🚀 go-pugleaf

Leonid Gavrilov wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> May I ask for your advice on the following issue.
>
> Suppose you have a chance to be heard by high level policy-makers, and
> your recommendations on aging problem could be included in their
> documents for possible important policy decisions.
>
> (1) What would you say to them, so that to promote
> aging/life-extension research ?

The _bulk_ of morbidity and mortality in the first world
are now caused by diseases which are strongly related
to aging (notably cardiac and circulatory diseases and cancer).

There are now promising approaches to understanding
and ameliorating the fundamental causes of aging.

Historically, early intervention in disease processes
have generally been more cost-effective than later
intervention, so intervention in those aging processes
that eventually lead to aging-related diseases is likely
to be more effective than treating the diseases later in
the processs.

(but you already knew all that - hope the phrasing suggests something
useful)

> (2) How would you shape your phrases, so that they be accepted by
> conservative and skeptical policy-makers?

Orrin Hatch can probably be persuaded by arguments
along these lines, since he's argued in favor of keeping
people alive himself.  _Nothing_ will persuade Leon Kass,
who views enforced death on a rigid schedule, over the
objections of the people dying, as a desirable outcome.

    Best wishes,
    -Jeff

> (3) How to say this in a very short way (few sentences), so that these
> suggestions could be included into one-page memorandum ?
>
> Here is why I am asking for your advice:
>
> Next week I will be in Texas at the World Health Forum on Aging:
> http://www.worldhealthforum-us.org/
>
> Somehow I happened to be in a group of delegates who have to suggest,
> discuss and approve policy recommendations on aging problem:
> http://www.worldhealthforum-us.org/deligate2002a.html
>
> I would like to embed the ideas we discuss at this discussion group
> into the minds of delegates and hopefully into the final policy
> recommendations.
>
> If you can suggest some phrases and paragraphs for possible insertion
> into these policy recommendations, this would be greatly appreciated.
> Thank you in advance!
>
> Additional info about the World Health Forum on Aging:
>
> The Focus of the World Health Forum on Aging:
>
> The rapid growth of an ageing population is having major impacts on
> nations worldwide. This and other advancements in medical science,
> innovative technological breakthroughs, and vast improvements in
> communications and international relationships, is creating
> significant challenges globally.
>
> The Objectives of the World Health Forum on Aging:
>
> During the Forum the participants will:
> Define the impact of an ageing population as it relates to:
> �Medicine/Science
> �Business/Economics
> �Governments/Public Policy
> Articulate global policy views.
> Develop and generate international relationships and global network
>
> Kind regards,
>
> -- Leonid Gavrilov
> Author of the book "The Biology of Life Span"
> http://www.src.uchicago.edu/~gavr1/index.html#Book