‘Longevity India’: IISc to study ageing-based organ degeneration of Indians, propose early interventions for improved health span

With advancements in healthcare facilities in recent decades, early diagnosis of ailments and disease conditions has been one of the major contributory factors for the increase in the average life expectancy in India.

Longevity India will cater to an approach wherein the team will be on the lookout for biomarkers linked in ageing organ-based degenerative signs in lungs, blood and blood linings, the skin and pancreas.

Academics, clinicians and industry will join hands in this initiative for which some initial efforts to decipher the biophysical and functional changes in the body are underway along with the tracking of metabolic alterations, metagenome mapping and profiling the immune system.

“There is an urgent need for diverse stakeholders from academia, healthcare and industry to come together, and nurture technology development and deep research on healthy ageing. We are optimistic that this timely initiative will have a significant impact on tackling the growing burden of ageing in the country,” said Govindan Rangarajan, IISc Director.

The Longevity India’s research focus will be to identify early disease indicators, investigate the ageing biomarkers and develop new therapeutics and technologies to aid in healthy ageing.

IISc’s Centre for Brain Research has been involved in similar longevity studies with respect to signs and indications linked to the brain and aging, alone. Some of the most prevalent conditions among India’s elderly population has been dementia, Alzhimer’s disease and memory-related degeneration.