Conference Presentation, Panel
Prescription for Wellness: Extending Our Health Span
Milken InstituteHossie Cohen, Freda Lewis-Hall, Yves Joannet, Paul Irving, Steve Bird, Lynn Goldman, Mike McDonald Jr.
- A platinum age of science is expected to drive stunning biomedical advances over the next decade, potentially enabling vaccines for non-communicable conditions like obesity and certain cancers.
- Hypertension is identified as a solvable problem where lifestyle-based prevention could save the country trillions of dollars.
- The U.S. is aging more slowly than Japan, Europe, Chile, and Brazil, yet Alzheimer's disease incidence is projected to rise at an alarming rate due to increased longevity, despite lower age-specific incidence.
- Current dementia care costs could approach a trillion dollars annually if longevity trends continue without disease prevention.
- Delaying Alzheimer's disease by an average of five years through lifestyle changes is projected to save the United States half a trillion dollars annually.
- The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging is tracking 50,000 men and women aged 45 to 65 for a 20-year period to assess population subgroups, with potential future addition of microbiota data.
- A $99 genomic testing platform is proposed to identify genetic susceptibility markers for Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cancer to personalize prevention approaches.
- Personalized medicine is predicted to shift healthcare from a "sick care" model to a "personalized aging" model utilizing genomics and epigenomics as motivational tools.
- The life insurance industry is expected to increasingly offer incentives, such as reduced premiums for reaching step goals via device data like Fitbit.
- In a workforce example, healthy lifestyle interventions reduced the obesity rate by 25% over approximately eight years, resulting in hundreds of lives saved and increased productivity.
- It is predicted that a 50% reduction in America's healthcare bill could generate sufficient savings to pay off the $18.8 trillion national debt within 16 to 18 years.
- Future research is expected to address gender differences from the cellular to public health levels, supported by initiatives like the Women's Brain Health Initiative involving 350 researchers.
- A study using the off-patent drug metformin to delay aging is set to begin, noting that while animals live longer on the drug, individual results may vary.
- A tipping point is anticipated where healthy choices become naturally embedded lifestyle habits without active decision-making by individuals.
- A global initiative launched by a G8 Call for Action in December 2013 regarding dementia resulted in 80 countries signing the initiative within a month.
- Remaining in a disability zone for a brief period is noted as a point where significant economic benefits can be derived, referencing the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's success in doubling life expectancy.