Category Archives: longevity advocacy

Healthy Aging is included into the Israel national call for research proposals by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology

Happy to bring to your attention that the Israel Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has just published a national call for research proposals, including the subject of “healthy aging”. The subject of healthy aging was included in a large measure thanks to the promotional and educational efforts, also by Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life.

In the call for proposals, in the “Healthy Aging” category, emphasis will be placed on medical devices, algorithms and calculation and measurement techniques, and sensors. This call does not include basic research and research into mechanisms or initial identification of diseases.

In this call, the total budget is up to NIS 45 million, with the maximum budget for each proposal in all areas being up to NIS 500,000 for a period of three years.

Researchers must submit pre-proposals by February 12, 2025. All details are in the link below.

We will continue these promotional efforts for healthy longevity research, development and education and will continue to bring developments to your attention.

As the call for research proposals is intended for Israeli researchers, the details of the call are included below in Hebrew (translatable).

Hopefully, there will be established more funding sources for the vital field of healthy longevity research. In the name of Vetek Association, we will continue to work to promote the establishment of such funding sources and their dissemination.

https://www.gov.il/he/pages/rfp31122024

https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/rfp/rfp31122024/he/קול%20קורא%20להגשת%20קדם-הצעות%20מחקר%20במסלול%20הלאומי%20לשנת%202025%208.1.25.pdf

אני שמח להביא לתשומת ליבכם כי כעת משרד החדשנות, המדע והטכנולוגיה פרסם קול קורא להגשת קדם-הצעות מחקר לשנת 2025.

זה מעודד ומשמח מאד לראות כי הנושא של “הזדקנות בריאה” נכלל בקול הקורא בין הנושאים שימומנו.

וזה משמח ומעודד עוד יותר כי הנושא נכלל גם בזכות הקידום והמאמץ ההסברתי הקודם, גם בהשתתפות עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים”.

בקול הקורא, בקטגוריה של “הזדקנות בריאה”, יושם דגש על אביזרים רפואיים, אלגוריתמים וטכניקות חישוב ומדידה, סנסורים. קול קורא זה אינו כולל מחקר בסיסי וחקר מנגנונים או זיהוי ראשוני של מחלות.

בקול קורא זה, מדובר בתקציב הכולל של עד 45 מיליון ₪, כאשר התקציב המרבי לכל הצעה בכל התחומים הוא עד 500000 ₪ לתקופה של שלוש שנים.

היות והתקציב הכללי הוא לכל התחומים, החלק שיתמוך בפועל בחקר ההזדקנות יהיה תלוי במספר הצעות בתחום. אך כמובן שגם נושאים משיקים, בפרט בקטגוריות של בריאות ורפואה, וביוקונברג’נס, יכולים לקדם את המחקר לאריכות חיים בריאים.

על החוקרים להגיש את קדם ההצעות עד 12 בפברואר 2025. כל הפרטים בקישור להלן.

https://www.gov.il/he/pages/rfp31122024

בהצלחה למגישים! ונקווה ליצירת מקורות מימון נוספים לתחום החיוני של חקר ההזדקנות ואריכות חיים בריאים, בישראל ובשיתוף פעולה עם ישראל. ובשם עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים”, גם נמשיך לפעול לקידום יצירת מקורות מימון כאלה ולהרחבת ההשתתפות בהם.

בקרוב צפויים להתפרסם עוד קולות קוראים למחקר בתחום ההזדקנות ואריכות חיים בריאים, ו-או בתחומים המשיקים לחקר ההזדקנות. נשמח לעדכן ולמשוך את תשומת ליבכם לכך. אתם גם מוזמנים להתעדכן באתר ובמדיה החברתית של עמותת “ותק”.

https://www.longevityisrael.org/

https://www.facebook.com/VETEK.ISRLA

https://www.linkedin.com/company/90886914/

וכדי להגביר את התמיכה בתחום אריכות חיים בריאים, חשוב להמשיך ולהגביר את המודעות לחשיבות התחום, להמשיך ולבנות את הקהילה המחקרית, החברתית, והמדינית שתומכת בתחום. לצורך כך עמותת “ותק” תקיים כנס בינלאומי 2025 LONGEVITY NATION לקידום אריכות חיים בריאים באוניברסיטת בר-אילן ב-28-29 באוקטובר 2025. בחודשים הקרובים גם נקיים סדרה של מפגשים קהילתיים בנושאים שונים שבתחום הלונג’ביטי. ניתן להתעדכן באתרים ובמדיה החברתית של הכנס ושל העמותה.

https://longevitynation.org/

https://www.longevityisrael.org/

וכמובן שתמיד נודה לכל תמיכה לעמותת “ותק” שמאפשרת לנו את המשך הפעילות וקידום התחום.

https://longevitynation.org/register-and-donate/

https://www.longevityisrael.org/donate/

בין השאר, גם באמצעות הכנסים והמפגשים, ניצור סינרגיות חדשות בין תחומים שונים ובין קהילות וגופים שונים למען המטרה המשותפת של קידום אריכות חיים בריאים.

ד”ר איליה סטמבלר.

יו”ר עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים”

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Longevity Nation 2025. October 28-29, 2025. Bar-Ilan University

The Longevity Nation 2025 conference will take place on October 28-29, 2025, at Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Welcome to register!

https://longevitynation.org/

אני שמח לעדכן אתכם שנקבעו התאריכים לכנס

LONGEVITY NATION 2025 

שיתקיים באותו מקום כמו הכנס הקודם, באוניברסיטת בר-אילן, אולם ננו, ב-28-29 באוקטובר 2025 . התאריכים נבחרו קצת לפני סיום הסמסטר, כדי לאפשר נוכחות מרבית של חוקרים, סטודנטים ואנשי תעשייה. חוקרים ומפתחים מובילים בתחום הלונג’ביטי כבר מתחילים להצטרף לתוכנית הכנס

https://longevitynation.org

הכנס הקודם באוקטובר השנה עורר עניין רב, יצר חשיפה רבה, ועזר לבניית הקהילה בתחום הלונג’ביטי בישראל ובשיתוף פעולה עם ישראל. יותר ממאה דוברים מהארץ ומחו”ל מהמובילים בעולם הציגו את עבודתם בכנס. מאות אורחים וצופים השתתפו בכנס. הרבה אנשים, בתחום הלונג’ביטי ומעבר לו, הרגישו מעודדים על ידי הכנס, ואף הרגישו אופטימיות ותקווה מחודשת תודות לכנס, גם בזמנים הקשים

אני מקווה שנמשיך לעודד אנשים, בתחום הלונג’ביטי ומעבר לו, גם בכנס הבא, נמשיך “לשמור על הגחלת” בכל מצב

הכנס גם שיחק תפקיד חיובי בקידום שיתוף פעולה בינלאומי. אם יש תחום אקדמי אחד שלא היה בו שום חרמות אלא להפך הרצון לשתף פעולה, אז זה התחום שלנו, תחום הלונג’ביטי, היות והנושא משותף לכל האנושות. הכנס שלנו קידם את השיתופיות הזאת, ואני מקווה שנמשיך לקדם אותה גם בכנס הבא

לכנס גם היו תוצאות מעשיות. בעקבות הכנס ובמידה רבה בעידוד הכנס (כחלק מהקידום שלנו את התחום) בקרוב צפויים לצאת קולות קוראים למחקר בתחום הזקנה ואריכות חיים בריאים. גם לקראת הכנס הבא, ביוני, צפויות להתקבל החלטות לגבי תמיכה בתחום ונשמח לדווח על התוצאות בכנס

לכן אני שמח להודיע על הכנס הבא, ולהזמין אתכם לכנס! כבר אפשר להירשם. הכניסה חופשית (אלא אם כן תהיה החלטה אחרת בהמשך) אבל הרשמה נדרשת

https://longevitynation.org/register-and-donate/

וכמובן שנודה לכל תמיכה שמאפשרת לנו את קיום הכנס וכל שאר הפעילות של עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים” (ע”ר) שמארגנת את הכנס ופעילויות נוספות לקידום מחקר, פיתוח וחינוך לאריכות חיים בריאים בישראל ובשיתוף פעולה בינלאומי. פרטים לתרומות לעמותת “ותק” בדף ההרשמה לכנס ובאתר העמותה

https://www.longevityisrael.org/donate/

בשם הועד המארגן של הכנס ובשם עמותת “ותק” אני מאחל לכם חג שמח, מועדים לשמחה, ושנה אזרחית טובה! שנזכה לביטחון, שלום, ואריכות חיים בריאים לכולם

ד”ר איליה סטמבלר

יו”ר עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים” והועד המארגן של הכנס

Longevity Nation 2024 – videos and photos

Thanks to all the participants of the Longevity Nation conference, that took place on October 28-31, 2024, in Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Thanks for your participation and support of healthy longevity research, development and education in Israel and in cooperation with Israel!

