Research and Policy to Achieve Healthy Aging in Asia: Recommendations from an Expert Workshop

Abstract

Asia has currently one of the largest concentrations of aging persons in the world. This trend is expected to continue due to increasing longevity and continued fertility reductions in its member countries. Asian countries need to start planning for these future demographic changes by formulating evidence-based policies to address aging. A workshop on healthy aging in Asia was recently organized by the International Life Sciences Institute Southeast Asia (ILSI SEA) Region in Singapore. The goal was to discuss aging-related issues in the region and identify ways to address these issues through scientific research. Policy issues that were identified include: difficulty in translating scientific findings into policy initiatives, lack of government financial resources to support agingresearch, food insecurity among Asian elderly, and diverse ethnic populations that necessitate tailored interventions to address specific health problems. Better quality of health rather than increased longevity was seen as an important goal to strive for. Health issues identified include: maintaining autonomy and independence in a developing country context, developing fitness standards for Asians, examining how Asian populations transition into disability, and identifying health pathways in developing countries, among others. Multi-disciplinary and collaborative research is the best approach to address these issues. Future actions include the establishment of a regional consortium or collaborative network to guide the research agenda that can support aging policies as well as the exploitation of existing opportunities for public-private partnerships.