May 4-10 is Healthy Longevity Week in Russia — 8 мая 2026 г. в 16:58:58.799
May 4-10 is Healthy Longevity Week in Russia According to the definition of the World Health Organization, healthy longevity is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being that allows a person to remain active and involved in life at any age. In recent years, the journal "Human Ecology" has published several articles directly devoted to the problems of aging and healthy longevity. 🌍 International strategy: What is the world already doing for healthy aging? How are different countries preparing for demographic aging? In two review articles, the team led by E. Y. Golubeva and A. G. Solovyov analyzes the global architecture of healthy aging policy. 🔹 In their review, the authors analyze in detail the conceptual framework of the WHO Decade of Healthy Aging (2020-2030). The central idea of WHO is "healthy aging" as a process of developing and maintaining functional abilities that ensure well—being in old age. The focus is on a paradigm shift: from a purely medical approach to a personalized and coordinated model of care that integrates medical, psychological, social and economic support. The analysis also reveals the points of contact between the WHO Decade and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 3 — health and well—being, Goal 11 - creating cities conducive to the elderly). 🔹 In a review dedicated to the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030), the authors show that higher-income countries are more likely to adopt national strategies on aging (83% of high-income countries versus 44% of low-income countries). At the same time, most national plans are based on the principles of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, which covers three key areas: the participation of older people in development, health and well-being, and the creation of an enabling environment. The researchers emphasize that despite the global scale of the problem, there is no single universal solution — each country adapts policy to its demographic and cultural characteristics. 🧬 The genetic code of longevity: What do the molecules say? Healthy longevity is largely based on the level of genes, and this is not a metaphor. N. A. Bebiakova and co-authors in their review investigate the role of polymorphisms of genes of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the aging process. RAS is a key regulator of blood pressure and water-salt balance, but, as the authors show, it also affects the development of cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment, and even the risk of dementia. For example, the A/C genotype of the AGTR1 gene increases the risk of hypertension 4.4 times. The main practical conclusion is that genetic testing of ASD gene polymorphisms (AGT, ACE, AGTR1) can become an important tool for personalized risk assessment and timely prevention, which means prolonging a healthy life. 💪 Muscles in focus: What do sarcopenia and the Arctic have in common? A decrease in muscle strength is one of the most important predictors of loss of functionality in old age. A. A. Abramov and his co—authors studied the factors affecting grip strength in residents of the Russian Arctic in their study. The study involved 1,168 people, and was followed for seven years. The results showed that grip strength decreases with age in both sexes, but in men it decreases faster. At the same time, a higher level of education among men and the absence of financial difficulties among women are associated with greater grip strength. An unexpected conclusion: more fat mass is associated with higher grip strength, while increased muscle mass is associated with lower grip strength. The authors emphasize the need for further study of this paradox in Arctic populations. Healthy longevity is not just the absence of disease. This is the ability to maintain autonomy, a clear mind and vital energy. And modern science is giving us more and more tools to make this a reality.