The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) has released a report, Healthy Longevity: Public Health’s Next Frontier, outlining a forward-looking agenda for public health professionals, educators, and institutions.
With the world’s population rapidly aging, the report calls for a shift in focus from simply extending lifespan to increasing healthspan, in other words, the number of years individuals live in good health, with function, engagement, and purpose. Organized around four central pillars – Research, Education & Training, Practice, and Policy & Advocacy – it presents a compelling picture of how longevity is the key to orienting and harmonizing our public health approach to advance health for everyone. The framework also identifies a number of recommendations including the integration of geroscience and life course approaches into public health curricula and research; the value of prevention across the lifespan; the importance of age-friendly systems, environments, and policies; and the need for adequate investment in workforce development to meet the complex needs of aging populations.
This is a timely and vital resource for academic public health as we work to align public health training and research with the evolving demographic makeup of our communities around the world. Through international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and global advocacy on healthy aging, we can collectively advance health for everyone at every age.