The conference videos are available

The video links are collected at this videos and photos page of the conference site

https://longevitynation.org/videosandphotos/

The videos are mostly available from the International Longevity Alliance (ILA) YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@internationallongevityalli8533

In particular see this playlist, starting with full day recordings, followed by recordings of each individual lecture

In the same page, there are also links to the conference photos

In the google folder

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1aVmIBU3karJRDZeRJeMGacTvsRRPh8cR

And facebook album

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ilia.stambler&set=a.10158881815654159

In addition, in the same page you can find recordings and photos of the Longevity Nation 2023 conference, as well as recordings and photos of the International Perspectives on Geroscience conference that took place in Weizmann Institute in September 2019, that was also co-organized by Vetek Association, and where many of the speakers of the Longevity Nation conference also participated.

Right now, all the lectures of the Longevity Nation conference are available on YouTube, except for the BIRAX section (first half of October 30). The BIRAX lectures too should be available in a couple of days, on the same conference video page and in the same ILA YouTube channel.

One more bonus, here are summary videos of particular days¸ and a general summary video for all the 4 days of the conference 

You are encouraged to share all this content – videos and photos  in your social media, to increase the educational impact of the conference!

Many thanks again! Looking forward to Longevity Nation 2025! The preparations have already started!

We are always grateful for donations that make this conference and our work possible! Thanks!

Longevity Nation 2024 – some highlights

Longevity Nation conference – Enhancing research, development and education for healthy longevity, in Israel and in cooperation with Israel. Bar-Ilan University, Israel. October 28-31, 2024.

Bar-Ilan University hosted four-day international conference exploring the future of healthy longevity 

On October 28-31, 2024, Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, hosted an international conference dedicated to the advancement of research, development and education in the field of healthy longevity. The conference, entitled “Longevity Nation 2024 – Enhancing Research, Development and Education for Healthy Longevity” (https://longevitynation.org/), brought together leading voices in longevity research from around the world.

Organized by Vetek (Seniority) Association – The Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life, Israel, and the Graduate Program in Science, Technology, and Society at Bar-Ilan University, in cooperation with American Federation for Aging Research, Biogerontology Research Foundation, International Longevity Alliance, British Council, and with the support of the Sagol Network, Shlomo Tyran Foundation, Joseph Gitarts Foundation, Deep Knowledge Group, Quadrascope and other organizations, the conference addressed the multifaceted challenges associated with an aging global population. Participants included leading researchers, developers, investors, educators, decision-makers, and public figures from Israel and around the world to foster collaboration and advance the science and technology of healthy longevity.

A question could be raised whether Israelis should we be thinking about the preservation of health in old age, the prevention of aging-related diseases, and the extension of healthy longevity, during this period of conflict and hardship in Israel. The conference participants emphasized that we should indeed continue to think about and work for healthy longevity even now, to improve national resilience that will help overcome the present adversity and maintain the basis for positive development in the future.

Key Highlights of Longevity Nation 2024 included:

  • Enhancing Longevity Ecosystems: The conference focused on developing Israel’s longevity ecosystem and promoting international cooperation, leveraging Israel’s strengths in science and technology to enhance its global standing in the field.
  • Cutting-Edge Research and Innovations: Presentations covered a range of topics including breakthroughs in aging science, geroprotective drugs, regenerative medicine, and advancements in longevity medicine.
  • Future Directions and Ethical Considerations: Discussions also addressed ethical considerations and the societal implications of extending healthy lifespan, including the need for interdisciplinary approaches and the importance of public and governmental support.

Notable speakers and topics included:

Israel can and should play a leading role in the international longevity field

Dr. Ilia Stambler (Chairman of Vetek Association and Chairman of the Longevity Nation conference) emphasized the interdisciplinary interrelations of science, technology and society in addressing the challenges of population aging. Building on Israel’s strengths in this area, he emphasized the need to help enhance the supportive longevity ecosystem in Israel, boost the prominence of the field in Israel and enhance Israel’s international standing and cooperation in the Longevity Field.

Repurposing Old Drugs for New Tricks

Dr. Nir Barzilai (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) focused on repurposing existing FDA-approved drugs for their potential anti-aging properties. One example is the diabetes drug metformin, which has been shown to provide broader health benefits, and potentially slowing the aging process itself.

Revitalizing the Immune System

Dr. Natalie Yivgi-Ohana, founder and CEO of Minovia Therapeutics, focused on revitalizing the immune system with young mitochondria. Her team has developed a scoring system to measure mitochondrial dysfunction in different populations and correlate it with age-related diseases.

Genome Stability and Aging

Prof. Björn Schumacher (University of Cologne) reported his research on the relationship between genome stability and aging. His research has uncovered the first master regulator of DNA repair capacities, suggesting that by boosting overall DNA repair, we could target the aging process at its fundamental root cause. Since human aging is greatly accelerated when DNA repair mechanisms are dysfunctional, this work proposes that enhancing our body’s ability to repair DNA damage could be a powerful approach to slowing the aging process.

Enhancing a Longevity Enzyme

Prof. Haim Cohen (Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University), reported his research on the protein SIRT6. In his lab, mice engineered to produce extra SIRT6 don’t just live longer – they stay healthier for longer, too. Cohen’s research is shedding light on how SIRT6 helps maintain healthy aging, particularly by providing the required energy at old age and slowing aging-related frailty. This work could pave the way for new therapies that boost SIRT6 activity in humans.

The Challenges of Radical Life Extension

While many researchers are optimistic about extending healthspan, Prof. S. Jay Olshansky (University of Illinois at Chicago) offered a cautionary perspective. His research suggests that radical life extension – dramatically increasing human lifespan – is implausible in this century, unless effective interventions into aging are rapidly developed. He advocates for a shift in focus from treating individual diseases to attacking the underlying risk factor for all fatal and disabling diseases – the biological process of aging itself.

A Novel Approach to Anti-Aging

Prof. Susan Greenfield, from Neuro-Bio in the UK, explored a unique angle in anti-aging research. Her work centers on the peptide T14, derived from acetylcholinesterase, which promotes cell growth and renewal. Interestingly, T14 levels decline with normal aging, as detected in various tissues and bodily fluids. Greenfield’s research suggests that maintaining a balance of T14 levels could be key to promoting healthy aging while avoiding potential negative effects of excessive levels.  

Tackling Senescent Cells

Prof. Valery Krizhanovsky (Weizmann Institute of Science) addressed one of the hallmarks of aging: the accumulation of senescent cells. These cells, which stop dividing but don’t die off, can contribute to inflammation and tissue dysfunction as we age. Krizhanovsky’s team has discovered a mechanism that allows senescent cells to evade immune surveillance and accumulate in tissues.

Industry Transformation

The Longevity Industry is poised for significant growth and transformation, driven by new financial models, political recognition, practical applications, and global cooperation. Dmitry Kaminskiy (Deep Knowledge Group, Biogerontology Research Foundation, Longevity Industry Analytics) highlighted the tremendous transition the industry is about to undergo. 

