A Few Words from the Director

At the Heart of Societies

Like many baby boomers, I share a direct interest in research on aging and its contributions to health and longetivity.

This might seem repetitive, but research on aging has evolved tremendously over the past few years. For many years, funding organizations, the scientific community and the general population were much less preoccupied by senior care and service issues than they are today. Over the past 20 years, research on aging has gradually gained credibility. Age-related affections and degenenerative diseases are finally getting consideration, on par with heart disease, cancer and many other public health challenges.

Research on aging is now entering a phase of maturity. In the upcoming years, our response to general public issues will determine whether our research is deemed effective. For example, will hospital centres adapt their services to an aging clientele? Will we succeed in implementing better nutrition and fitness lifestyle habits to the point where such changes will significantly influence the health of an entire generation that is on the verge of retiring? Will we modify the political landscape to the point where the social contribution of seniors is encouraged and recognized fully? Will researchers interested in the biological mechanisms of aging at the molecular level finally understand how and why our cells age or resist aging?

We do not yet fully understand the mechanisms of aging, and we will never understand everything. What we are beginning to understand more clearly is that it is the elements which are essential to a healthy lifestyle which allow us to complete our lives in a healthy manner, from birth to the end of life. These elements include a healthy, balanced diet; plenty of exercise (not excessive) and social interactions for our psychological well-being." For those involved in research, the challenge is to capture an audience and to influence not only policy decisions, but also those of individuals so that we can all plan for the future in general, not just with our pension funds.

I am extremely proud to be a part of the team at the Research Centre on Aging, and along with our researchers, research officers, students and staff, I am willing to take on all the challenges mentioned herein.
 

Hélène Payette,
Director of the Research Centre on Aging