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As India grapples with the prospect of an ageing population projected to double to over 20 per cent of the total populace by 2050, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has taken a proactive stance by calling for research-based interventions to promote healthy ageing in the country.
In a bid to tackle the multifaceted challenges associated with ageing, the prestigious institute unveiled the Longevity India Initiative on Thursday. The initiative, described as an ambitious multidisciplinary effort, aims to extend human healthspan and address ageing-related complexities through a combination of fundamental and applied research.
“We are delighted to announce the launch of the Longevity India Initiative, an ambitious multidisciplinary effort to extend human healthspan and tackle ageing-related challenges in India,” the institute announced in a post on X.com on Friday.
Led by a team of multidisciplinary experts hailing from academia, industry, and healthcare sectors, the initiative will undertake a large-scale clinical study to delve into the intricacies of ageing and develop innovative solutions tailored to India’s specific demographic landscape.
Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner of Accel India, underscored the significance of advancing ageing-related scientific research, emphasizing the potential of research-based interventions to foster healthy ageing in India. Prakash, who provided the initiative with initial grant funding, highlighted the need to challenge the notion of ageing as an inevitable fate and explore diverse factors such as lifestyle, culture, genetics, and environment that shape the ageing process.
“The Longevity India Initiative challenges the notion that ageing is an inevitable fate. As we study the complexities of ageing, we recognise the importance of considering diverse factors that shape it, including lifestyle, culture, genetics, and environment. With India’s unique demographic landscape, existing longevity research may not suffice. This initiative is an attempt to bring together multiple stakeholders working in the space, and explore the subject factoring in India’s specific and diverse needs,” said Prakash.
The clinical research under the Longevity India Initiative will primarily focus on identifying early signs of age-related diseases, probing ageing biomarkers, and developing new therapeutics and technologies to facilitate healthy ageing.
As India gears up to confront the demographic shift towards an ageing population, initiatives like the Longevity India Initiative are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping policies and interventions aimed at promoting the health and well-being of older adults across the country.