The need to enhance international cooperation

The conference is testament to the power of collaboration for a better future of humanity. In this period of conflict and hardship in Israel, many organizations from Israel and from abroad joined forces for the common humanitarian goal of preventing aging-related diseases and extending healthy longevity for all. These organizations include Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity of Life, Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society of Bar-Ilan University, American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), Shlomo Tyran Foundation, Sagol Network, British Council, Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership on Ageing (BIRAX Ageing), Biogerontology Research Foundation (BGRF), International longevity Alliance (ILA) and many other organizations. Together they work to create communication and exchange platforms and grant support programs for research on healthy longevity, in Israel and via international cooperation with Israel, such as the emerging TABILI program – the American British Israeli Longevity Initiative, as well as cooperative research and education programs on healthy longevity between Israel and other countries.

See the conference program

https://longevitynation.org/program/

And the conference recordings

https://longevitynation.org/videosandphotos/
Preparations for Longevity Nation 2025 have started, and we are always grateful for donations that make this conference and our work possible! Thanks!
https://longevitynation.org/register-and-donate/

Healthy Longevity Promotion Conference on line in Honor of Rafi Eitan – March 1, 2021

הנכם מוזמנים

ל”כנס הארצי הראשון לאיכות ואריכות חיים”

לזכרו של רפי איתן ז”ל

שיתקיים אונליין ב-1 במרץ 2021 החל משעה 15.00

הכנס מתקיים ביוזמת עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים” שרפי איתן ייסד, וכן עמותת “נכה, לא חצי בן אדם” ושותפים אחרים.

הכנס נועד לעורר מודעות לצורך להגביר תמיכה בשיפור הבריאות של האדם המבוגר, ובפרט הצורך בקידום מחקר, פיתוח וחינוך לאריכות חיים בריאים ומניעת מחלות זקנה.

דווקא בתקופה זאת בולט הצורך החיוני בקידום משימות אלה.

כפי שרפי איתן היה אומר “אנחנו מנסים לפתח בנושא הזה טקטיקה ואסטרטגיה איך להביא לכך שישראל תהיה אחת המדינות המובילות בעולם באיכות חיים. הכוונה היא שעד הרגע האחרון לחייהם, בתקווה שיזכו לאריכות ימים, יהיו במלוא כושרם, גם הפיזי, אם אפשר, וגם הרוחני”.

זאת המטרה של הכנס ואנו מקווים כי הכנס יתרום להגברת המודעות והתמיכה לנושא.

הקלטה מלאה של הכנס

תוכנית הכנס 

פתיחה. 15.00

דברי ברכה. נציג משפחת איתן

מושב ראשון. תמיכה ציבורית באריכות חיים בריאים

15.15-16.15

משתתפים

ח”כ מירב כהן

ח”כ טלי פלוסקוב

ח”כ לשעבר דני יתום

ד”ר איליה סטמבלר

מר חנן טל

מושב שני. מחקר ופיתוח לאריכות חיים בריאים

16.30-18.00

משתתפים

פרופ’ ניר ברזילי

פרופ’ גיל עצמון

פרופ’ חיים כהן

פרופ’ דן פאר

ההשתתפות בכנס חופשית, אך מתבקשת הרשמה או אישור הגעה מראש.

לפרטים – facebook.com/VETEK.ISRLA

https://www.longevityisrael.org/conference

israelilongevity@gmail.com

קישור ישיר להרשמה

shorturl.at/ckoH6

מטעם הועד המארגן

דר’ איליה סטמבלר. מנכ”ל מדעי. עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים” (ע”ר)

חנן טל. מנכ”ל. עמותת “נכה לא חצי בן אדם” (ע”ר)

אלכס פרידמן. יו”ר. עמותת “נכה לא חצי בן אדם” (ע”ר)

Helping elderly cope with the COVID- 19 crisis

האם באמת רוצים לעזור לקשישים להתמודד עם משבר הקורונה? אם כן, מדוע לא מטפלים בשורש הבעיה?

ד”ר איליה סטמבלר. מנהל מדעי “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים”, “נכה לא חצי בן אדם”

הגרסה האנגלית פורסמה ב-JERUSALEM POST ב-15 בספבטמר 2020

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/we-can-do-more-to-help-the-elderly-cope-with-the-covid-19-crisis-642408

בתקופה הזאת יש הרבה אי וודאות לגבי הסטטיסטיקה של תחלואת הקורונה. אבל הנתונים ברורים לפחות לגבי דבר אחד: האנשים המבוגרים נמצאים בסיכון הגבוה ביותר. פירוש הדבר הוא כי תהליך ההזדקנות הניווני, והמחלות הנובעות מתהליך זה (דהינו ריבוי מחלות או מולטי-מורבידיות) הם גורמי הסיכון העיקריים לנכות, אשפוזים, תוצאות קליניות חמורות ומוות כתוצאה מקורונה. והם גם האחראים העיקריים לנזקים ההרסניים לכלכלה ולחברה כולה. קיימת היום מודעות חברתית רחבה כי הקשישים הם קבוצת הסיכון העיקרית שצריך להגן עליה. אז מדוע שלא לעשות את הצעד ההגיוני הבא ולהבין את תפקידם המכריע של תהליכי ההזדקנות הניווניים והצורך להתמודד איתם? בפרט עלינו להתמודד עם הידרדרות העמידות והחסינות של האנשים המזדקנים, ובהתאם לכך גם להכיר בצורך החיוני לעכב תהליכי ההזדקנות הניווניים הללו כדי לשפר את החסינות והעמידות. בדרך זו ניתן היה להקל על המשבר הנוכחי ולמנוע משברים בריאותיים בעתיד. זוהי תמצית הגישה המדעית בתחום הביו-גרונטולוגיה (שגם ידועה בשם GEROSCIENCE) למשבר הקורונה. מטרת הגישה הזאת היא למנוע מחלות מרובות תלוית הגיל על ידי התערבות טיפולית בתהליכי ההזדקנות הבסיסיים התורמים למחלות אלה, במיוחד הידרדרות המערכת החיסונית תלוית הגיל. לאחרונה פורסם מאמר העמדה “ביו-גרונטולוגיה בעידן הקורונה” בכתב העת המדעי היוקרתי Aging and Disease על ידי כמה מהדמויות המובילות בתחום הביו-גרונטולוגיה, מארה”ב וישראל, שמקדמים גישה זו וקוראים להגביר מחקר התעברותי בתהליכי הזדקנות ניווניים כדי להתמודד עם משבר הקורונה ומשברים עתידיים אפשריים.

בנוסף לאורחי החיים הבריאים (כמו פעילות גופנית, שינה מספקת ותזונה מאוזנת) הידועים כמשפרים את החסינות אצל אנשים מבוגרים, החוקרים הביו-גרונטולוגים דוגלים בהרחבת מחקר קליני בתרופות הקיימות עם פרופיל בטיחותי טוב שיכולים לשפר את הביולוגיה של ההזדקנות, מנגנוני החיסון והעמידות – באמצעות התרופות המכונות “גרופרוטקטורים”. אלה כוללים תרופות כגון מטפורמין, רפמיצין והאנלוגים שלהם, כמו גם מגבירי רמות NAD, תרופות סנוליטיות, מווסתים ביולוגיים של מערכת החיסון, ואמצעים אחרים שעשויים להגן מפני נזקי הזקנה. התערבויות אלה הראו תוצאות מבטיחות במחקרים בבעלי חיים, וכמה ניסויים קליניים פרלימינאריים בבני אדם. עם זאת, המדענים מזהירים כי עד כה שום תרופה עוד לא אושרה באופן רשמי כגרוטורקטור לשימוש בבני אדם. לכן, טיפול עצמי בתרופות כאלה מאד לא מומלץ. עם זאת, יש לעודד ניסויים קליניים נרחבים של התרופות הקיימות שעשויות להגן מפני תהליך ההזדקנות הניווני, וכן להגביר את המחקר והפיתוח של תרופות חדשות שתוקפות את תהליך ההזדקנות. זה יכול להיות קו הגנה יעיל לטווח ארוך. לצד פיתוח הטיפולים, החוקרים הביו-גרונטולוגים מבקשים לעודד יישום נרחב יותר של מדדים ביולוגיים (ביו-מרקרים) של הזדקנות, במיוחד מדדי הידרדרות המערכת החיסונית. באמצעות מדדים אלה ניתן להעריך את הסיכונים הבריאותיים לקשישים,לפי הגיל הביולוגי שלהם, ובהתאם גם לשפר את הטיפול והקצאת המשאבים כדי להגן על האנשים הפגיעים והנזקקים ביותר.

