On the 16th April 2015, members of the wider Nottingham community and local groups and organisations such as Age Concern, AgeUK, The University of the Third Age (U3A) and The Nottingham Elders’ Forum, met at the Nottingham Council House to engage in a discussion about healthy ageing with leading experts from the our Research Centre (CMAR) and those from our sister Centre CIMA (MRC/ Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing)
The session which was open to anyone to register and attend was introduced and chaired by Professor Alan Silman, Professor of Musculoskeletal Science at the University of Oxford and former Medical Director for Arthritis Research UK. The 80+ attendees heard from Professor Malcolm Jackson who posed the question of whether ageing meant more life or just more years. Our very own Professor Janet Lord explained why we age and you can watch her talk here if you would like to find out more –
Professor John Mathers explored how adults can be motivated by lifestyle change and lastly, our Centre co-director Professor Paul Greenhaff discussed the benefits of physical activity and diet for healthy ageing –
Questions and comments to the panel were then invited from the audience, with differing perspectives and opinions offered and further debate stimulated.
Dr Stephen Simpson, Director of Research at Arthritis Research UK, closed the session and reiterated the importance of supporting musculoskeletal ageing research so that new approaches can be taken to prevent or ameliorate age-related decline and function of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles, and clinical musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoporosis and arthritis.