Promoting Healthy Aging: A Paradigm Shift in Research and Medical Practice

Aging remains the leading risk factor for many chronic diseases such as cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular conditions. As scientific understanding of the biology of aging advances, initial strategies for geroprotection—aimed at reducing age-related disease risks and extending healthy lifespan—are emerging. A recent discussion paper published by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina advocates for a fundamental change in how research and medicine approach aging. Instead of solely focusing on treating diseases that manifest with age, the paper emphasizes the importance of understanding and targeting the aging process itself.

The aging process involves a decline in cellular monitoring and repair mechanisms, leading to malfunctions that can culminate in diseases like cancer and heart conditions. Recognizing these mechanisms presents an opportunity to develop therapies that promote health during aging, potentially reducing the burden of age-related diseases on healthcare systems worldwide.

To facilitate this shift, the paper recommends establishing an interdisciplinary systems aging consortium in Germany. This collaborative effort would integrate expertise from biology and systems biology, enabling the linkage of research data from model organisms with human biospecimens and patient data. By leveraging large-scale data—such as multiomics datasets encompassing DNA, RNA, and proteins—researchers can identify biomarkers that reflect biological age rather than chronological age. These biomarkers could serve as tools to evaluate the effectiveness of geroprotective interventions in clinical studies.

The creation of a national biological database, similar to the British Biobank, is also proposed. Such a resource would facilitate the pooling and accessibility of multiomics data, accelerating the discovery of novel treatments. Existing medications that exhibit geroprotective effects, like drugs for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, may have untapped potential as geroprotectors. Large data analyses could reveal additional existing drugs suitable for repurposing in aging therapies.

An innovative approach highlighted in the paper is cellular reprogramming, which aims to reverse age-related tissue degeneration. Reliable biomarkers could pave the way for a paradigm shift in general practice and hospital care, enabling personalized, evidence-based strategies to prevent illness and bolster resilience in aging populations.

Overall, this comprehensive approach emphasizes the importance of understanding aging at a systemic level and harnessing cutting-edge biological data to develop interventions that promote healthier aging and reduce age-related disease incidence.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-enabling-healthy-aging-discussion-paper.html