2 / 2025 // LEOPOLDINA / NEWS 9
NEW CLASS II MEMBERS – LIFE SCIENCES
The new members of Class II – Life Sciences that were accepted to the Leopoldina in 2024, 2023 and 2022 together with Leopoldina President Bettina Rockenbach ML( front centre / wearing chain of office): Christian Ungermann ML, Christian Wirth ML, Holger Puchta ML, Kai Tittmann ML, Volker Müller ML, Dirk Bumann ML( back row), Jürgen Knoblich ML, Alessandra Moretti ML, Simone Sommer ML, Andreas Nieder ML, Agnieszka Chacinska ML, Ute Hentschel-Humeida ML, Alexandra Zoe Worden ML( middle row), Chiara Romagnani ML, Marino Zerial ML, Eileen E. M. Furlong ML, Anne Ephrussi ML, Elly M. Tanaka ML und Joseph Heitman ML( front row).
Image: Anna Kolata | Leopoldina
Medicine in an ageing society
Discussion paper addresses geromedicine and geroprotection
Today, around one in two people over the age of 65 is already affected by several chronic diseases like cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular diseases – and the trend is rising. Given the demographic change, medical care in Germany is facing enormous challenges.
At the same time, current findings of research into ageing are opening up new perspectives: Geroprotective measures could reduce the risk of age-related illnesses such as dementia, cancer or cardiovascular disease and significantly extend healthy lifespans.
The Leopoldina’ s discussion paper“ Health-Extending Medicine in an Aging Society – Prospects for Medical Research and Practice”, prepared by an interdisciplinary team of experts, argues in favour of integrating the biology of ageing more effectively into medical practice. It is based on the results of an international workshop in Halle( Saale)/ Germany, which took place in November 2024 under the scientific direction of Björn Schumacher, Professor and Director of the Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, and was initiated by Leo poldina’ s“ Medicine” focus group, which is chaired by Vice-President,
Thomas Krieg ML, and Class III Secretary, Jutta Gärtner ML.
The paper communicates specific political recommendations: from setting up a research network to targeted funding programmes and the creation of a national biobank. The aim is geromedicine that addresses the ageing process as a common risk factor – for more healthy years of life, individual quality of life and a sustainable healthcare system.
■ STB
Discussion paper“ Health-Extending Medicine in an Aging Society”