אז מדוע שלא לקדם גישה זאת ולתמוך במחקר כזה? הניסיון מראה כי התחום לא נתמך מספיק. כעת מוקצים תקציבים עצומים למחקר ופיתוח טיפולים נגד מחלת הקורונה, כולל טיפולים לא שגרתיים ולעתים גם בעלי סיכון גבוה לא להצליח. קולות הקראים להצעות מחקר בנושא הקורונה מתמקדים בעיקר בטיפולים תגובתיים וחיסונים. אולם נראה כי אין הכרה מספקת בכך כי בסבירות גבוהה טיפולים תגובתיים וחיסונים רבים למחלת הקורונה, כאשר יפותחו, יהיו יחסית פחות יעילים ובטוחים דווקא לאוכלוסיית הקשישים שהיא אוכלוסיית הסיכון העיקרית, דווקא בגלל הידרדרות החסיונות והעמידות שלהם שמדע הביו-גרונטולוגיה מבקש לשפר ולהעצים.

ולמרות סבירות זאת, מעט מאוד תמיכה מיועדת במפורש לפיתוח התערבויות מונעות לשיפור הבריאות של האדם המבוגר, בפרט אלה המבוססות על עקרונות מדע הביו-גרונטולוגיה, דהינו התערבויות טיפוליות בתהליכי הזדקנות ניווניים. ולראיה, המכונים הלאומיים לבריאות של ארה”ב – ה-NIH – כעת מקצים מעל מ-3.6 מיליארדי דולרים כתגובה למחלת הקורונה, שמתוכם רק כמה מיליונים ספורים מוקדשים על ידי המכון הלאומי לזקנה לפיתוח טיפולים מונעים המיועדים לעיכוב תהליך ההזדקנות. במקומות אחרים, כמו האיחוד האירופי וישראל, למעשה קשה עד לבלתי אפשרי אפילו למצוא קולות קוראים כאלה שיתמכו במפורש במחקר ופיתוח של התערבויות מונעות להזדקנות בריאה. כמו כן רמת המודעות הציבורית למחקר ופיתוח של טיפולים מונעים לשיפור תהליך ההזדקנות גם היא זעומה, ונמוכה לאין שיעור יחסית לפרסום והמודעות לכיווני מחקר ופיתוח אחרים כגון פיתוח חיסונים.

האם חוסר תשומת הלב לגישה זו נובע מהרתיעה הפסיכולוגית שלנו להתמודד עם תהליך ההזדקנות שלנו, שגם עוברת לתחום המדעי? האם זה ביטוי לתופעת “הגילאנות” ביחס לבריאות כאשר מפלים ומתעלמים מהדאגות והצרכים המיוחדים של אנשים מבוגרים? האם זה חוסר הרצון לחשוב בצורה הוליסטית ולטווח ארוך? יהיו המכשולים הפסיכולוגיים אשר יהיו, הקהילה המדעית והציבור הרחב חייבים לחשוב בצורה רציונלית ופרואקטיבית ולתת עידוד ותמיכה לקידום אריכות חיים בריאים.

אם יש איזשהו לקח שאפשר ללמוד מהמשבר הזה, אז זוהי ההכרה של הצורך להתמודד עם תהליך ההזדקנות הניווני, לעכב את תהליך ההזדקנות, למנוע מחלות הזקנה ועל ידי כך להעלות את התוחלת החיים הבריאים, הפעילים והפוריים לאוכלוסיה המבוגרת. הכרה זו צריכה להיות מתורגמת למדיניות בריאות הציבור ומדיניות המחקר שיתמכו ביתר שאת בתחום הביו-גרונטולוגיה, דהינו במחקר, פיתוח וישום טיפולים מונעים לשיפור תהליך ההזדקנות ומניעת מחלות זקנה בכללותן. לצורך כך יש להגביר את המימון והתמריצים, החינוך והתמיכה הממסדית והציבורית בתחום. פעילות חברתית התומכת בתחום צריכה להיות חלק אינטגראלי להשגת מטרות אלה. דוגמה לפעילות כזאת היא היוזמה החברתית “להגברת המחקר, הפיתוח והחינוך לקידום אריכות חיים ומניעת מחלות זקנה” שמקודמת על ידי הארגונים “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים” ו”נכה, לא חצי אדם”. הענקת תמיכה מספקת לתחום, ובהתאם הגברה משמעותית של המחקר, הפיתוח והיישום לאריכות חיים בריאים ומניעת מחלות זקנה, עשויות לשפר את בריאות הציבור ולהקטין את הנזקים ההרסניים הפוגעים באוכלוסיה המבוגרת בעת משבר בריאותי, בתקופה הזאת ובעתיד.

ראו:

Nir Barzilai, James Appleby, Steven Austad, Ana Maria Cuervo, Matt Kaeberlein, Christian Gonzalez-Billault, Stephanie Lederman, Ilia Stambler, Felipe Sierra.  “Geroscience in the Age of COVID-19”. Aging and Disease, 11 (4), 725-729, 2020. http://www.aginganddisease.org/article/2020/2152-5250/ad-11-4-725.shtml

The subject of aging is removed from the US-Israel assistance bill

The new “S.3176 – United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020” is now being considered in the US congress and senate. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3176/text. The amounts are to be “not less than $3,300,000,000” per year, for the fiscal years 2021 through 2028. On July 31, the US House of Representatives passed the “H.R.7617 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2021” including $500 million for the fiscal year 2021 for “the Israeli Cooperative Programs” (Section 8069 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7617/text?r=33&s=2)

Regretfully, these bills removed the subject of R&D for healthy aging ($2M per year, for 2020-2022) that was included in the earlier bill “H.R.1837 – United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act” (introduced in March 2019) following the joint outreach of the Vetek (Seniority) Association, the Global Healthspan Policy Institute and others. 

http://www.longevityisrael.org/us-israel-collaboration-on-aging-related-rd-is-planned/

Thus, according to the old bill H.R.1837 (Section 110), the health technologies were to be developed “in relation to aging”:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1837/text

“(i) Development Of Health Technologies.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022 to establish a bilateral cooperative program with Israel for the development of health technologies, including health technologies described in paragraph (2), with an emphasis on collaboratively advancing the use of technology, personalized medicine, and data in relation to aging”.

(2) TYPES OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES.—The health technologies described in this paragraph may include technologies such as artificial intelligence, biofeedback, sensors, monitoring devices, and kidney care.

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While according to the new S.3176 bill (Section 207), the health technologies are to be developed “in relation to COVID-19”:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3176/text

“(b) Development Of Health Technologies.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2023 for a bilateral cooperative program with the Government of Israel that awards grants for the development of health technologies, including health technologies listed in paragraph (2), subject to paragraph (3), with an emphasis on collaboratively advancing the use of technology and personalized medicine in relation to COVID–19.

(2) TYPES OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES.—The health technologies described in this paragraph may include technologies such as sensors, drugs and vaccinations, respiratory assist devices, diagnostic tests, and telemedicine.”

Of course, any cooperation for developing health technologies is to be welcomed. (Other topics are beyond the scope of the present expertise and involvement.) But the omission of the subject of aging is to be regretted. Evidently, a vital aspect of combating both non-communicable chronic and infectious diseases (such as COVID-19) is enhancing the aging host immunity and resilience, as aging and old-age multimorbidity are the main risk factors for bad outcomes (see the recent position paper “Geroscience at the Age of COVID-19” http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2020.0629). However, the present focus in the bill on COVID-19 clearly valorizes an “offensive” or reactive approach trying to “seek and destroy” the particular virus. It appears to make little or no allowance for a “defensive” or preventive approach endeavoring to enhance the aging immune system (among other degenerative aging processes) and thus ameliorate and prevent not only COVID-19 pathology, but the entire host of aging-related diseases and disabilities. This preventive and supportive approach is advanced by geroscience R&D, therapeutically targeting aging as the main risk factor and underlying cause of many diseases. The lack of allowance for it is discouraging. Practically it means that through 2023 the vital area of geroscience R&D will be under-emphasized in US-Israel health science collaboration.

