Conference 2005 back to Programme MANAGING AGEING IN THE 21ST CENTURY Lunenfeld, B. Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar - Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900, Israel WHO defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease, or infirmity". This broad definition can be applied equally to developed and developing countries, to all age groups and to both genders. Health is a cumulative state, to be promoted throughout life in order to ensure that the full benefits are enjoyed in later years. Good health is vital to maintain an acceptable quality of life in older individuals and to ensure the continued contributions of older persons to society. It is important to distinguish the ageing process from the process of ageing. The ageing process ("normal ageing") represents the universal biological changes that occur with age and are unaffected by disease and environmental influences. Not all of these age-related changes have adverse clinical impacts. By contrast, the process of ageing is strongly influenced by the effects of environment, lifestyle and disease states that in turn are related to or change with ageing but are not due to ageing itself. Often what was once thought to be a consequence of normal ageing is now more appropriately attributed to ageing-associated factors. No medicine can counter the long-term cumulative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and a high -salt, high-fat diet. The determinants of "aging" and of "life expectancy" extend from genetic and molecular determinants to the increasingly powerful forces of environmental, economical, technological and cultural globalisation. The promotion of healthy aging and the prevention, or drastic reduction of morbidity and disability of the elderly must assume a central role in the formulation of the health and social policies in all, countries in the next century. It must emphasize an all encompassing life long approach to the aging process beginning with pre-conceptual events and focus on appropriate interventions at all stages of life.. The life course perspective leads to important policy and strategy decisions. These will be discussed in detail