The mission to end ageing got a significant boost today with the publication of an extensive strategy to take ageing-targeted drugs to clinical trials.

The strategy, which is laid out over six manuscripts, was published by the Geroscience Network, an organisation funded by the US’ National Institutes of Health whose members include the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University and Harvard University.

The publication is highly significant, because it demonstrates that the notion of ageing as a treatable disease has moved from a fringe theory held only by a small percentage of researchers to a widely accepted notion being used as the basis for widespread research strategies.

“Recent research suggests that aging may actually be a modifiable risk factor,” explains Dr James Kirkland, director of the Mayo Clinic Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging and study lead author on two of the manuscripts.

“The goal of our network’s collaborative efforts is to accelerate the pace of discovery in developing interventions to delay, prevent or treat these conditions as a group, instead of one at a time.”

The first manuscript, “Barriers to the Preclinical Development of Therapeutics That Target Aging Mechanisms“, largely focuses on summarising discussions held at a 2014 meeting of the Geroscience Network, however the second, “Frameworks for Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trials of Interventions That Target Fundamental Aging Processes“, addresses the possible benefits that tackling ageing could have on the general population.

“Aging is the largest risk factor for most chronic diseases, including stroke, heart disease, cancer, dementias, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, blindness and frailty,” said Kirkland.

Other manuscripts explore particular strategies to target human ageing; the quirks and characteristics of ageing in mice – a popular subject for early research – and the effective use of preclinical models to evaluate health span.

The final manuscript, “Moving Geroscience Into Uncharted Waters“, focuses on the potential impact of ageing research, and in particular its effects on the care of the West’s rapidly ageing population.

“In addition to the direct health issues, it has been calculated that care for the elderly currently accounts for 43% of the total healthcare spending in the US, or approximately $1 trillion a year, and this number is expected to rise as baby boomers reach retirement age, ” explained Dr Felipe Sierra, a Geroscience Network member from the National Institute on Aging.

“Reducing these costs is critical for the survival of society as we know it, and a 2013 paper by Dana Goldman and colleagues calculated that a modest increase in lifespan and healthspan (2.2 years) could reduce those expenses by $7 trillion by 2050.”

However, while the strategy is undoubtedly a significant step in the field of ageing research, it will only be meaningful in the long run if its proposals are enacted.

“While significant work has already been accomplished, there is much more to be done as we focus on translating findings into practice,” said Kirkland.

“The Geroscience Network is a collaborative way to overcome barriers and move us closer to our shared goal of increasing healthspan – the healthy, independent years of life for the elderly.”

The six manuscripts have been published today in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A – Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.