Investigators at the Biogerontology Research Foundation are calling for the creation of a task force to classify aging as a disease. They contend that separating “normal” progression from “healthy” aging lacks coherence and hinders efforts to ameliorate age-related suffering. For example, the team says, several currently recognized diseases, such as osteoporosis, isolated systolic hypertension, and senile Alzheimer's disease, were in the past ascribed to normal aging. Recognizing aging as a unique, but multisystemic disease would provide a framework to tackle and prevent many chronic conditions; alleviating both financial, social and moral burden.

Poll Question:
Do you think aging should be classified as a disease?

Yes
144

No
207

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