“The Future of Ageing: Ethical Considerations for Research and Innovation” was published yesterday 25th April 2023 by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The report explores the ethical issues surrounding biomedical research and technological innovation in helping people live well in old age.
The inquiry was overseen by a multidisciplinary working group including CMAR director Professor Janet Lord and was informed by a range of engagement and evidence gathering. Contributors to the inquiry include older adults, intergenerational discussion groups, practitioners, and academics from many different disciplines.
One of the key recommendations made in the report is that regulatory agencies should consider mandating the inclusion of data from older research participants, especially those with multiple long-term conditions, as part of licensing authorisations. The report also recommends that funders such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) should identify and share examples of good practice in the inclusion of older adults, especially those with impaired mental capacity, in research.
The report identifies three broad areas where ethical considerations are significant: research into biological ageing, assistive technologies such as health apps and smart home technologies, and innovative predictive and diagnostic technologies. To help everyone involved in research related to ageing think through the ethical implications of their work, an ethical framework has been proposed.
CMAR Director Janet Lord played a significant role in this inquiry as a member of the multidisciplinary working group overseeing it. As a professor at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, her expertise on ageing was invaluable to this inquiry.
Overall, “The Future of Ageing: Ethical Considerations for Research and Innovation” provides valuable insights into how we can improve biomedical research and technological innovation to help people live well in old age while considering important ethical considerations.
Find out more and download the full report at this website – https://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/publications/future-of-ageing