Across the world, populations are aging. Increases in life expectancy over the last century, combined with declining birth rates mean that the proportion of older people is on the rise in many countries. Projections suggest that by 2050, one in five people worldwide will be over 60 years old (up from one in eight in 2015).
An aging population brings multiple challenges. As people age, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer become more common. These diseases shorten people’s “healthspan” (the period of life spent in good health), take a toll on families, and drain healthcare resources. Policymakers and healthcare professionals are faced with an urgent question: how can we reduce the burden of physical disease in older people?
Read the full article at The Conversation.
