The Second International Baltics Conference on Healthy Longevity in Riga will build up the awareness and cooperation in longevity R&D and medicine
The Second International Baltics Conference on Healthy Longevity in Riga will build up the awareness and cooperation in longevity R&D and medicine
The Second International Baltics Conference on Healthy Longevity will take place on 7-8 June 2024 in the National Library of Latvia, in Riga, Latvia.
Some of the leading longevity researchers, developers, practitioners and advocates in the Baltic area and internationally will take part, including physicians, biomedical researchers, AI specialists, healthcare and health policy experts.
https://longevitybaltics.org/conference-2024/
The conference will address a critical challenge of the modern world, and of the Baltic region in particular – the need to increase healthy and productive longevity of the aging population, by utilizing new longevity research, development, practices and education.
In terms of longevity, there is both the good and bad news for the Baltic countries. The good news is that, after the large declines in life expectancy during the COVID period, especially in 2020-2021, the life expectancies are now beginning to recover around the world, including in Europe and the Baltic region. In the EU generally, the life expectancy increased from 2022 to 2023 by 0.9 years, and now stands at 81.5 years, about 0.2 years longer than in 2019, before the COVID period.
The Baltic countries are also rapidly recovering, with the life expectancies increasing from 2022 to 2023, by about 1.4 years (from 74.5 to 75.9) in Latvia, 1.5. years from (75.8 to 77.3) in Lithuania, and 0.7 years (from 78.1 to 78.8) in Estonia. In Latvia and Lithuania, the life expectancies already rise above the pre-COVID 2019 levels: 0.2 years more in Latvia, and 0.8 years more in Lithuania, though in Estonia it is still 0.2 years less than in 2019. Generally, from the beginning of the century, Baltic countries lead the EU in the speed of life-expectancy increase. From 2002 through 2023, it increased by 7.4, 5.7 and 5.5 years in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania respectively (the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place).
The not so good news is that during the COVID period, the declines in life-expectancy in the Baltic region were among the largest in the EU: 2, 2.5 and 1.5 years decline in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, respectively, showing the vulnerable health conditions of the older persons in the region. And even now, the life expectancies in the region are among the lower in the EU, with Latvia having the 2nd lowest life expectancy in the EU. At the same time, the decline in the general population and increase in the older population are also among the greatest in the EU and the developed world. Thus, in Latvia, during this century, the population is expected to decline by over 30%, while the percent of older persons (65+) is expected to increase to over 30%.
It is thus urgently needed to reinforce the positive trends and mitigate the negative ones, to address the aging challenge and to improve healthy longevity in the region. This can be accomplished by developing and implementing new medical technologies and treatments designed to prevent aging-related diseases and improve the health of the older people, increase the life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. The development of such technologies and treatments will also improve the population resilience and boost the economic and human development and cooperation in and with the region, thanks to the burgeoning “longevity science”, “healthy longevity medicine” and “healthy longevity industry”.
The conference will showcase and share some of the latest promising developments in these fields: in longevity research, medicine and technology, data analysis, advocacy, investment and policy for healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases, from the EU, US, China and Israel. The talks will include such cutting-edge topics as AI and robotics for healthy longevity, preventive medical practices for healthy longevity, digital health, immunity and autoimmunity, genetic, metabolic, endocrine, microbiome and neurological interventions for healthy longevity, and much more.
The conference is organized by the non-profit Longevity Alliance Baltic (LAB) in cooperation with the non-profit Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life (Israel) and International Longevity Alliance (ILA), with the support of representatives of academia: Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga Stradins University, University of Latvia, and longevity industry: LongeVC, Nordic Labs, and others.
The conference aims to increase the awareness about the healthy longevity field, improve networking and cooperation in the field and help build up the longevity community, creating new productive synergies in the Baltic region and internationally.
“The rapid advancement of research, development and education for healthy longevity and prevention of aging-related diseases is the most urgent and necessary societal task, compared to any other issue in terms of the amount of people’s lives and vital interests affected. Unfortunately, this subject receives far less attention than it deserves. I am glad and proud that this conference will make a contribution for the raising of awareness and cooperation for the advancement of this subject, nationally, regionally and internationally” says Dr. Ilia Stambler, chairman of the Vetek (Seniority) Association in Israel, an advisory board member of LAB, and a member of the conference organizing committee.