Still, healthy longevity advocacy should not be discouraged in its work. The geroscience approach will remain valid long after the strong focus on COVID-19 will subside, as the population aging and the accompanying ill health are not going anywhere. Hopefully, longevity advocates will keep on doing whatever is possible to advance the aging field, by whatever means that are available.

Position paper: Enhancing research, development and education for the promotion of healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases

הגברת מחקר, פיתוח וחינוך לקידום אריכות חיים בריאים ומניעת מחלות זקנה

כיום בישראל חיים כ-980 אלף קשישים וצפוי כי בשנת 2035 יחיו בישראל כ-1.6 מיליון קשישים. מציאות זו דורשת היערכות מצד מערכות הבריאות והרווחה למתן מענה ראוי והולם הן מבחינת שירות לאזרח הקשיש, הן למניעת קריסה מערכתית וכלכלית, והן לשילוב חברתי שוויוני וכתוצאה מכך שיפור איכות החיים וצמיחה כלכלית. קידום מחקר, פיתוח וחינוך בתחום הזקנה הוא תנאי הכרחי להשגת מטרות אלה. עם זאת, מדינת ישראל משקיעה רק כ- 0.5% מתקציב המחקר הכולל של המדינה בחקר הזקנה ומחלות תלויות גיל. בשל חשיבות הנושא, תכנית העבודה הכללית מס’ 13 של ארגון הבריאות העולמי לשנים 2019-2023 קובעת כי “הבטחת הזדקנות בריאה היא משימה דחופה בכל המדינות”.

עמותת ”נכה לא חצי בן אדם” בשיתוף עם עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים” וארגונים שותפים אחרים, מצטרפים אל קביעת ארגון הבריאות העולמי ומציעים תכנית פעולה מפורטת ליישום המדיניות בישראל. 

עיקרי התכנית

  1. הגדלת תקציב מחקר ופיתוח – יש להבטיח גידול משמעותי במידת המימון הממשלתי והלא-ממשלתי למחקר בסיסי, יישומי, תרגומי (מכוון-מטרה) וקליני, ופיתוח טכנולוגי, למניעת תהליכי הזדקנות ניווניים, נכויות, ומחלות כרוניות הקשורות לתהליך ההזדקנות, ולמען הארכת תוחלת החיים הבריאים והפוריים, בכל מהלכם.
  2. הגברת המודעות והחינוך – יש ליצור ולהרחיב מסגרות ותכניות לימוד וחינוך אקדמאיות בנושא מחקר בסיסי ויישומי אודות תהליך ההזדקנות ומחלות זקנה, קידום אריכות חיים בריאים, מניעת מחלות זקנה ושיפור איכות החיים לאוכלוסייה המבוגרת, על מכלול ההיבטים הביולוגיים, הרפואיים, הטכנולוגיים, הסביבתיים, והחברתיים.
  3. הקמה ושיפור מערכות ציבוריות לגילוי מוקדם ומניעת מחלות זקנה – יש לפתח וליישם מדדים מבוססי ראיות לאומדן תופעות ההזדקנות, לניבוי וגילוי מוקדם של מחלות זקנה כמכלול ולבדיקת יעילות של התערבויות טיפוליות למניעתן, ובמקביל לשפר מדדים לבחינת יכולת תפקוד ותעסוקה של הקשישים ולשיפור יכולות ותפקודים אלה.

תודה על תמיכתך!

בכבוד רב

ד”ר איליה סטמבלר. מנכ”ל מדעי. עמותת “ותק – התנועה לאיכות ואריכות חיים” (ע”ר)

חנן טל. מנכ”ל. עמותת “נכה לא חצי בן אדם” (ע”ר)

אלכס פרידמן. יו”ר. עמותת “נכה לא חצי בן אדם” (ע”ר)

(עיקרי נייר עמדה זה נכללו בדו”ח ועדת הכנסת לבניית תוכנית אב לאומית בתחום הזקנה כנושאים לדיון אסטרטגי עתידי.)

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Israel can and should become an important contributor to the international geroscience research, development, application and education

By Ilia Stambler, PhD 

Vetek (Seniority) – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life (Israel) 

Summary 

Due to the aging of the global population and the derivative increase in major aging-related non-communicable diseases and their economic burden, there is an urgent international need to promote the research, development and application of and education on effective and safe therapeutic geroscience interventions. These interventions are designed to mitigate degenerative aging processes, thus preventing and eliminating the main underlying contributors for major chronic aging-related diseases and thus improving the healthy and productive longevity for the elderly population. Insofar as aging is the main contributing factor of major chronic age-related diseases, the research and development efforts in the fields of geroscience and of major chronic diseases are integrally related. Israel can be an important contributor to these international R&D efforts, for which it can offer its proven record of scientific and technological achievements and innovation, its strong supportive infrastructure for research and development, its highly skilled scientific and technological work force, including leadership in diverse branches of biomedical research on aging and aging-related diseases. Yet a stronger effort will be needed to build on those strengths and realize the country’s potential in the field for the benefit of the Israeli and global population. Israel can help further promote the field, not only locally, but internationally, by creating and sharing policy suggestions for the advancement of the field. 

  1. Israel has made significant progress in the fields related to geroscience and combat of major aging-related diseases. 

Israel can and should be an important contributor to the global geroscience endeavors, building on its scientific, technological and societal achievements in the field of aging and related fields[1]: 

