Technion Center Tackles Global Aging Crisis Through Interdisciplinary Research
Prof. Schai Shen-Orr of the Technion discusses the global aging crisis and how multidisciplinary research centers are working to extend healthspan through immunology, nutrition, and technology.
The global demographic crisis driven by aging populations poses a challenge as significant as climate change. According to Prof. Schai Shen-Orr, head of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Center for Healthy Aging at the Technion, current social systems like healthcare and social security rely on populations with many young workers supporting fewer retirees. With populations aging rapidly, this model requires urgent reevaluation.
Interdisciplinary Approach to Healthy Aging
The Technion has established a multidisciplinary research center, backed by a recent $25 million donation from the Grand family, to tackle healthy aging. Rather than merely extending lifespan, the center aims to close the gap between total life expectancy and healthspan—the period lived in good health. Researchers from computer science, food engineering, urban sociology, and biology are collaborating to understand cognitive decline, nutritional needs for older adults, and the physiological impacts of loneliness.
Immunology and Biological Age
Prof. Shen-Orr's research focuses on the human immune system and measuring 'immunological age' through detailed blood analysis tracking 18 different cell populations. Studies show that immunological age can differ significantly from chronological age, predicting responses to vaccines, immunotherapies, and surgical recoveries. By combining biological data with insights from social sciences and technology, researchers hope to improve the quality of life for older adults worldwide.
