As more of us live longer, our chances of developing a chronic disease such a cancer, heart disease, or diabetes increase.
New Film The Healthspan Imperative Draws Awareness to the Issue of the Aging of the American Population
Published August 7, 2014
Martha Stewart-Narrated Film Features Insights from Leading Aging Research Experts
Washington, D.C., August 7, 2014 – The Alliance for Aging Research and the Healthspan Campaign announce the release of The Healthspan Imperative, a landmark new film Narrated by Emmy Award-winning television show host and best-selling author Martha Stewart, it takes a close look at the challenges brought about by an aging American population and the scientific quest to increase our healthspan, the length of time we spend free of the costly and harmful conditions of old age.
(Click here to watch the film.)
The U.S. population is in the midst of a major demographic shift. It is getting older—and quickly. By 2030, the U.S. 65 and over population will have doubled since the turn of the century. Thanks to advances in technology, people will also live longer.
This, however, does not come without consequences: Longer lifespans, coupled with the explosion in the older population, is expected to produce a “Silver Tsunami” of costly chronic diseases and disabilities of aging. Finding a way to avert this impending disaster will be this country’s next great priority.
The Healthspan Imperative shares how the world’s best scientists, doctors and professionals are working toward finding ways to turn back the clock through aging research. This film features exclusive interviews from aging research experts who give their frank, unfiltered insights on the gravity of the challenges and their hopes for a solution through aging research.
Experts include:
- Nir Barzilai, M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
- Marie A. Bernard, M.D., National Institute on Aging
- Laura Carstensen, Ph.D., Stanford Center on Longevity
- Dana Goldman, Ph.D., University of Southern California
- Brian Kennedy, Ph.D., Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- James Kirkland, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic
- Rick I. Morimoto, Ph.D., Northwestern University
- S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago
- Dan Perry, Alliance for Aging Research
- Felipe Sierra, Ph.D., National Institute on Aging
Aging research, the film shows, is not science fiction. There are discoveries being made that demonstrate that the aging process can be altered and that chronic diseases can be postponed or even prevented. But in order to make this happen, more federal support for aging research and more collaboration among research agencies are a necessity. The film lays out a convincing case that delaying aging would provide immense financial benefits to both the U.S. and global economy.
“The Healthspan Imperative explores one of our country’s biggest challenges,” says Sue Peschin, MHS, president and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research. “Chronic diseases of aging are a tremendous threat to not only our health care system, but to the well-being of older adults and their family caregivers. As this film shows, research into the underlying biological process of aging has the potential to extend healthy years of life, but only if we increase our federal investment. The most effective strategy in ‘bending the cost curve’ in health care will be preventing age-related chronic diseases in the first place.” The film is available online at www.healthspancampaign.org/film. The webpage also includes resources on how to share the film and to learn more about the issue of the aging of the American population.
To raise awareness about the film, the Alliance has launched a social media campaign using #healthspan on Twitter. Funding for the film was provided by Allianz, Battelle, The Retirement Research Foundation, the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research. For a media kit, please click here. For more information about the film or to connect with any of the experts, please email email Noel Lloyd or call 202.370.7825.
About the Alliance for Aging Research
The Alliance for Aging Research is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the pace of scientific discoveries and their application in order to vastly improve the universal human experience of aging and health. The Alliance was founded in 1986 in Washington, D.C., and has since become a valued advocacy organization and a respected influential voice with policymakers. Visit www.agingresearch.org for more information.
About the Healthspan Campaign
The Healthspan Campaign is a coalition of organizations with a mission to help advocate for research into the basic biology of aging through consensus building, communications outreach and political strategy. For more information, visit www.heathspancampaign.org.
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