Two minutes with a Scientific Director: Dr. Jane Rylett

CIHR: What is some of the most impactful research that is taking place right now in the field of aging?

Dr. Rylett: The field of research on aging is moving rapidly, and expertise in Canada is expanding as the size of the older population grows. There is a lot of impactful work being carried out, with some of the most interesting information being about healthspan. Healthspan is the number of years that a person lives in good health without serious frailty or disability. While lifespan is about how long a person lives, healthspan is about how long a person lives in good health.

So, the goal isn’t necessarily to add years to your life, but to maximize the number of years with good quality of life.

Researchers are finding ways to modify the aging process to help people stay healthy longer. The idea is to build up resilience so that you can delay the onset of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular or metabolic diseases and have the ability to resist the negative impacts of these diseases.

CIHR: Ah, so that we’re not just living a long life, but a high quality life.

Dr. Rylett: Exactly. And researchers are identifying ways to achieve this. They are identifying prevention strategies, such as ways to reduce the risk of age-related cognitive impairment or dementia. For example, good quality sleep and diet, social engagement, and keeping the mind and body active—they all reduce the risk of dementia as well as other chronic conditions that are associated with aging.

And the research is showing that having a positive mindset about aging is really important. When people have a positive outlook on aging, they have lower inflammation, their organs are healthier, and they have fewer chronic conditions.

CIHR: That’s amazing. What broader impact is this research having?

Dr. Rylett: Through research, we are deepening our understanding of the aging process and optimizing health. The more we increase healthspan, the less people are going to need the health care system, and it’s going to ease the burden on caregivers and help control health care costs.

We’re also developing a major program focused on aging in the community. It aims to support the choice older persons make about where they live so they can feel part of the community and that they have purpose there. It's been shown that older people do much better if they can choose where they live.

Ultimately, the goal is to help people age safely and with dignity, and to improve their quality of life.

Date modified:

2026-09-22