Aging-prevention paradigm:against the idle brain

Aging-prevention paradigm:against the idle brain

Natallia AniskovichB.R.A.I.N. Interdisciplinary Center for

Neuroscience University of Trieste

Trieste

Italy

Natallia AniskovichB.R.A.I.N. Interdisciplinary Center for

Neuroscience University of Trieste

Trieste

Italy

Oleg Artemenko

Department of Japan and Korean StudiesFaculty of Foreign Relations Belarusian State UniversityMinskBelarus

Modern situation: aged societyModern situation: aged society

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Two approaches to aging Two approaches to aging

passive longevity anti-aging

passive longevity anti-aging

Passive longevityPassive longevity Evidence: Aging boom or longevity revolution Particular characteristics of Japan

Due to: Decline in infectious and parasitic diseases Improved sanitarian

Evidence: Aging boom or longevity revolution Particular characteristics of Japan

Due to: Decline in infectious and parasitic diseases Improved sanitarian

Passive longevityPassive longevity

Prognosis

substantial increase of chronically ill bedridden persons with need of home and institutional care

large problems in the conditions of information society and changed demography situation

Prognosis

substantial increase of chronically ill bedridden persons with need of home and institutional care

large problems in the conditions of information society and changed demography situation

The main question:The main question:

How to make longevity effective?

How to make longevity effective?

Anti-aging paradigmAnti-aging paradigm Goal: slowing the rate of aging and finding

the ways of effective aging

Effective aging: conservation of both physical and mental capacities for the whole life extended period

Goal: slowing the rate of aging and finding the ways of effective aging

Effective aging: conservation of both physical and mental capacities for the whole life extended period

Anti-aging paradigmAnti-aging paradigm

Promises: allows people to be effectively involved in labor, can diminish the need for home or institutional care and in general coincides to the demands of information society

Promises: allows people to be effectively involved in labor, can diminish the need for home or institutional care and in general coincides to the demands of information society

Anti-aging paradigmAnti-aging paradigm

Convergent technologies

nano - bio - info - cognio

NBIC

Convergent technologies

nano - bio - info - cognio

NBIC

Gerontotechnologies

Gerontotechnologies Gerontotechnologies

However, nowadays such technologies are mostly used not in anti-aging context, but otherwise in the context of adaptation of passive elderly

They are based also on information technologies

However, nowadays such technologies are mostly used not in anti-aging context, but otherwise in the context of adaptation of passive elderly

They are based also on information technologies

Gerontotechnologies Gerontotechnologies

National Institute for Longevity Sciences (Japan)

Department of Gerontotechnologies: new information technologies and e-Japan strategy

are used to create more convenient society and adaptive environment

Intelligent transportation system and barrier free environment for elderly and disabled persons

National Institute for Longevity Sciences (Japan)

Department of Gerontotechnologies: new information technologies and e-Japan strategy

are used to create more convenient society and adaptive environment

Intelligent transportation system and barrier free environment for elderly and disabled persons

GerontotechnologiesGerontotechnologies

biotechnologies + nanotechnologies biotechnologies + nanotechnologies

stem cell therapy, therapeutic cloning, gene engineering, investigations related to human genome

and proteomics

the optimized care of our organisms and the extended life duration

GerontotechnologiesGerontotechnologies

Is this really enough?Is this really enough?

an active approach to extended longevity

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brain

new technologies would be involved in the stimulation of both mental and physical activity

during aging and extended life

new technologies would be involved in the stimulation of both mental and physical activity

during aging and extended life

«against the idle brain»

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brain

a synthesis of old and traditional japanese longevity techniques

a synthesis of old and traditional japanese longevity techniques

allows for the person itself to control the process of aging

Traditional longevity techniquesTraditional longevity techniques

«Nourishment of life» (yōjō) «Bible of longevity» (Yōjōkun)

«Nourishment of life» (yōjō) «Bible of longevity» (Yōjōkun)

nourishing the spirit was the primary goal and have been treated to be more

important then nourishing the body

Traditional longevity techniquesTraditional longevity techniques

The original japanese health systems remained from the epoch of western transformations in Japan seem to be most promising in the health- maintenance modern strategy

The original japanese health systems remained from the epoch of western transformations in Japan seem to be most promising in the health- maintenance modern strategy

They combine both elements of traditional yōjō system with western approach in science and medicine. They could be referred to as:

kenkōhō

Traditional longevity techniquesTraditional longevity techniques

Japan represents an ideal social system

for elderly - a perfect «experimental field» for the revival of

ancient health-oriented systems

- an active environment for older people and a family-mediated society with intensive social contacts involving both old and young generations

Japan represents an ideal social system

for elderly - a perfect «experimental field» for the revival of

ancient health-oriented systems

- an active environment for older people and a family-mediated society with intensive social contacts involving both old and young generations

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brain

How to engage traditional techniques into new gerontotechnologies or, otherwise, how to apply new technologies to make old techniques modern and effective?

How to engage traditional techniques into new gerontotechnologies or, otherwise, how to apply new technologies to make old techniques modern and effective?

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brain

new technologies makes people too passive in their daily activities and too hopeful on any external efforts

many neurodegenerative disorders seem to be a payoff for the idle brain

new technologies makes people too passive in their daily activities and too hopeful on any external efforts

many neurodegenerative disorders seem to be a payoff for the idle brain

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brain biotechnologies application in the treatment

of neurodegeneration and dementia biotechnologies application in the treatment

of neurodegeneration and dementia

complex programs of rehabilitation which rely on active brain with potential of self-restoration depending on high mental and physical activity

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brain

the investigation of biomedical potential of traditional healing practices and longevity techniques

new reasonable ways of brain activity

stimulation and self-restorative capacities or the search for mental modulation of immune response

the investigation of biomedical potential of traditional healing practices and longevity techniques

new reasonable ways of brain activity

stimulation and self-restorative capacities or the search for mental modulation of immune response

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brainacceptance of traditional techniques as the

still provocative alternative to modern highly technological approaches

acceptance of traditional techniques as the still provocative alternative to modern

highly technological approaches

technologically engaged counterparts

ways of synthesis

Against the idle brainAgainst the idle brain

The goal: brain controlling the process of aging and effective in

continuous information processing in information society

Means: the spirit approach of traditional techniques should be

converted into modern situation and be applicable as a part of the whole anti-aging approach including prospective bio- and nanotechnologies

The goal: brain controlling the process of aging and effective in

continuous information processing in information society

Means: the spirit approach of traditional techniques should be

converted into modern situation and be applicable as a part of the whole anti-aging approach including prospective bio- and nanotechnologies

General conclusionsGeneral conclusions

Anti-aging-based health promoting system for longevity society should include:

Anti-aging-based health promoting system for longevity society should include:

General conclusionsGeneral conclusions

stimulating environment

provocating application of at least some aspects of traditional longevity techniques and

mind-body therapy together with new anti-aging therapies and technological implementations

stimulating environment

provocating application of at least some aspects of traditional longevity techniques and

mind-body therapy together with new anti-aging therapies and technological implementations