The scientific fight over whether ageing is a disease

The costliest 1% of traditional Medicare beneficiaries accounted for 19% of spending in 2021. (Image: 123rf)

Sun, 02 Feb 2025

By Alex JaninA small but growing movement of scientists wants to classify ageing as a disease. They face an uphill battle.An improving scientific understanding of the biology of ageing is leading some scientists, doctors and entrepreneurs to argue that ageing is a disease. It’s a major driver of illness and death, they say, and classifying it as such could make it easier to get drugs approved to treat ageing itself, rather than just age-related health problems. At the same time, the population is ageing, and many older people re...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

NZX 50 lifts 0.5% as Eroad continues to climb

Metroglass shares were down after it announced its recapitalisation plan.

Gregor Thompson 5:50pm

Economy

Jones looking at gas rationing

“The wholesale hollowing out of the regional manufacturing sector.”

Ian Llewellyn 2:40pm

Markets

Metroglass recap plan hands control to Amari Metals

An independent report said Metroglass was left with “no viable alternatives”.

Gregor Thompson 1:30pm

Metroglass recap plan hands control to Amari Metals

Sponsored

Why NZ businesses lag on solar and the adoption of clean on-site renewable energy

Aussie firms are beating Kiwis in solar use – but that can change.

Lightforce

Sponsored

A decade in, Spark’s AI journey is paying off

The telco’s use of AI offers insights for every Kiwi business.

Spark

More Health

Markets

Radius Care upgrades earnings guidance

Radius Residential Care has upgraded its earnings outlook ahead of its annual shareholders’ meeting on Thursday.The listed aged-care specialist said it now expects underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) for the six months to October to...

Staff reporters 07 Aug 2025