News & Comment

As the end of 2021 approaches, Nature Aging’s editorial team reflects on our experience in the last two years of conferencing and introduces a calendar for conferences on aging and age-related diseases for 2022.

The knowledge generated through aging research has huge potential for improving individual lives and society. Embedding the principles of participant involvement and appropriate representation of the diversity of the aging population into this research can help to ensure that its intended benefits are fully realised.

The recent approval of a new drug for Alzheimer’s disease despite weak evidence of efficacy sent shockwaves throughout the scientific community. The approval leaves many open questions in its trail that must now be addressed.

Vaccine hesitancy has created a gap in COVID-19 vaccination status between residents and staff in long-term care settings. Closing that gap is essential to protect our most vulnerable populations and fulfill the duty of care they deserve.

The pandemic has highlighted the need for stronger intergenerational connections. Restarting intergenerational programs and expanding newer initiatives to connect people of different ages must be prioritized in debates about how society should progress post-pandemic.

The consequences of ageism have never been more apparent than in the context of a global pandemic. In this special issue on ageism, Nature Aging demonstrates its commitment to supporting efforts to combat ageism in all its forms.

We are excited to launch Nature Aging, a journal whose mission is to publish some of the most important and timely research from across the entire aging research spectrum and be a nexus for the diverse communities working on aging.