An Introduction to Neyshabur Healthy Ageing Research Centre

The world is on the verge of a significant demographic change. From the beginning of human history, the number of children has always been higher than the elderly, but this will not last long. In many parts of the world the opposite happened or will happen in near future and it is going to continue and grows gradually as a result of the noteworthy reduction in fertility and also the significant rise in life expectancy. It is predicted that the number of people aged 60 is going to rise from about 900 million in 2015 to 1.2 billion by 2050. Although one of the most notable human developments in the last century has been the increase in lifetime due to the breakthroughs in medical science, controlling the infectious diseases, reducing death rate, fertility reduction, public health improvements and higher living standards in recent decades, but many elder individuals are economically unproductive and consummate, socially lonely and isolated, and in poor health, or at risk of chronic diseases and their complications. Mobility problems, cognitive disorders, accidents, depression and cardiovascular disease are considered to be their major problems which will affect the elderlies' life. Besides, insufficient social, emotional and financial support, especially among the low-income sections of society will lead old aged people to experience an undesirable life. It seems they need to get more support and also their physical, social and psychological requirements should investigated because they are being considered as vulnerable sections of society and their reduced abilities. Moreover, non-communicable diseases is substituted for infectious diseases and affect the elderly more. Most of which are associated with risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and physical inactivity, which can be prevented or get under control. Now, considering the rise in the number of elderly people as a result of human success in increasing life expectancy in recent decades, the questions are whether this increase in age is accompanied with health, well-being and efficiency? Or, conversely, it will increase disease, disability and dependency? How ageing will have effects on life expenses and social life? Is it possible to provide a suitable structure for dealing with old age so that it can be accompanied with health and well-being?  

Iran's population is rapidly growing old, according to the latest statistics published in 2011, the population over 60 years old in Iran is about 5 million people and according to UN forecasts, the population over 60 years old in Iran from 2011 to 2050 will experience a growth of 26 percent and is going to reach 33 percent of the total population (about 28 million people), which places Iran in the third rank in the world in terms of aging rate; It is predicted that the rate of elderly population in the world will be at 21% by 2050. Therefore, in order to properly deal with the phenomenon of aging, a serious determination must be taken to recognize the various dimensions of health by conducting comprehensive and practical research, training specialized human resources, providing facilities and human and financial resources for medical care needs in cooperation with various organizations and people.

Healthy Ageing Research Centre of Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences is considered as the first region in which the largest and most comprehensive study of the country has been launched. Neyshabur city is providing suitable conditions to address this important issue, based on the fact that its elderly population is higher than the national average. This center has provided a basis for the development of studies and comprehensive partnerships, with proper infrastructure and employing specialized and experienced human resources, in order to promote the health of the elderly. The center intends to do a comprehensive study which results in presenting solutions to the problems of old age based on an organized program, optimal use of resources, attracting national and international participation, in line with national development policies and non-discrimination, and re-doings and also try to train specialized human resources.

Healthy Ageing Research Centre Organizational values

This centre will gather and present scientific documents and evidences in the field of healthy ageing by providing appropriate scientific research fields, considering ethics in research and intellectual property rights. The centre will put the principle of quality assurance in research and accurate extraction of information from data at the forefront and we believe in transparency in the implementation of all stages of research in order to produce reliable evidences in the field of gerontology and macro health system policies. Also, the members of the centre and all collaborating researchers are committed to follow acceptable global and national models in the production of their documents and evidences so that the research results will be compatible with global and regional results.