Population aging, the disease of the century

Population aging is becoming one of the most significant social transformations of our century, as a consequence of the decrease in birth rates and the increase in life expectancy caused by new health technologies.

Globally, the population over 65 years of age is growing at an accelerated rate compared to the rest of the segments. According to data from the “World Population Prospects 2019” report, by 2050, one in six people in the world will be 65 years of age or older, corresponding to 16 percent of the population, while at present the proportion is one person for every 11, representing only 9 percent.

According to the report, by 2050, one in four people living in Europe and North America could be over the age of 65. The number of people aged 80 and over is estimated to triple from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million by 2050.

In the not too distant future, this will impact almost every sector of society, including the labor and financial markets, demand for goods and services, and family structure. In the coming years, governments will face fiscal and political pressures due to the healthcare, pension and social protection needs of this growing group of people.

What is aging?

Aging is the set of modifications that living beings undergo morphologically and physiologically throughout their lives, which develops gradually, as a consequence of the action of time and a multiplicity of factors.

The changes experienced occur at the molecular, cellular and organic level, which increases the possibility of generating diseases, triggering the death of the individual.

The subject, regardless of its social impact, causes concern in people due to its repercussions on health and deterioration of the physical image, since aging is characterized by being universal, irreversible and lethal.

Anti-aging technology

Regardless of the social and political actions that should be implemented to mitigate the adverse effects of population aging, the fact is that staying young as long as possible could be of great help both individually and collectively.

This is where anti-aging technology comes in, which has become a great ally in recent years. Some examples are: the identification of the enzyme AR NOX, a free radical that attacks cells and ages them, the identification of the 160 genes responsible for aging and the measurement of the levels of antioxidants in the human body, all thanks to the development of cutting-edge technological tools.

With an investment forecast to 2023 of some 50,000 million dollars for research in this area at a global level, this industry is growing at around 5.7 percent.