  • In recent years, Israel has seen a substantial rise in the maturity of its academic landscape relevant to the research of aging and longevity. At least one aging research center or cluster is either present or planned for every Israeli university. Moreover, there is an extensive network of geriatric hospitals and geriatric departments in all of Israel’s major hospitals where cutting edge clinical aging research takes place.
  • Dozens of labs and R&D departments in Israel excel in all areas related to geroscience and healthy longevity, including developing geroscience-based drugs and other therapies, regenerative medicine and bioengineering, genetic and epigenetic interventions, personalized medicine, data mining and digital health, nanomedicine, diagnostics and biomarkers of aging, nutrition and ergonomics, assistive technologies (see the report “Longevity Industry in Israel” 20191).
  • The Israeli government has made promising first steps toward addressing Healthy Longevity as a core national priority. Several state-supported programs emerged for the advancement of aging-related biomedical R&D, such as the “Scientific and Technological Infrastructure for the Elderly” and the “Healthy Aging” programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology[2], and the bi-national Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership on Ageing (BIRAX Ageing) supported by the Israeli and UK governments[3]. Such support programs can and need to be reinforced and analogous programs in additional ministries can and need to be established. Yet the existing programs set a precedent and a proof of impact.
  • Israel is among the top 10 countries in the world in general life expectancy (~82.5 years)[4] and in the 5th place in healthy life expectancy (~73 years)[5], with an intermediate gap between healthy and general life expectancies (~9.5 years). These achievements give encouragement and confidence in the ability to further improve the healthy longevity metrics.
  • Israel excels in scientific and technological innovation. In 2019, Israel was in the 5th place in the Bloomberg Innovation Index[6]. In 2015, Israel was in the first place in the world for research intensity, investing in research about 4.3% of its GDP[7]. For the past several years, Israel has been among the top ten countries in terms of scientific publications and patents per capita, as well as percent of scientists and technicians per 10,000 employees[8]. In 2018 Israel was ranked the world’s third most educated country[9].
  • Israel is in the 6th place in healthcare efficiency, showing a high general and healthy life expectancy with relatively low health care expenditures[10]. The Israeli government spends 7.5% of GDP on public healthcare, compared to 8.8% average in OECD. Israel is home to an advanced socialized healthcare system, with all of its citizens guaranteed high quality medical care.
  • Strong advances have been made in implementing preventive medicine and new medical technologies, which has led to significant improvements in people’s health. Thus, the frequency of heart attacks dropped in Israel by 50% in the last decade due to improving health technologies and prevention[11]. Since 2000, the general mortality rates decreased by close to 30%[12].
  • Israel has the lowest rate of diet-related deaths worldwide[13] and is among the top ten countries in the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index[14].
  • Israel is strongly involved in international cooperation in biomedical science and technology. International R&D cooperation departments exist in several ministries, including Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science and Technology, the Israel Innovation authority of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with science and technology collaboration agreements with dozens of countries.
  • Israel provides platforms for international networking in the field of aging. It has been host to several large national and international summits on aging, such as “The 8th European Congress of Biogerontology: Healthy Aging and Regenerative Medicine” in 2013 in Beer Sheba University; the series of National Conferences “Pathways to Healthy Longevity” in Bar Ilan University in 2014 and 2017; the conference “International Perspectives on Geroscience – Israel” in Weizmann Institute of Science in 2019 co-sponsored by the US National Institute on Aging via the Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, and others.
  • Israel has a strong and diverse healthcare market. The nation’s reputation as a global technology R&D hub allows for interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare that take advantage of the latest advances in IT and digital health technologies. Israel’s healthcare technologies market is estimated to be worth $5.8 billion ($2 billion devices market and $3.8 billion pharmaceuticals market). The Israeli digital health market has grown considerably in recent years, with the number of digital health startups increasing from 65 in 2005 to 400 in 2016, and with investments in digital health increasing by 27% in 20161. About 1500 life science companies operate in Israel, and are supported by the government.
  • Israel is a global leader in digitization of health records. Electronic medical records have existed in the Israeli Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) since the early 1980, and presently the entire health system in Israel is digitized. This provides unique opportunities for longitudinal data-mining to find determinants, risk factors and successful interventions against aging-related diseases and for healthy longevity. Based on this infrastructure, the Israeli government has approved large investments into the national digital personalized health project aiming to utilize digitized personal health records of all of Israel’s 9 million citizens, with the aim to assist in developing new drugs through big data analysis.
  • Israel’s population is uniquely diverse, including residents stemming from over 100 countries, Jewish and non-Jewish, from all races, with uniquely diverse genetic and other biological backgrounds. This diversity will allow wide possibilities for cross-fertilization and cross-referencing of findings and the widest possible applicability of the research results.
  • Due to Israel’s strengths in aging-related scientific, technological, healthcare and policy infrastructure, it was ranked 3rd in the world in “longevity progressiveness index”[15].
  • Aging is increasingly recognized in Israel as an important national challenge, including the recognition of the need to develop specific policies to prepare for and address the aging challenge. Following the significant electoral gains of the Israel Pensioners Party “Gil” in the election of 2006 under the leadership of Mr. Rafi Eitan, in 2007 there was established the Ministry for Senior Citizens specifically to address the problems and needs of the aging population. Yet, in 2015 the ministry became the Ministry for Social Equality, and the relative proportion of involvement with the aging challenge has diminished. In recent years, several policy initiatives have aimed to address particular areas of the aging challenge, such the “National Program for Long-term Nursing Care for the Elderly” of 2017. Yet, perhaps the first truly comprehensive and far-reaching policy program to improve the preparedness of the Israeli society for the population aging, including all of its aspects, is the “National Masterplan on Aging” initiated in 2018, and developed by a topical Knesset committee, as a joint effort of the Knesset committees on Health, Labor and Welfare. The Masterplan generally considers the improvement of well-being of the elderly in Israel, addressing such problems of their life as: poverty, employment and retirement, nursing in community and institutions, family caregivers, loneliness, inter-departmental coordination, abuse and neglect, independency, healthcare services, welfare services, pensions and allocations, public housing, and technologies. During the program preparation, there was the recognition of the critical need to support biomedical research and development for the amelioration of degenerative aging processes and aging-related diseases and extension of healthy longevity. On the initiative of the associations “Vetek (Seniority) – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life” and “Israeli Longevity Alliance” (partners of the “International Society on Aging and Disease”) and “Disabled, Not Half a Person,” two special hearings were held in Knesset by the masterplan preparation committee on “Enhancing research, development and education for the promotion of healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases” and recommendations were submitted to the committee. Following this initiative, the subject of “Enhancing research, development and education for the promotion of healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases” was included in the published report of the Israel National Masterplan on Aging as a strategic subject for future discussion[16]. This subject and the recommendations will be further promoted in the next Knesset term. 

Building on the past achievements, there is still a vital need to develop the geroscience and healthy longevity field in Israel, and there exists a large space for the growth of the field. 

2. Building on the past achievements, there is still a vital need to enhance geroscience and healthy longevity R&D in Israel to address the urgent problems and future demands of the aging society. 

There are several specific pressing needs and demands for the development of the geroscience and healthy longevity field in Israel. The needs and the corresponding recommendations listed below closely follow the points made by the Vetek and allied associations in their recommendations for “Enhancing research, development and education for the promotion of healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases” in the Israel National Masterplan on Aging. Yet, here they are given a wider international perspective, insofar as these needs and recommendations are quite common and applicable for virtually any country. Moreover, these needs and recommendations can be advocated and promoted via international frameworks and organizations, both globally and for specific countries on a case-by-case basis.

  • The need to increase resources and investments for the geroscience and healthy longevity field.

Today, there are about 980,000 people in Israel over the age 65 (about 11% of the country’s population), and it is expected that the number of the elderly will increase to 1.6 million by 2035. This reality demands the preparedness of the healthcare and welfare systems to provide worthy and sufficient services for the elderly, adequate solutions for the prevention of systemic economic and healthcare collapse, as well as for the equitable social inclusion of the elderly, and as a result the improvement of their quality of life and the county’s economic growth.  To achieve those goals, the advancement of medical research and development is a necessary condition. The aging-related health decline is the major cause of mortality, morbidity and disability. It is thus the root cause of all healthcare and economic challenges related to the population aging and should be addressed according to the severity of the problem. Therefore, considerable resources must be dedicated to the advancement of research, development and education aimed at the amelioration of degenerative aging processes and debilitating aging-related diseases in order to extend healthy longevity as much as possible for the entire population.

Yet, the investment of human and material resources in the field is still insufficient in Israel. Presently, the State of Israel expends only about 0.5% of its general research budget for the research of aging and aging-related diseases (just about $5M dedicated annual state budget). Except for the budget framework for science, technology and innovation for the older persons within the Ministry of Science and Technology, there are no other defined budget frameworks in Israel for research and development in the field of aging, healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases. There are limited support frameworks that can be adapted to the subject, such as research budgets for specific diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cancer, etc., which by their nature are aging-related diseases. But in fact, there are no dedicated support frameworks specifically addressing aging-related ill health as a whole (old-age multimorbidity), neither addressing aging as the primary contributing factor for age-related diseases, and there is almost no reference to the special medical needs and characteristics of the aging individuals and the older population. Their characteristics and medical needs are often dramatically different in terms of diagnosis and treatment from the younger population, and the difference may have a decisive impact on the effectiveness of treatment. There is also a lack of centralized R&D support frameworks for the field of aging in Israel, such as the NIH’s National Institute on Aging that exists in the US.

Therefore, defined budget frameworks must be established for medical research and development that will specifically address the issue of aging, and promote healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases. Specifically, a defined significant percentage of the research and development budgets of the relevant ministries must be dedicated to the field. These should include the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Science and Technology; the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Council for Higher Education; the Israel Innovation Authority; the Israel Science Foundation; the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities including the National Infrastructure Forum for Research and Development; the Ministry for Social Equality; the National Insurance Institute; the bi-national and international research programs in which Israel is a partner, particularly in the divisions concerning the research and treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases.

These frameworks must provide funding for calls for research proposals, grants, scholarships, services and action plans designed to alleviate the degenerative aging process and improve the longevity and quality of life of the older population, on behalf and in cooperation of the relevant ministries and institutions.

  • The need to increase education in the field of geroscience and healthy longevity, on all levels and for all segments of society.

There is a now a severe deficit of relevant educational materials of any kind in Israel, in the field of aging generally, and particular areas of geroscience and healthy longevity promotion in particular. Currently, aging research is severely under-represented in all academic and other educational frameworks. Good education may be considered a primary condition for progress. There is a need to address the large deficit of knowledge and training on the subject of biological aging, its biomedical improvement and healthy longevity, in most existing institutions of learning. The need should be obvious. It should be clear that prior to any research, development and application on biological aging, there is a need to educate specialists who will be able to contribute to the various aspects of the field. There is an even prior need to educate the broader public on the importance of such research to prepare the ground for further involvement.

