The Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging (ELCHA) has received $335,000 from the Canadian Frailty Network and AGE-WELL to establish the ELCHA, in partnership with the Fraser Health Authority, as one of three national Translational Geroscience Research Centres across Canada, and the only such Centre in Western Canada. The growing field of geroscience posits that the biological aging process is the primary risk factor driving the onset and progression of chronic diseases and frailty. As such, strategies that modulate biological aging pathways may prevent or delay not just one age-related disease, but many. This funding is supporting three pilot studies led by ELCHA Investigators. Two projects, Co-led by Dr. Michael Kobor and Dr. Grace Park, will determine the impact of two interventions, social prescribing and comprehensive geriatric assessment-informed care, on frailty progression and biological hallmarks of aging in older adults. A third project, led by Dr. Mahmoud Pouladi, will determine the gerotherapeutic potential of a GLP-1 agonist on healthy aging and increase understanding of the mechanisms by which GLP-1 agonists influence brain aging. The hope is that these initial studies demonstrate the promise of facilitating the translation of geroscience research into improved diagnoses or treatment for aging older adults.
We are grateful to the Canadian Frailty Network and AGE-WELL for their support in advancing geroscience research. This recognition strengthens ELCHA’s commitment to translating cutting-edge aging research into meaningful improvements in care and quality of life for older adults. We look forward to the impact these studies will have in shaping the future of healthy aging.