Study: “The economic value of targeting aging”
Publisher: Nature
Published date: July 2021
PubMed link to study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37117804/
A study published in Nature Aging by Andrew J. Scott, Martin Ellison & David A. Sinclair explores the economic benefits of anti-aging therapies targeting the aging process itself, rather than focusing solely on specific diseases. This study is slightly different from my usual content, but I find it very interesting and important as it sheds light on the potential economic gains as a society in researching and developing anti-aging therapies.
By using the Value of Statistical Life (VSL) methodology, the researchers demonstrate that improving healthspan (the period of life spent in good health) alongside lifespan can yield substantial economic gains. The study highlights various scenarios, including life extension, compressing morbidity, slowing aging, and reversing aging, and demonstrates that targeting aging offers greater overall benefits compared to addressing individual diseases.
Feel welcome to share your own thoughts on this research in the comment section below as well. I will be happy to discuss and learn more about how you see its potential in this field.
Understanding the Current Landscape of Aging
Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past 150 years due to advancements in medical care, sanitation, and nutrition. However, many additional years are not spent in good health. Chronic, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia are becoming more prevalent, leading to longer periods of poor health in old age. This shift highlights the need to prioritize “healthy aging” — ensuring that the additional years of life are healthy and active.
Methodology: The Value of Statistical Life (VSL)
The study employs the Value of Statistical Life (VSL) methodology, a common approach used by government agencies to evaluate the economic benefits of various health interventions. VSL places a monetary value on life improvements by assessing factors such as consumption, work, leisure, and health. This comprehensive economic model allows researchers to estimate the economic benefits of anti-aging therapies that increase longevity and improve health.
Key Economic Arguments for Targeting Aging
Advancements in scientific research are bringing the prospect of extending human life and improving its quality closer to reality. By focusing on the biological process of aging, the study suggests that significant improvements in both lifespan and healthspan can be achieved, offering greater benefits than current strategies focused on individual diseases.
The following are the four key scenarios highlighted in the study exploring the economic benefits of anti-aging therapies:
Life Extension (The Struldbrugg Case)
This scenario, inspired by Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels,” involves extending life expectancy without improving health, leading to a longer period of morbidity. The study finds that while extending lifespan is valuable, the benefits are limited if health quality does not improve simultaneously. This scenario highlights the economic cost of prolonged morbidity and the importance of healthspan.
Compressing Morbidity (The Dorian Gray Case)
This scenario focuses on enhancing healthspan without necessarily extending lifespan. By improving health quality, individuals experience fewer years of poor health, leading to a “compression of morbidity.” This approach shows that improving the proportion of life spent in good health can have significant economic benefits. Healthier individuals are more productive and have lower healthcare costs, leading to substantial savings and increased economic output.
Slowing Aging (The Peter Pan Case)
Slowing the biological aging process results in both increased lifespan and healthspan. This dual benefit scenario demonstrates the highest economic gains, as it enhances both longevity and the quality of life. The study shows that delaying aging can lead to substantial improvements in both health and economic outcomes. People who age more slowly remain healthier and more active for longer, contributing to the economy through prolonged work and reduced healthcare expenses.
Reversing Aging (The Wolverine Case)
This more speculative scenario involves reversing biological aging, potentially through regenerative medicine. While reversing aging sounds dramatic, the study suggests that the economic benefits could be substantial if such interventions become feasible. By potentially resetting the biological clock, individuals could avoid the economic burdens of age-related diseases and continue to contribute to the economy well into older age.
Comparing Aging and Disease Eradication
The researchers compare the benefits of targeting aging against the eradication of specific diseases. Using metformin, a drug with potential anti-aging effects, as a case study, they illustrate that targeting aging can offer more significant health and economic returns than focusing on individual diseases. This is because interventions that slow aging can simultaneously reduce the incidence of multiple age-related diseases. Reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases lowers healthcare costs and increases productivity by maintaining a healthier workforce.
You can read more about Metformin and its potential anti-aging properties here.
The Virtuous Circle of Healthy Aging
One of the most significant findings of the study is the concept of a “virtuous circle.” As improvements in aging lead to better health and longer lives, the economic value of further advancements grows. This positive feedback loop suggests that investing in aging research could yield progressively larger benefits over time. The healthier the population, the greater the economic gains from further health improvements, creating a cycle of continuous economic benefit.
The Economic Benefits of Anti-aging Therapies
The study estimates that slowing aging to increase life expectancy by one year could be worth $38 trillion, while a ten-year increase could reach $367 trillion. These figures underscore the immense economic value of interventions that improve both lifespan and healthspan. The aggregate gains come from enhanced productivity, reduced healthcare costs, and increased economic output from a healthier, longer-living population.
In Summary
The study’s findings underscore the importance of shifting our focus from treating individual diseases to targeting the aging process itself. By doing so, we can achieve significant improvements in both longevity and quality of life, resulting in substantial economic and societal benefits.
As research in aging progresses, the potential to transform our approach to health and longevity becomes more apparent. Investing in the field of anti-aging research not only promises to extend life but also to enhance the quality of those additional years, offering great benefits for individuals and society as a whole.