Such education is currently very limited. In practical terms, there are presently rather few dedicated structures in Israel to promote and coordinate knowledge exchange and dissemination on biological aging and healthy longevity promotion. There is an urgent necessity for such educational structures to make the narrative on biology of aging and healthy longevity prevalent in the public and academic discourse. To improve the communication and integration, it appears to be crucially important to commonly include the subjects of biogerontology, geroscience and healthy longevity promotion as central parts of learning curricula, and not only in universities, but in every learning and teaching framework, especially those related to biology, medicine or natural sciences generally. Yet, unfortunately, and strangely enough, the study of the biology of aging and longevity is rarely a part of university curriculum and virtually never a part of high school or community education curriculum. Thus, there is a vast range of opportunities to develop educational and training materials and courses, including materials and courses of professional interest, from undergraduate to postgraduate levels, as well as of general interest, presenting recent advances in aging and longevity science. Educational teaching and training materials on the subject should be developed and disseminated for people at all education levels, both for the academia and the general public, for all age groups, for different sectors and in different languages, in accordance with their specific abilities and characteristics. Teaching programs that increase motivation and stimulate scientific thinking in the field should be developed for children, university students at different study stages (undergraduate and graduate), for interns and specialists, and as a part of adult enrichment studies.

In particular, it is necessary to develop study materials, such as courses, text books, problem solvers, guidelines and professional specialization programs in the biology of aging, especially for physicians and biologists in the fields adjacent to aging research, as well as educational materials for the general public. The materials for the general public should include lectures, reviews of the latest scientific developments in the field and practical recommendations for the promotion of healthy longevity and for the preparation of the younger generation to the challenges that expect them. There must be prepared and disseminated authoritative, evidence-based information about lifestyle regimens (such as nutrition, physical activity and rest) that promote healthy longevity and prevent aging-related ill health. A variety of educational teaching and training means should be developed, including conferences, printed materials, knowledge competitions, interactive web platforms, games and other accessible technological means. Relevant ministries and institutions should be involved in the development of and providing access to these educational programs, from the Ministry of Education and the Council for Higher Education to local authorities, public associations, and community centers. In order to facilitate the progress, there is a need to encourage the establishment of educational pilots and the examination of good practices in relevant ministries and other institutional frameworks.

  • The need to establish and improve evaluation measures for degenerative aging, early detection and prevention of aging-related diseases and to implement these evaluation measures in preventive health programs for the aging population.

One of the primary specific needs to develop the geroscience field, in Israel and elsewhere, appears to be the establishment of agreeable, scientific evidence-based evaluation criteria for the efficacy and safety of geroprotective (geroscience or healthspan-enhancing) therapies. Such commonly agreed evaluation criteria are presently lacking, in Israel and elsewhere. Yet, they appear to be absolutely necessary in order to set up the end points for the development of geroscience-based therapies and diagnostics and provide value-based incentives for academic, public and commercial R&D entities involved in the field. The field of geroscience is predicated on the recognition of aging as a major contributing and modifiable factor of pathogenesis, including such recognition in regulatory and budgeting frameworks. Yet, it appears that the primary necessary requirement for the degenerative aging process to be recognized as such a modifiable factor and therefore an indication for research, development and intervention, is to develop evidence-based diagnostic evaluation criteria and definitions for degenerative aging and for the efficacy and safety of potential means against it[17]. Without such scientifically grounded and clinically applicable diagnostic evaluation criteria and definitions, the discussions about “treating,” “postponing,” “intervening into” or even “curing” degenerative aging processes will be mere slogans. It appears to be impossible to “treat,” “postpone,” “intervene into” or “cure” a condition that it is impossible to diagnostically evaluate and measure the effectiveness and safety of treatment. Such evaluation criteria and measurements would need to become the basis for public geroscience-oriented health programs designed for the prevention of aging-related diseases, while measuring the effectiveness and safety of the interventions.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement improved evaluation measures and criteria for assessing the aging process, for the early diagnosis and prediction of multiple aging-related diseases (old-age multimorbidity), for examining the effectiveness of treatments for their prevention and for estimating and improving the older persons’ functional and employment abilities. Commonly agreed, science-based and authoritative guidelines should be provided for such measures by authoritative and representative national and international organizations. To develop such measures, it is necessary to increase and improve the collection and processing of various types of data on aging, including biological and medical data in combination with behavioral and social, economic and environmental data. In this process, it is necessary to establish and/or expand relevant databases (registries) and analytical platforms and tools (knowledge centers) in order to facilitate the collection, design, accessibility, analysis, integration and sharing of data on aging, promotion of healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases. These databases and analytical tools should be used predictively to model large amounts of data for more effective diagnosis and treatment and to allow personalized medicine for the older subjects, with reference to their aging process. 

      In Israel, in order to establish and expand these measurement and analysis systems, it is necessary to involve the relevant ministries and institutions, in particular the Ministry of Health, with the maximum possible cooperation of other entities who have access to data on aging, such as research institutions, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, local authorities and public and commercial research communities. The goals of evaluating the aging processes, early detection and prevention of aging-related ill health as a whole (preventing old-age multimorbidity) and extension of healthy lifespan, should be specifically defined in relevant frameworks and programs, such as the National Program for Personalized Medicine and the National Program for Digital Health, as well as relevant international health promotion programs where Israel takes part. Initiatives and pilots of different extents on the subject should be encouraged in all sectors, while supporting their cooperation.

  1. Suggestions on how to promote innovation and development of the geroscience and healthy longevity field through international organizations in terms of science and education, in Israel and internationally. 

The above needs and demands for the development of the geroscience and healthy longevity field, directly yield policy recommendations for the field’s advancement. Currently, official policy recommendations for the promotion of the geroscience and healthy longevity field are lacking in most major international as well as national frameworks. Such recommendations, for both international and national policy frameworks, must be developed and advocated by authoritative and representative international organizations promoting geroscience research and education.

 An exemplary effort to develop and advocate such policy recommendations is the position paper of the International Society on Aging and Disease (ISOAD), entitled “The Critical Need to Promote Research of Aging and Aging-related Diseases to Improve Health and Longevity of the Elderly Population” (2015)[18]. This position paper makes the general appeal that ”Governments should ensure the creation and implementation of the policies to promote research into the biology of aging and aging-related diseases, for improving the health of the global elderly population.” It further provides specific policy suggestions with reference to enhancing funding, institutional support and incentives for biomedical aging research. This position paper has been translated to 12 languages and submitted for consideration to several governments. It has stimulated further discussion, encouraging the academic community, the general public and decision makers to elaborate on the policies to support the aging R&D field[19].

Such position papers and consultations can have tangible effects on public health policy and research policy, as evidenced by another position paper, jointly advanced by the International Society on Aging and Disease, American Federation for Aging Research, International Federation on Aging, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics and other leading organizations on aging, entitled “Aging health and R&D for healthy longevity must be included into the WHO Work Program” (2018)[20]. Largely thanks to this position paper and the associated advocacy campaign, the subject of healthy aging that had been originally absent, was eventually included into WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work for 2019-2023, including specific end points for the reduction of elderly disability and increasing their healthy life expectancy. The contribution of this advocacy campaign was acknowledged by the director of the WHO Ageing and Life Course Division[21]. Another position paper followed the recent establishment of the UNESCO-affiliated Executive Committee on Anti-Aging and Disease Prevention, entitled “The urgent need for international action for anti-aging and disease prevention”[22].   

These are preliminary examples, and more of such position papers, guidelines and advocacy efforts are needed to advance the geroscience and healthy longevity field, both at the national and international levels. Authoritative and representative international organizations should take on this work, preparing and advocating policy suggestions and guidelines, creating educational materials and providing platforms for scientific cooperation in the geroscience and healthy longevity field. 

