The document summarizes key facts about aging and health from the World Health Organization. It notes that the proportion of the world's population over 60 years of age will nearly double from 2015 to 2050. It also discusses the challenges of population aging for social and economic systems. Finally, it outlines some of the major health conditions associated with aging like diabetes, atherosclerosis, and certain cancers.

1. Facts on aging and
health
Adopted from World Health Organization

2. People worldwide live longer
Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will
nearly double from 12% to 22%
By 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children
younger than 5 years

3. Population
aging
Social-economic challange
The peace of population aging is much faster then before
It took France almost 150 years to adopt
to a change from 10% to 20% in the
proportion of the population that was
older then 60 years. China needs 20 years
to make the same adaptation

4. All countries face major challenges to
ensure that their health and social
systems are ready to make the most of this
demographic shift
There are many opportunities for
older people but under one conditions:
HEALTH FACTOR

5. STOP
STOP
STOP
STOP
STOP
STOP
STOP
STOP
Aging is the result of the
decrease in the number
and/or function of cells
Every time cells
replicate, telomeres
shorten until they reach
a point where the cells
can no longer divide
properly
Cells with such short
telomeres usually
become senescent or
enter apoptosis, and
eventually die
Aging on biological level
Accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage over time

6. Telomeres
Telomeres are the protective caps at the end of
chromosomes which play significant role in the
aging process
Critically short telomeres contribute to the onset of chronic and age-related
diseases including heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, some cancers, among other
pathologies.
They carry genetic information and maintain
the integrity of DNA during cellular replication
Thus, telomere length serves as the biomarker of the cell replicative capacity, which
defines the biological age of the individual

7. Common health conditions
associated with aging
Diabetes (especially Type 2)
AtherosclerosisDepression Hearing loss
Central Nervous
System Diseases
Osteoarthritis
Certain CancersChronic obstructive pulmonary
disease

8. There is a lot of diversity in older age in
terms of physical and mental capacities
Lifestyle choices make huge impact on how we age
Some 80 year-olds have physical and mental
capacities similar to many 20 year-olds.
Other people experience significant declines
in physical and mental capacities at much
younger ages
Genetics
Environmental factors
Short telomeres are a contributing factor of
virtually all age-related diseases
Genetics play a partial role in determining
telomere length but environmental factors,
including individuals' lifestyle choices, play
an even larger role

9. References:
Fact Sheets-Ageing and Health WTO, September 2015