VUSN-MC0001 - Healthy Aging - A Primer for Clinicians

Course Description

Aging is the single most risk factor for chronic disease, functional decline, frailty, morbidity and mortality. Aging, as a risk factor, far outweighs genetic and environmental influences, yet biological mechanisms that lead to avoidable outcomes are poorly understood by both clinicians and the public-at-large. Today’s health care clinicians need to be equipped with a basic understanding of biological principles of healthy aging so that they can translate them to the public. This course promotes a paradigm shift towards geroscience, the intersection of basic aging biology, chronic disease and health. The course will provide front line clinicians with knowledge and skills to assist patients and communities with proactive planning for health-related quality of life and longevity. Learners will gain an understanding of the hallmarks of aging, with a particular emphasis of mitochondrial function. The course will also provide a roadmap for assisting patients with goal-setting in targeted areas of prevention that are essential for healthy aging.