Dr. Felipe Sierra's Role at the National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Dr. Felipe Sierra, as the former director of the National Institute on Aging's (NIA) Division of Aging Biology, was instrumental in popularizing and formalizing the concept of geroscience. A key idea behind geroscience is that aging is the primary risk factor for many chronic diseases, and focusing on aging biology could be a more effective preventive approach than treating individual diseases.
Under his guidance, the Trans-NIH Geroscience Interest Group (GSIG) was formed in 2012 to encourage interdisciplinary research across different National Institutes of Health branches. The GSIG brought together researchers from various fields to consider aging as an underlying factor in multiple diseases.
The Birth and Development of the Geroscience Concept
The formal concept of geroscience grew from earlier discoveries in aging biology. Sierra and colleagues organized Geroscience Summits to advance the field and define the "Pillars of Geroscience" – the key biological processes driving aging.
Significant developments in geroscience include linking basic aging biology to chronic diseases and proposing simultaneous interventions, the formation of the GSIG in 2012, and a series of Geroscience Summits to formalize the concept and its pillars. The field is now progressing towards human clinical trials of promising compounds.
Comparing Geroscience with Related Fields
The table below compares geroscience with gerontology and geriatrics.
| Feature | Geroscience | Gerontology | Geriatrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | The basic biological mechanisms of aging as they relate to chronic disease. | The broad, multidisciplinary study of aging in all its aspects (social, psychological, biological). | The clinical care and treatment of older adults and their diseases. |
| Goal | To prevent or delay the onset of multiple age-related diseases by targeting the root causes of aging. | To understand the aging process in its entirety to better support the well-being of older people. | To manage and treat existing health problems in older patients to improve their quality of life. |
| Approach | Interdisciplinary, bringing together basic biologists, clinicians, and researchers focused on specific diseases. | Comprehensive, drawing on sociology, psychology, public health, and biology to analyze aging. | Clinically focused on diagnosis, treatment, and care plans for older patients with age-related conditions. |
| Time Horizon | Preventive, aiming to extend healthspan before chronic diseases manifest. | Broad, studying the entire lifespan and its effects on individuals and society. | Reactive, addressing medical issues as they arise in older age. |
The Pillars of Geroscience
The Geroscience Summits identified several key biological processes contributing to aging and linked to chronic disease. These pillars include:
- Genomic Instability: Accumulation of genetic damage.
- Epigenetic Alterations: Changes in gene expression.
- Cellular Senescence: Cells stop dividing and release inflammatory signals.
- Loss of Proteostasis: Declining ability to maintain proper protein function.
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Decline in energy-producing function.
- Inflammation: Chronic, low-grade inflammation.
- Stem Cell Exhaustion: Diminishing capacity of stem cells.
Conclusion: The Impact of Geroscience
While earlier researchers studied aging, Dr. Felipe Sierra is credited with coining the term geroscience and defining its focus. His efforts helped establish geroscience as a field focused on the biological causes of age-related decline. Research aims to develop interventions to extend healthspan for a growing population. This focus on the biology of aging shows promise for future health. Further details can be found on the {Link: National Institute on Aging (NIA) Geroscience page https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dab/geroscience-intersection-basic-aging-biology-chronic-disease-and-health}.
