Policy Promotion of Anti-Aging Medicine

In Japan, as the average lifespan increases and the birthrate decreases, the proportion of people over 65 years old reached 28.4% in fiscal 2019, and further aging is expected in the future. By fiscal 2036, it is estimated that one in three people will be elderly. On the other hand, the total amount of Japan’s accumulated deficit bonds exceeds twice the gross domestic product, a level that stands out globally. The most important and difficult problem is how to control the social security expenses that continue to increase every year due to aging. According to future estimates of social security expenses, pensions will hardly increase, and most of the increase will be in medical and nursing care costs [1]. Even as longevity progresses, it is necessary to extend the healthy lifespan as much as possible to control the growth of medical and nursing care costs, and to realize a surplus in household budgets up to the early 70s by supporting the employment of the elderly, and to raise the pensionable age. The significant role of anti-aging medicine in the future super-aged society is believed to be in extending the healthy lifespan of the population and enabling the elderly to work in good health.