. By 2050, that number will be 40%. There will also not be enough younger
people in the workforce to look after the elderly. One solution may be to stop or delay
aging, so that people can stay healthy, “young,” and being a part of the workforce. Research
has revealed that telomere shortening is responsible for aging. Preventing this would not
only solve the issue of aging, it could also cure diseases such as AIDS, which accelerates
telomere shortening in immune cells. Researchers have found a way to lengthen telomeres,
which could prevent aging. Telomere lengthening has already been achieved in animals, andin a few years it will become possible in humans.
The fourth speaker discussed the implications of the aging of society. In recent years, twoconspicuous social phenomena are experienced globally: an explosion of the human population, mostly in poor countries, and the aging of society, mostly in affluent countries. The
aging creates huge economic burdens for these societies. It also exacerbates the issueof the explosion of the human population. For example, countries with aging populations
are rather reluctant to open their borders to migrants because they are afraid to take onan additional burden to their already strained welfare system. An international solidarity ischallenged and walls between countries are constructed as a result. To address the issueof aging, in addition to scientific approaches, social innovations are also needed. Youngpeople should be educated on how to change their behavioral and mental attitudes and beencouraged to greater physical and intellectual lifelong activity to prevent an early onset ofunhealthy aging.
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Explaining trends in the aging of Japanese society the fifth speaker stated that most people
lose their independence due to such as frailty and disability later in life, and it seems moremen remain independent. The scientific community can contribute in three areas, namely
biomedical research, improving living environments, and improving individual lifestyles. Whilebiomedical research is advancing, much more can be done to improve living environments
and individual lifestyles. One viable approach is for the academic community to pursue“Action Research,” which is research conducted in collaboration with multiple stakeholders
and which aims to understand the issue and recommend actions to address the problem.
The sixth speaker explained aging from the perspective of basic biology. As people age,at the genome level, they accumulate mutations in their somatic and germline genes. At
the cellular level, humans experience the aging of cells and inflammation. At the tissuelevel, aging can create disequilibrium, which causes failures in different systems in thebody. Fortunately advances in science and technology offer promising solutions at all theaforementioned levels.

The fourth group’s discussant recommended that Japan take global leadership on dementia
and Alzheimer’s disease, and share its research from a variety of fields.
The fifth representative emphasized the importance of social interventions to build a senseof community and purpose among the elderly to promote activeness and a good qualityof life.
The sixth group’s reporter highlighted research for supporting people to lead productive lives
for longer and good end of life care, for overall improved quality of life.
The chair concluded the session by stating that the creativity of the private sector shouldbe leveraged, with various services that improve the general wellbeing of the elderly incommunity and society at large.

The chair shared additional information about aging in Japan. In Japan, 87% of 60,000
plus centenarians are women. Furthermore, women are twice as likely to develop dementia
at comparable ages than men. The chair then asked each group led by a speaker to makeone recommendation to the Government of Japan, because Japan is the most aged country.
Discussion
The first discussant recommended that Japan address the three S’s: salt, sleep, and smoking.
This means better dietary habits (to reduce risk of hypertension and subsequent cardiovascular disease), healthy sleep (as poor sleep, particularly in urban areas and amongst
working population, is associated with many common conditions including cardiovasculardisease and neurocognitive deficits later in life), and reducing smoking (to address theburden of chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease).
The second group’s representative spoke about the revitalization of ghost towns and therelationship between activeness and dementia.
The third reporter pointed out that while exercise, healthy diets, and healthy lifestyles
could delay aging, aging still occurred. Therefore, in addition, funding should be devoted toresearch for modifying the biochemical pathways that affect aging.
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