APRU Population Ageing Research Hub

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Longevity

Summary

The Pacific Rim countries have such a diverse range of demographic changes that is probably unsurpassed by anywhere in the world. Furthermore, our economic growth and health development allow our populations to live longer and healthier, although the fertility rate is declining. Japan is the front runner of such trend and has the highest proportion of elderly people in the world. This demographic change is having significant consequences in every part of society. To know more about the impact, both positive and negative, of population ageing and to solve the problems or harness the opportunities require multi-sectoral research and education, which perfectly fit the interest of APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities) members. We need to discuss the impact of population ageing and to share solutions among us. During 2018-2020, Keio is hosting the Hub of Population Ageing Research We will work with member universities to share the best practices and showcase research, to engage with governments and industries, and to stimulate new and relevant research collaborations. With this broad objective, the Hub will organize an annual conference and support workshops/meetings organized by member universities.

The accomplished activities in the 2019 academic year include:
1) The 10th APRU Population Aging Conference at Keio University on October 14th October 2019
2) Nikkei-Financial Times Super Active Ageing Society Conference, 15th October 2019
3) Contribution to launch the Decade of Healthy Ageing (WHO Executive Board, chaired by Prof. Hiroki Nakatani, Decision, 7 February 2020,) Facilitation of Collaborative Research funded by the WHO Kobe Center and others.

In the 2020 academic year, based on the progress made in 2019, the following activities are envisaged toward the advancement of ageing research and its industrial applications*:
1) Assist the organization of the 11th APRU Population Aging Conference to be hosted by the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 7-8.
2) Co-sponsor a satellite meeting of the Super Active Ageing Society Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, on July 6-7 and support of the general meeting to be held on November 16 in Tokyo, Japan.
3) Advocate the adoption of WHO's Decade of Healthy Ageing by the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2020.
4) Collaborate with the Western Pacific Regional Committee of WHO on the agenda item for Healthy Ageing to be held on October 5-9, 2020, in Kobe, Japan.
5) Contribute to the Healthy Longevity Global Report of the American Academy of Medicine.
*Event schedules may be subject to change, postponement, or cancellation due to the impact of COVID-19

Press Releases:
A Cardiovascular Biomarker and Plasma Albumin Predict the Chance of Living to Supercentenarian Ages (2020/07/31)

Reports:

SDGs

Project Members

About Project Members, Researchers

Note: ◎ indicates the project leader

Name	Affiliation	Position	Field of Specialization/Research Interests
◎OKANO, Hideyuki	School of Medicine/Graduate School of Medicine	Professor/Dean	General neuroscience, Nerve chemistry, Nerve pharmacology, Molecular biology, Developmental biology
NAKATANI, Hiroki (-2021/3/31)	KGRI	Project Professor	Global health, Public health, Health policy
SEIKE, Atsushi	Keio University	Professor Emeritus	Labor Economics, Social Security, Employment Policy, Multisecorial Approach to Ageing
TSUBOTA, Kazuo	School of Medicine	Professor	Ophthalmology, Immunology, Aging, Optogenetics
MIMURA, Masaru	School of Medicine	Professor	Neuropsychology, Geriatric psychiatry
ITOH, Hiroshi	School of Medicine	Professor	Nephrology, Endocrinology, Metabolism
YASUI, Masato	School of Medicine	Professor	Water biology and medicine, Pharmacology
ARAI, Yasumichi	School of Medicine	Assistant Professor	Geriatrics and gerontology, Epidemiology of healthy aging and longevity