Europe and ageing

Europe faces the immense challenge of unprecedented increase in life expectancy. Although this state of affairs is the essentially positive outcome from multiple improvements in health care and socioeconomic circumstances, it nevertheless presents great strains for all member and associated states of the European Union in terms of increasing importance of age-related health conditions and financial implications for the health care and the social security system. There is urgent need for more basic research on the underpinning science of biological ageing, in order that it shall be possible to minimise dependency and improve quality of life for the rapidly growing numbers of older people.

Europe and ageing research

Despite its high quality, European research capacity in biogerontology is still fragmented which results in scientific progress limitation. A major cause is probably that the biology of ageing is itself inherently complex with research targets at many levels from molecules, cells, and tissues to entire organisms, and in many different biomedical contexts (e.g. dementia, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, visual impairment, skin frailty, declining immune function, etc.). The presently running European Integrated Projects on biological ageing include Geha (genetics of healthy ageing), Mimage (mitochondria in ageing) and Proteomage (conserved mechanisms of ageing at the protein level). LINK-AGE will be developed in close relation with these promising Integrated Projects representing more than fifty European laboratories and SME’s by bringing increased possibilities for further short exchanges of personnel, participation in workshops, and dissemination of knowledge.
The diversity of European research traditions is potentially a rich resource for a topic as multi-faceted as biogerontology, but only if these diverse elements communicate with each other and develop ways of working together. So the scientific impact of LINK-AGE will come from integrating this currently fragmented research activity within Europe. Because it is likely that some of the same fundamental mechanisms are shared, Biogerontology intrinsically requires integration of research across different biological levels, species, and biomedical contexts.

Coordination and Consolidation of European Biogerontology will represent a step forward en route towards the formation of a European College of Biogerontology.

Ethical aspects

LINK-AGE will engage with broader ethical questions about research on the ageing process and its potential impact on human societies. The field receives considerable media attention, resulting from the deep fascination of human societies with recurring myths of eternal youth. Based on previous experience*, LINK-AGE will encourage debate on these issues when there are points of substance to resolve.
*: Matthews, et al. Informed consent of very old patients and modern genomics. Biogerontology, 6, 81-4, 2005

SME participation

At present, there are few SME’s operating in the area of biogerontology within Europe and this is a situation that LINK-AGE will try to change. Scientists within industry will be able to join LINK-AGE on an equal basis to other non-industrial researchers (except possibly registration fees). It is anticipated that the coordination activities will spark new opportunities to form SME’s and/or establish contact with and between existing SME’s.