Meeting

Earlier this year The National Academies launched an initiative focused on the challenge of shaping policies and programs that exploit the benefits of increased longevity and enhanced health for individuals and society. This project is being coordinated by multiple branches of The National Academies. The intent of the Grand Challenges of Our Aging Society Initiative is to deliver a broad portfolio of studies and related activities that will contribute to an evidence-based dialogue on population aging and to the development of sound policy options.

The first phase of this initiative will be the development of a set of proposals for concurrent and coordinated studies. A 2-day symposium, focusing on high-priority aspects of research on aging, will provide the basis for the development of proposals for future studies and related activities.

The Symposium will examine the following broad themes:

• How may biological research, medical advances, and ethical considerations inform health care decisions?
• What steps can individuals and society undertake to enhance healthy aging?
• What will be the macroeconomic and financial impacts of an aging society?
• How will income security and health care financing programs be affected by the aging of the population, and how should they be changed?
• Will our institutions and policies permit sufficient flexibility in the timing of major life activities as life span increases?
• In what ways will our communities be affected by an aging society and how should they respond?