LONGEVITY INDIA INITIATIVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Social Issues)

Context: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) announces the launch of the Longevity India Initiative, a project focused on efforts to extend human 'healthspan' and tackle ageing-related challenges.

Longevity India Initiative

• About: It  is a project of IISc, focused on to systematically study the causes of deteriorating health conditions among the elderly and devise interventions to aid an improved health span.
• Large-Scale Clinical Study: It has initiated a large-scale clinical study that will involve researchers from multiple IISc departments, clinicians, industry, philanthropists, and civil society.
• Need: Increasing old age population (silver economy).

oWHO has projected that by 2050, the country would be home to over 31 crore people above the age of 60. So, it is imperative that we leverage technology to provide accessible geriatric healthcare, nurture the silver economy and invest in digital systems that support ageing populations.

• Research Objectives: The initiative seeks to enhance the understanding of ageing through both fundamental and applied research and to develop solutions that can improve the quality of life.
• Development of Interventions: It will leverage advanced research to develop interventions that can help manage age-related diseases more effectively, with an emphasis on promoting healthy ageing across India.
• Funding: The initiative has received initial grant funding support from Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India.

Significance

• Growing Elderly Population: With India's elderly population projected to surge to 347 million by 2050, it is imperative that there is a need to leverage technology to provide accessible geriatric healthcare.
• Nurturing the Silver Economy: The initiative aims to nurture the silver economy and invest in digital systems that support ageing populations.