Behaviour-based Health Advice Response to Recommendation
TOTAL SCORE: 9
Score
A1 (Feasibility increased by continuance of pandemic): +1
A2 (Necessity increased by covid pandemic): +1
A3 (political viability): +1
B1 (Relevance to the specific goal of increasing HALE by 5 years by 2035): +1
B2 (Relevance to general goal of biomedical healthy life extension): 0
C1 (Market readiness applicability): +1
C2 (Project readiness): +1
C3 (Move to market readiness): +1
D1 (Actionability): 0
D2 (Degree of measurability): -1
D3 (Degree of leveraging cross-sector inputs): 0
D4 (Awareness of international context): +1
D5 (Resourcefulness): +1
D6 (Reorganisation): +1
E (Disruptiveness): 0
F (Dividends - does the recommendation aid in social activity and inclusivity?): +1
Aging Analytics Agency has documented these factors extensively across many jurisdictions and environments across the globe.
RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY
“There was scepticism from the research community that the target of five extra years of healthy life can be achieved by 2035, and a view that the focus of the Industry Strategy Challenge fund on technological solutions and data analysis is unlikely to help deliver the target. (Paragraph 202) Lifestyle and environmental influences on healthy ageing
The UK has the opportunity to be a leader in understanding the impacts of lifestyle on health, using its well-established cohort studies in conjunction with its expertise in emerging areas of biomedical research. To achieve this, it is important that longitudinal cohort studies are provided with longer-term funding that gives greater security to these studies. It is also important that cohort studies recruit sufficient numbers of people from different ethnicities and socioeconomic groups to better understand health inequalities in older adults and how these may be resolved in the longer term. (Paragraph 220)
The impacts of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption upon ageing — and the potential for ill health and disability in old age — may be an important issue for some people when considering their behaviours and so could be an effective part of public health messaging. (Paragraph 224)
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy body weight into old age are key to healthy ageing. Dietary advice has to reflect the nutritional needs of older people and the diversity of those needs. (Paragraph 230)
The benefits of physical activity are a cornerstone of public health advice, but a more detailed understanding of its positive effects — and the negative effects of sedentary time — could allow the development of advice that is more targeted. This is important throughout the life-course, including for older adults who have lower levels of physical activity. (Paragraph 239)
Cognitive ability and psychological stresses are key aspects of health throughout the life-course, but they also influence general health and might affect the underlying processes of ageing. Cognitive activities — including education, training and good-quality employment — and reduced stress are means of improving health in later life. (Paragraph 245) Ageing: Science, Technology and Healthy Living 111
The factors that contribute to healthy life expectancy are well known, and form the basis of healthy ageing advice, namely: not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, and being physically active. There is also evidence of the role of cognitive activity and reduced stress in healthy ageing. (Paragraph 246)
Despite the evidence linking behaviours throughout the life-course to health in old age, the potential gains from healthy behaviours are not being fully achieved. Different aspects of the evidence could potentially have an impact upon people’s behaviours, for example: the fact that healthy lifestyles can reduce the time spent with disability in old age; and the discovery that behaviours can modify underlying processes of ageing. (Paragraph 247)
We recommend that organisations with responsibility for healthy ageing advice incorporate findings about the benefits of healthy behaviours that may have a larger impact upon people’s behaviour than existing messaging. The benefits of building up good levels of physical fitness and cognitive reserve should be promoted, particularly to people in disadvantaged groups that suffer the worst health. (Paragraph 248)”
Score
A1 (Feasibility increased by continuance of pandemic): +1
A2 (Necessity increased by covid pandemic): +1
A3 (political viability): +1
B1 (Relevance to the specific goal of increasing HALE by 5 years by 2035): +1
B2 (Relevance to general goal of biomedical healthy life extension): 0
C1 (Market readiness applicability): +1
C2 (Project readiness): +1
C3 (Move to market readiness): +1
D1 (Actionability): 0
D2 (Degree of measurability): -1
D3 (Degree of leveraging cross-sector inputs): 0
D4 (Awareness of international context): +1
D5 (Resourcefulness): +1
D6 (Reorganisation): +1
E (Disruptiveness): 0
F (Dividends - does the recommendation aid in social activity and inclusivity?): +1
Aging Analytics Agency has documented these factors extensively across many jurisdictions and environments across the globe.
RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY
“There was scepticism from the research community that the target of five extra years of healthy life can be achieved by 2035, and a view that the focus of the Industry Strategy Challenge fund on technological solutions and data analysis is unlikely to help deliver the target. (Paragraph 202) Lifestyle and environmental influences on healthy ageing
The UK has the opportunity to be a leader in understanding the impacts of lifestyle on health, using its well-established cohort studies in conjunction with its expertise in emerging areas of biomedical research. To achieve this, it is important that longitudinal cohort studies are provided with longer-term funding that gives greater security to these studies. It is also important that cohort studies recruit sufficient numbers of people from different ethnicities and socioeconomic groups to better understand health inequalities in older adults and how these may be resolved in the longer term. (Paragraph 220)
The impacts of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption upon ageing — and the potential for ill health and disability in old age — may be an important issue for some people when considering their behaviours and so could be an effective part of public health messaging. (Paragraph 224)
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy body weight into old age are key to healthy ageing. Dietary advice has to reflect the nutritional needs of older people and the diversity of those needs. (Paragraph 230)
The benefits of physical activity are a cornerstone of public health advice, but a more detailed understanding of its positive effects — and the negative effects of sedentary time — could allow the development of advice that is more targeted. This is important throughout the life-course, including for older adults who have lower levels of physical activity. (Paragraph 239)
Cognitive ability and psychological stresses are key aspects of health throughout the life-course, but they also influence general health and might affect the underlying processes of ageing. Cognitive activities — including education, training and good-quality employment — and reduced stress are means of improving health in later life. (Paragraph 245) Ageing: Science, Technology and Healthy Living 111
The factors that contribute to healthy life expectancy are well known, and form the basis of healthy ageing advice, namely: not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, and being physically active. There is also evidence of the role of cognitive activity and reduced stress in healthy ageing. (Paragraph 246)
Despite the evidence linking behaviours throughout the life-course to health in old age, the potential gains from healthy behaviours are not being fully achieved. Different aspects of the evidence could potentially have an impact upon people’s behaviours, for example: the fact that healthy lifestyles can reduce the time spent with disability in old age; and the discovery that behaviours can modify underlying processes of ageing. (Paragraph 247)
We recommend that organisations with responsibility for healthy ageing advice incorporate findings about the benefits of healthy behaviours that may have a larger impact upon people’s behaviour than existing messaging. The benefits of building up good levels of physical fitness and cognitive reserve should be promoted, particularly to people in disadvantaged groups that suffer the worst health. (Paragraph 248)”