RIYADH: The Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh opened on Tuesday focused on the latest advancements in extending the healthy lifespan of humans.
In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the summit, Rakan W. Tarabzoni, chief operating officer of the Future Investment Initiative Institute, spoke about a health initiative that the organization introduced in Oct. 2024.
“We want all companies, all the hiring institutions to provide health checkups for the individuals, which means healthier employees, which means more productive employees, which means successful entities or companies,” he said.
“That will only happen if we help people to do preventive checkups before having to help them deal with the diseases after they happen.”
One of the key sessions on the opening day, “Science Beyond the Hallmarks of Aging: Exposomes, Microbiomes, Sexual Dimorphism, and Scientific Investigations around Healthspan,” delved into the latest advancements in understanding aging.
Dr. Felipe Sierra, chief science officer of the Hevolution Foundation, led the opening statement, setting the stage for an exploration of how recent scientific investigations are reshaping our comprehension of aging.
Dr. Dena Dubal, professor of neurology at the University of California, focused on the communication between different organs and their role in aging.
She emphasized the importance of studying these interactions rather than isolating individual organs.
Dubal said: “It’s fascinating to explore how different organs communicate. For instance, what signals does the kidney send to the brain.”
Her recent work highlights how biological sex impacts aging and health.
Dubal said: “True sex differences exist. For example, women live longer than men across the globe, and understanding the resilience behind this could lead to new medicines for both sexes.”
This understanding could lead to innovative treatments tailored for both genders, she said.
The session was moderated by Dr. Sebastien Thuault, chief editor of Nature Aging.
The summit, of which Arab News is a media partner, runs until Wednesday at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh.
Dr. Paul D. Robbins, associate director of the Institute on the Biology of Aging & Metabolism at the University of Minnesota, discussed the concept of cellular senescence, a state where cells stop dividing and contribute to aging and disease.
He noted: “Senescence is a hallmark of aging, and targeting these cells could potentially slow aging and extend healthspan.”
Robbins mentioned a significant initiative funded to map senescent cells across human tissues, aiming to identify which cells to target for therapeutic intervention.
Dr. James Kirkland, director of the Center for Gerotherapeutics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, highlighted pressing health issues in Saudi Arabia, stating: “There are two main diseases related to cell senescence that are now considered leading causes of death for both males and females.
“A leading cause of death for males is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, for which there is no effective treatment. It’s a senescence-driven disorder along with fibrosis.”
He continued: “The leading cause of death for women in Saudi Arabia is triple-negative breast cancer.
“New drugs, including a class called senolytics, which the Hevolution Foundation is funding studies for, may make inroads against this deadly form of cancer.”
Kirkland pointed to increasing mortality rates from disorders related to exposomes, emphasizing the need for further investigation into these trends.
Dr. Pinchas Cohen, dean of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California, advocated for more personalized approaches to health and aging.
He stressed: “We need individualized lifestyle interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all model. The Mediterranean diet, while beneficial, may not be effective for every population.”
His research emphasized the importance of tailoring interventions to individual genetic backgrounds and lifestyles to maximize their potential.
Cohen also highlighted mitochondrial health. He said: “By understanding mitochondrial DNA mutations and their effects on metabolism, we can develop targeted therapies that address the root causes of age-related diseases.”
Dr. Eric Verdin, CEO and president of the Buck Institute, discussed the evolution of biomarkers in aging research.
He noted: “Advancements in technology allow for the analysis of thousands of variables, which could revolutionize how we predict responses to treatments.”
Verdin also described how wearable technology is now being integrated into health monitoring: “These devices could serve as valuable biomarkers, providing real-time data on health status and aging.”
Sierra concluded the session by emphasizing the transformative potential of ongoing research in aging.
“We are on the brink of a revolution, fueled by new technologies and a deeper understanding of aging processes,” he said.
The summit will continue with discussions focusing on how researchers are continuing to unravel the intricacies of aging, and exploring the potential for novel interventions that improve quality of life for aging populations.
