Research Profiles – Older, Wiser, Healthier

Canadians are living longer than ever. Medical advances and better lifestyles have resulted in ever-climbing life expectancies. In fact, people born between 2006 and 2008 can expect to live an average of 80.9 years. But our aging population presents a pressing health challenge: What can we do to ensure that we are living better, not just longer?

Aging is a complex process that we still don't fully understand. How does it alter the brain? What diet and exercise choices promote healthy aging? How can we prevent age-related chronic illnesses? And how can we leverage digital technologies to help seniors maintain their independence for as long as possible?

From the biological to the behavioural, health researchers are taking a closer look at what it means to grow older. Their findings will not only help us understand how our minds and bodies change as we age, but also what we can do to improve our quality of life in our golden years.

This month we're profiling three CIHR-funded research projects on healthy aging:

• Mind the Generation Gap: Dr. Elizabeth Badley and her colleagues at the University Health Network in Toronto are using data from the longitudinal National Population Health Survey to examine the health of the baby boomer generation as they enter their senior years.
• A Matter of (Cell) Life and Death: Dr. David Kaplan and his team are studying a family of genes that plays a crucial role in protecting against damage to the nervous system and age-related cognitive decline.
• Growing Older in a Digital Age: Dr. Wendy Young at Memorial University is exploring why adults decrease their use of digital technology as they grow older, and how we can reverse this trend.
• Staying Healthy in the Golden Years: A List of Cochrane Reviews
• Health-adjusted life expectancy 2005-2007