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To Help Aging Populations, Classify Organismal Senescence
Article

To Help Aging Populations, Classify Organismal Senescence

Comprehensive disease classification and staging is required to address unmet needs of aging populations

Science, 2019


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Applicable
  • For Experts

Recommendation

Some people view aging as inevitable. But what if people were to approach the ailments of old age as preventable, treatable and curable instead? In this article, more than two dozen experts argue for setting up a disease classification system through the World Health Organization that will allow basic and clinical researchers to do just that. Policymakers and fund-raisers will find this piece offers a novel and fertile approach to reducing the adverse impacts of senescence on humanity.

Take-Aways

  • Aging is a global public health crisis, and science has the tools needed to treat aging-related diseases.
  • To advance the treatment and cure of aging, researchers need a robust classification system for aging-related diseases.
  • A classification system that brings aging-related diseases and disorders together would improve the ability to study, treat and cure them.

About the Authors

Stuart R.G. Calimport is an honorary fellow at the University of Liverpool and a fellow with the Collaboration for the Advancement of Sustainable Medical Innovation. His co-authors are Barry L. Bentley, Claire E. Stewart, Graham Pawelec, Angelo Scuteri, Manlio Vinciguerra, Cathy Slack, Danica Chen, Lorna W. Harries, Gary Marchant, G. Alexander Fleming, Michael Conboy, Adam Antebi, Gary W. Small, Jesus Gil, Edward G. Lakatta, Arlan Richardson, Clifford Rosen, Karoly Nikolich, Tony Wyss-Coray, Lawrence Steinman, Thomas Montine, João Pedro de Magalhães, Judith Campisi and George Church.