Specifically, building on the experience of the Israeli program for “Enhancing research, development and education for the promotion of healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases” within the Israel National Masterplan on Aging (see the previous section), such international organizations may consider advancing the following activities and policies, within specific countries and globally:

  • Advocate to increase the R&D budget for the geroscience and healthy longevity field.

International organizations should advocate for a significant increase in the level of governmental and non-governmental funding for basic, applied, translational and clinical research and technological development for the mitigation of degenerative aging processes, aging-related chronic non-communicable diseases and disabilities, in order to extend the healthy and productive life expectancy for the entire population throughout the entire life course. Specifically, the international organizations should advocate for the allocation of defined significant percentages of the research and development budgets of the relevant budgeting frameworks to be dedicated explicitly for the geroscience and healthy longevity field, including bi-national and international research and development programs.

  • Increase education in the geroscience and healthy longevity field.

International organizations should create and expand academic and public education frameworks, programs and educational materials, considering the basic and applied research on aging processes and aging-related diseases, promoting healthy longevity, preventing aging-related diseases and improving the quality of life for the elderly, including biological, medical, technological, environmental and social aspects.

  • Develop and implement measures for the evaluation and prevention of degenerative aging and aging-related diseases.

International organizations should develop and implement and/or advocate for the development and implementation of evidence-based evaluation criteria, measures and indicators to estimate the effects of aging, predict and detect at an early stage multiple aging-related diseases, and examine the effectiveness and safety of therapeutic and preventive interventions against them. Concomitantly, evaluation criteria, measures and indicators must be developed and advanced for the functional and employment capacity of the elderly and for the improvement of their functional capacity. Such evaluation criteria, measures and indicators should be used for establishing and/or improving public health systems for the early detection and prevention of degenerative aging processes and aging-related diseases.

Combined, these measures and policies should advance the geroscience and healthy longevity field, nationally and internationally, for the benefit of the elderly and the entire population.

 

References

[1] Vetek (Seniority) – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life, Aging Analytics Agency (2019).  Longevity Industry in Israel: Landscape Overview. Aging Analytics Agency, London. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: http://www.longevityisrael.org/longevity-industry-in-israel-joint-report-by-vetek-association-and-aging-analytics-agency/.

See also: https://www.israel21c.org/israel-fast-becoming-world-hub-of-aging-industry/

[2] Vetek (Seniority) – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life, Aging Analytics Agency (2019). Israel Ministry of Science and Technology will support longevity research with up to 10 Million NIS call for research proposals. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: http://www.longevityisrael.org/israel-ministry-of-science-and-technology-will-support-longevity-research-with-up-to-10-million-nis-call-for-research-proposals/

See also: https://www.israel21c.org/rd-for-the-elderly/

[3] British Council (2020). BIRAX Ageing.  Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.britishcouncil.org.il/en/birax/projects/ageing.

[4] Israel – OECD data (2019). Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://data.oecd.org/israel.htm.

[5] Helliwell JF, Layard R, Sachs JD (Eds.) (2018). United Nations World Happiness Report 2018. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from:  https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2018/WHR_web.pdf.

[6] Bloomberg (2019). Bloomberg Innovation Index 2019. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-22/germany-nearly-catches-korea-as-innovation-champ-u-s-rebounds.

[7] OECD (2019). Research and development (R&D) – Gross domestic spending on R&D – OECD Data. Accessed March 2020.  Retrieved from: https://data.oecd.org/rd/gross-domestic-spending-on-r-d.htm.

[8] Wikipedia (2019). Science and technology in Israel. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Israel.

[9] OECD (2018). Adult education level. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/adult-education-level.htm#indicator-chart.

[10] Bloomberg (2018). Bloomberg Health Care Efficiency Index 2018. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-19/u-s-near-bottom-of-health-index-hong-kong-and-singapore-at-top.

[11] Israel Ministry of Health Center for Disease Control and the Israel Heart Society (2019). Acute Coronary Syndrome-Israel (ACSIS) Survey 2019. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.health.gov.il/English/MinistryUnits/ICDC/Chronic_Diseases/Heart_diseases/Pages/ACSIS.aspx.

[12] Israel Ministry of Health (2019). Leading causes of death in Israel, the 2000-2016 report. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.health.gov.il/English/News_and_Events/Spokespersons_Messages/Pages/15082019_1.aspx.

[13] GBD 2017 Diet Collaborators (2019). Health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet, 93(10184): 1958-1972 https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(19)30041-8/fulltext.

[14] Bloomberg (2019). Bloomberg Healthiest Countries Index 2019. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-24/spain-tops-italy-as-world-s-healthiest-nation-while-u-s-slips.

[15] Aging Analytics Agency (2019). Global longevity governance landscape: 50 countries big data comparative analysis of longevity progressiveness. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: https://aginganalytics.com/global-longevity-governance/.

[16] Vetek (Seniority) – The Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life (2019). Research, development and education for healthy longevity is included in Israel National Masterplan on Aging. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: http://www.longevityisrael.org/research-development-and-education-for-healthy-longevity-is-included-in-israel-national-masterplan-on-aging/.

[17] Stambler I (2017). Recognizing degenerative aging as a treatable medical condition: methodology and policy. Aging and Disease, 8(5): 583-589 http://www.aginganddisease.org/article/2017/2152-5250/ad-8-5-583.shtml.

[18] Jin K, Simpkins JW, Ji X, Leis M, Stambler I (2015). 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): 1-5 http://www.aginganddisease.org/article/2015/2152-5250/ad-6-1-1.shtml.

[19] Stambler I (2017). Policy suggestions for the promotion of longevity research, development and treatment. In: Longevity promotion: multidisciplinary perspectives. Longevity History, Rishon Lezion. Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: http://www.longevityhistory.com/longevity-promotion-policies/.

[20] Stambler I, Jin K, Lederman S, Barzilai N, Olshansky SJ, Omokaro E, Barratt J, Anisimov VN, Rattan S, Yang S, Forster M, Byles J (2018). Aging health and R&D for healthy longevity must be included into the WHO Work Program. Aging and Disease, 9(2): 331-333 http://www.aginganddisease.org/article/2018/2152-5250/ad-9-2-331.shtml.

[21] Longevity for all (2018).  Aging is now included into the WHO work program. Thanks! Accessed March 2020. Retrieved from: http://www.longevityforall.org/aging-is-now-included-into-the-who-work-program-thanks/.

[22] Zhao RC, Stambler I (2020). The urgent need for international action for anti-aging and disease prevention. Aging and Disease, 11(1): 212-215 http://www.aginganddisease.org/article/2020/2152-5250/ad-11-1-212.shtml.

 

 

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9.40-10.00 דר’ אלי מזרחי (ב”ח גריאטרי שמואל הרופא)  – כל מה שרצית לדעת אודות רפואת הגיל השלישי ולא העזת לשאול

10.00-10.20 הפסקה  

מחקר ופיתוח לאריכות חיים בריאים

10.20-10.40 פרופ’ חיים כהן (אוניברסיטת בר אילן) – תשמור על האנרגיות שלך – בקרה מערכתית של הזדקנות בראיה 

10.40-11.00 פרופ’ איתן אוקון (אוניברסיטת בר אילן) – מחלות ניוון עצבי: החזית הארוכה ביותר במלחמת ההישרדות האנושית

11.00-11.20  ד”ר יאיר פלד (חברת Paragate) – גם לבעלי לב חלש, הסטארט אפ ששואף להוריד את העומס מבתי החולים

 11.20-12.00 ארוחה קלה

פאנל דיון

12.00-13.00 פאנל מקבלי החלטות – היערכות מדינת ישראל להזדקנות האוכלוסיה

ח”כ איציק שמולי

חכ”ל טלי פלוסקוב

ח”כ עודד פורר

מנכ”ל הביטוח הלאומי – מאיר שפיגלר

אחות ראשית ק”ח כללית – לילי פרלמן

מנכ”ל עמותת נכה לא חצי בן אדם – חנן טל

הכניסה חופשית אך מתבקשת הרשמה מראש.

טופס הרשמה

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZskRg9SfJXANb9pp4rFpjh3bLiz7FSGHGJjN33khkto/edit

או אישור הגעה למייל

israelilongevity@gmail.com

פרטים באתר

Kenes2020