Aging-prevention paradigm: against the idle brain Natallia Aniskovich B.R.A.I.N. Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience University of Trieste Trieste Italy Natallia Aniskovich B.R.A.I.N. Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience University of Trieste Trieste Italy Oleg Artemenko Department of Japan and Korean Studies Faculty of Foreign Relations Belarusian State University Minsk Belarus

Modern situation: aged society QuickTime™ e un decompressore TIFF (LZW) sono necessari per visualizzare quest'immagine.

Two approaches to aging  passive longevity  anti-aging  passive longevity  anti-aging

Passive longevity  Evidence:  Aging boom or longevity revolution  Particular characteristics of Japan  Due to:  Decline in infectious and parasitic diseases  Improved sanitarian  Evidence:  Aging boom or longevity revolution  Particular characteristics of Japan  Due to:  Decline in infectious and parasitic diseases  Improved sanitarian

Passive longevity  Prognosis substantial increase of chronically ill bedridden persons with need of home and institutional care large problems in the conditions of information society and changed demography situation  Prognosis substantial increase of chronically ill bedridden persons with need of home and institutional care large problems in the conditions of information society and changed demography situation

The main question:  How to make longevity effective?

Anti-aging paradigm  Goal: slowing the rate of aging and finding the ways of effective aging  Effective aging: conservation of both physical and mental capacities for the whole life extended period  Goal: slowing the rate of aging and finding the ways of effective aging  Effective aging: conservation of both physical and mental capacities for the whole life extended period

Anti-aging paradigm  Promises: allows people to be effectively involved in labor, can diminish the need for home or institutional care and in general coincides to the demands of information society

Anti-aging paradigm Convergent technologies nano - bio - info - cognio NBIC Convergent technologies nano - bio - info - cognio NBIC Gerontotechnologies

However, nowadays such technologies are mostly used not in anti-aging context, but otherwise in the context of adaptation of passive elderly They are based also on information technologies However, nowadays such technologies are mostly used not in anti-aging context, but otherwise in the context of adaptation of passive elderly They are based also on information technologies

Gerontotechnologies National Institute for Longevity Sciences (Japan) Department of Gerontotechnologies:  new information technologies and e-Japan strategy are used to create more convenient society and adaptive environment  Intelligent transportation system and barrier free environment for elderly and disabled persons National Institute for Longevity Sciences (Japan) Department of Gerontotechnologies:  new information technologies and e-Japan strategy are used to create more convenient society and adaptive environment  Intelligent transportation system and barrier free environment for elderly and disabled persons

Gerontotechnologies biotechnologies + nanotechnologies stem cell therapy, therapeutic cloning, gene engineering, investigations related to human genome and proteomics the optimized care of our organisms and the extended life duration

Gerontotechnologies Is this really enough? an active approach to extended longevity

Against the idle brain new technologies would be involved in the stimulation of both mental and physical activity during aging and extended life «against the idle brain»

Against the idle brain a synthesis of old and traditional japanese longevity techniques allows for the person itself to control the process of aging

Traditional longevity techniques  «Nourishment of life» (yōjō)  «B ible of longevity» (Yōjōkun)  «Nourishment of life» (yōjō)  «B ible of longevity» (Yōjōkun) nourishing the spirit was the primary goal and have been treated to be more important then nourishing the body

Traditional longevity techniques T he original japanese health systems remained from the epoch of western transformations in Japan seem to be most promising in the health- maintenance modern strategy They combine both elements of traditional yōjō system with western approach in science and medicine. They could be referred to as: kenkōhō

Traditional longevity techniques Japan represents an ideal social system for elderly -a perfect «experimental field» for the revival of ancient health-oriented systems -an active environment for older people and a family-mediated society with intensive social contacts involving both old and young generations Japan represents an ideal social system for elderly -a perfect «experimental field» for the revival of ancient health-oriented systems -an active environment for older people and a family-mediated society with intensive social contacts involving both old and young generations

Against the idle brain How to engage traditional techniques into new gerontotechnologies or, otherwise, how to apply new technologies to make old techniques modern and effective? How to engage traditional techniques into new gerontotechnologies or, otherwise, how to apply new technologies to make old techniques modern and effective?

Against the idle brain  new technologies makes people too passive in their daily activities and too hopeful on any external efforts  many neurodegenerative disorders seem to be a payoff for the idle brain  new technologies makes people too passive in their daily activities and too hopeful on any external efforts  many neurodegenerative disorders seem to be a payoff for the idle brain

Against the idle brain biotechnologies application in the treatment of neurodegeneration and dementia complex programs of rehabilitation which rely on active brain with potential of self- restoration depending on high mental and physical activity

Against the idle brain the investigation of biomedical potential of traditional healing practices and longevity techniques new reasonable ways of brain activity stimulation and self-restorative capacities or the search for mental modulation of immune response the investigation of biomedical potential of traditional healing practices and longevity techniques new reasonable ways of brain activity stimulation and self-restorative capacities or the search for mental modulation of immune response

Against the idle brain acceptance of traditional techniques as the still provocative alternative to modern highly technological approaches technologically engaged counterparts ways of synthesis

Against the idle brain The goal: brain controlling the process of aging and effective in continuous information processing in information society Means: the spirit approach of traditional techniques should be converted into modern situation and be applicable as a part of the whole anti-aging approach including prospective bio- and nanotechnologies The goal: brain controlling the process of aging and effective in continuous information processing in information society Means: the spirit approach of traditional techniques should be converted into modern situation and be applicable as a part of the whole anti-aging approach including prospective bio- and nanotechnologies

General conclusions Anti-aging-based health promoting system for longevity society should include: Anti-aging-based health promoting system for longevity society should include:

General conclusions stimulating environment provocating application of at least some aspects of traditional longevity techniques and mind-body therapy together with new anti-aging therapies and technological implementations stimulating environment provocating application of at least some aspects of traditional longevity techniques and mind-body therapy together with new anti-aging therapies and technological implementations