Speakers & Topics

Prof. Dr. med. K. Lenhard Rudolph
Scientific Director of the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena
Mechanisms and consequences of stem cell aging for disease development and organismal aging
Adult stem cells are present in almost all tissues of the human body. During aging, the function of stem cells declines leading to impairments in organ maintenance. Research over the last year identified molecular mechanisms underlying the decline in the functionality and in the genetic stability of adult tissue stem cells during aging. There is emerging evidence that these mechanisms promote the evolution of aging associated diseases and mortality. During his lecture, he will summarize some basic principles and main mechanisms of stem cell aging and how this leads to disease development and organismal aging.

Prof. Dr. Denis Gerstorf
Chair of the Steering Group of the Berlin Aging Study II, Humboldt University of Berlin
Is old age getting younger?
Research on how sociocultural contexts shape individual functioning and development has long shown historical advances for early phases of life. Little is known, however, about positive historical trends in the way people age. To provide a comprehensive quantification of the nature and size of such trends in old age, Prof. Gerstorf will present data from the Berlin Aging Studies conducted in 1990–1993 and in 2011-2014, which combined interdisciplinary perspectives ranging from molecular genetics and immunology to geriatric medicine and psychology to sociology and economics. Prof Gerstorf will also discuss scenarios according to which these positive historical trends are attenuated at the end of life and give way to a rapid and marked drop.

The lectures will be followed by a workshop with the speakers. Natural scientists, psychologists and sociologists are invited to participate in a debate on sustainable aging. The aim is to gain a better and deeper understanding of the research in the various disciplines and identify areas of cooperation. If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please contact Dr. Micha Schröter | Scientific Coordinator at the IRI | micha.schroeter@iri-lifesciences.de | www.iri-lifesciences.de