Family, generation, relations and people concept. Happy smiling grandparents and grandchild painting together
Conclusions of the International Conference on Longevity and Gerontology
The Scientific Senate presented the latest solutions for slowing brain ageing.
Solutions from leading experts in the field
World-renowned experts, doctors and researchers spoke at the International Conference on Longevity and Gerontology about a phenomenon with great social implications, ageing.
The conclusions of the event organised by the Scientific Senate of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania are encouraging, but optimism must be tempered. Progress in this area is a certainty, but there are many steps we need to take to increase the quality of life for the elderly and to counter the phenomenon of imbalance in social systems due to ageing.
The third conference brought together, among others, specialists in gerontology and longevity or active ageing, a concept that is becoming increasingly popular.
The conference was a complex event, resulting from the level of participation, the topics discussed and the engaging and interactive presentations by specialists and guests of the Scientific Senate. Up-to-date information and expert studies were presented by leading specialists from Romania and abroad:
- Dr. Andrea Maier, Professor of Gerontology at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, University of Singapore;
- Alexandra Dobre, President of the Active Ageing Institute Association;
- PhD Guillermo Lopez Lluch, Professor of Cell Biology, Pablo de Olavide University, Spain;
- Dr Gabriel Prada, UMF “Carol Davila”;
- Iuliana Popescu, Research Scientist at Barnstable Brown Diabetes & Obesity Research Center, USA;
- Ema Mercore, President of the Romanian Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
The approach to active ageing must be multidimensional, effectively combining neurocognitive, emotional, risk management, lifestyle and medication solutions.
Researchers’ findings and studies in the field show that targeted medication to slow cognitive ageing is not widely available at present, but it does exist and, as Prof. Dr. Andrea Maier says, it is available and may soon enter the clinical pipeline.
Dr. Iuliana Popescu, Research Scientist at Barnstable Brown Diabetes & Obesity Research Center, USA presented a complex and interesting material on biological age prediction, drawing a parallel between chronological age, specific to the age of the ID card, and biological age, specific to the human body.
Biomarkers are tools for measuring biological age, which we can determine through blood tests and genetic DNA testing.
Prof. Dr Guillermo Lopez Lluch, included in the top World Ranking 2% scientists, highlighted the results of research on the effect of coenzyme Q10 scientifically proven to slow ageing.
The solutions that international experts and researchers present as interventions in slowing cognitive decline are: intense professional and social activities, exercise, healthy lifestyle, family and social support.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Maier , a prolific researcher in the field of gerontology, talked about dietary supplements that can delay ageing, such as coenzyme Q10, NMN or alpha-keto-glutamate. These can help if taken in the right concentration, which only a specialist can prescribe. As an example of vitamin D supplementation, it should also be linked to parallel testing before and after administration to get a clear picture of the results. We also need to be aware of both the benefits that supplements offer and their adverse effects.
Andrea Maier also offered a model of best practice, as Singapore has a whole network of entities working in the field of longevity, with numerous public-private partnerships and collaborations between universities, private companies and the state.
As Prof. Gabriel Prada, a board-certified geriatrician and gerontologist, says, memory loss is normal when it does not affect our daily lives. It was initially thought, long ago, that people with a high level of culture were protected from Alzheimer’s, but in fact cultural activity, a higher level of education or learning a foreign language delays the advanced stages of the disease.
Specifically, to positively influence our quality of life, we need to be socially active, to work longer, to meet with friends, to dance, to paint, to interact with the little ones, to cook, to walk in nature, to read and discuss what we read, to keep our brains active, as well as the other parts of our body.
There is data that people who walk for at least 15 minutes every day for 20 years are likely to live 16 years longer than other people.
The strategy of preventing cognitive decline should be taken into account for preventive purposes from the age of 40, as Professor Ana Aslan said.
When asked by conference participants about the possibility of inheriting Alzheimer’s disease, Prof Prada said there was no cause for concern, with the chances of inheritance being minimal, up to 5%. If the disease occurs at a young age or in several family members, further investigations may be recommended, but even in this case inheritance is not mandatory.
The conference highlighted the need for a national strategy for active ageing, involving companies, universities, hospitals, government and politicians, as is already happening in other countries.
Alexandra Dobre, President of the Active Ageing Institute Association, said that reducing premature ageing and encouraging people to live active professional and social lives requires a strategy that starts with changing existing mindsets, ensuring the necessary legislative systems and providing smart urban ecosystems.
Dr. Ema Mercore, founder and president of the Romanian Society of Lifestyle Medicine Association, specified that it is up to each individual to control their lifestyle and that lifestyle medicine is a new discipline in medical practice that needs to find its place in a preventive approach.
The unanimous conclusion of the conference organised by the Scientific Senate is that there are solutions within our reach to slow down the ageing process of the brain through lifestyle control, and prevention is essential.
You can watch the recording of the conference by clicking on the link below