Healthy Reading - Climate Change and Longevity : Dr. Gianni Murzi

In the overheated city of Rome, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees centigrade, I can say that the climate change we are currently experiencing affects more people over 65 years of age than today young people and the adults of tomorrow. “The discourse around climate change is largely dominated by concerns for our next generations—our children and grandchildren. Although such concerns are certainly not unfounded, the focus is misplaced: climate change is already affecting "us”,  the over 65 seniors. The high temperatures we are experiencing provide a breeding ground for infectious diseases while increasing food insecurity. This heated summer is adding insult to insult after two difficult years dealing with COVID-19 lockdowns, infections and a strained health system.

The Lancet Countdown 2020, published on Dec 2, 2020, provides a grim outlook of the impact of climate change, emphasising the severe effects on our health and the resulting overwhelming strain on health-care systems.A key message is the pressing need to address climate change now, because the window for the success of strategies is narrowing by the day as older people are disproportionately afflicted. A 54% increase in heat-related mortality in people older than age 65 years has been observed over the past 20 years, and nearly half of the people who died during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy were older than age 65 years.

The Lancet report finds that our population continues to age, with those older than 65 years outnumbering children by 2050.  The report us to recognize that actions to promote healthy longevity cannot be taken without actions to also ensure a healthy planet. Ageing well is impossible in an unhealthy or actively inhospitable environment.

For the full introductory article to the full report, see https://bit.ly/3OCNiDF

I wish you a safe weekend. Stay safe, keep your head down and your hat on!


Gianni