Science in the Park at MIP: The Purpose of Living Long

Friday, February 8, 2019

Life expectancy in Canada has increased steadily over the past 150 years, according to Statistics Canada. Today, the average Canadian can expect to live well into his or her 80s thanks to huge advances in public health and awareness. But how do longer lifespans change the way we live as individuals and as a society?

To explore that question and more, the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) partnered for a ‘Science in the Park’ lecture that featured Dr. Parminder Raina, principal investigator for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, scientific director of MIRA and Canada Research Chair in Geroscience.

This public presentation was held on February 5, 2019, at McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton.

“The goal of modern science isn't to reverse aging but to discover new ways to live as healthy as possible as we age,” says Raina, who is also a professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster and holds the Raymond and Margaret Labarge Chair in Optimal Aging. “It's not just ​about living longer. It's about living well,” he adds.

The event was recorded and livestreamed. The video is available for viewing below.