Geriatrician Bruno Vellas argues that healthy longevity should focus on preventing functional decline before old age. In a recent interview, he stated that today “a 70-year-old has intrinsic capabilities comparable to those of a 60-year-old just two decades ago.”
Vellas, who is the director of research centers on Alzheimer’s and aging in Toulouse, proposes that the medical goal should be to preserve physical and mental functions before dependency occurs. He highlighted that in France, the ICOPE program, led by the World Health Organization, is already monitoring around 150,000 elderly individuals to early identify the loss of functional capability.
The expert suggested that it is crucial to begin evaluating people’s functional capacity from the age of 50. According to Vellas, healthcare systems often focus more on treating diseases rather than preventing the loss of autonomy. He added that fragility, which can be seen as a precursor to dependency, should be addressed in its early stages, when it is still preventable.
Research on biological age has gained importance, according to the specialist. Vellas argues that by accurately measuring this variable, a better understanding can be achieved of why age-related diseases occur and how to develop more effective treatments. The shift in the medical perspective, from treating diseases to maintaining essential capabilities, aligns with the World Health Organization’s definition of healthy aging.
The physician envisions the future of healthy longevity as a new medical specialty, similar to what has happened with obesity. Although he desires this field to be grounded in academic and scientific foundations, he warns that a change in the structure of the healthcare system is essential to implement these new prevention and care strategies.
Vellas concluded his remarks by emphasizing that preventing dependency can benefit millions of elderly individuals, allowing them to continue actively participating in society and contributing to a better quality of life and sustainability in a society facing significant population aging.
Source: www.infobae.com
