Cynthia A. Bens - Elder Americans

One of the great achievements of the last 100 years has been the significant increase in the lifespan of Americans.  By 2050 it is estimated that 20 percent of the total U.S. population will be over the age of 65.  While this is something to celebrate, there is also a downside. With the expected growth of the aging population, we expect to see a significant rise in many chronic diseases where age is a major risk factor. The effects age-related chronic disease are immense both to the person experiencing them and society. Diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, frailty, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke contribute to a decrease in quality of life, a precipitous increase in health care expenses and growing burdens on caregivers. Faced with these challenges, we need to find interventions for these chronic diseases so people not only enjoy longer lifespans, but longer healthspans as well. The answer many leading scientists point to is to better understand how our bodies age. Research has uncovered common links between the way our bodies age and why we develop diseases.  It is becoming evident that by slowing the aging process itself, we can postpone or even eliminate many costly chronic diseases. To do this, we must provide more funding for aging research in the public and private sectors. The Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America reported this week that there are 435 medicines in development for diseases affecting older Americans, but of the$30 billion...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news