Not only live longer, but preserve the humanity of the time lived. It is from this principle that the first Ethical Charter on Healthy Aging and Longevity was born, presented at the end of the second edition of the Vatican Longevity Summit, an international event promoted by the International Institute of Neurobioethics, in collaboration with Brain Circle Italia and with the patronage of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
How the document was born
The Ethics Charter was born from the reflections of the international protagonists of the Summit – Nobel Prize winners, neuroscientists, clinicians, bioethicists and researchers from some of the most important international scientific institutes – as the cultural and scientific outcome of a comparison that brought neuroscience, regenerative medicine, brain health, artificial intelligence, ethics and the future of the human being into dialogue.
According to experts, the longevity of the future cannot be transformed into a biological, technological or health privilege reserved for the few, but must remain a truly human, accessible, sustainable and dignified possibility. The Ethical Charter in fact proposes a new vision of contemporary longevity: not a simple biological extension of life, but the construction of a humane, fair and sustainable model of aging in the era of neuroscience, neurotechnology and regenerative medicine.
At the center of the document is the principle of “Integral Longevity”, according to which authentically human longevity must simultaneously safeguard physical health, brain health, relationships, autonomy, social participation, dignity and quality of life throughout one’s existence.
“The great contemporary ethical question does not only concern how many years can be added to life, but how much life can be preserved within the added years. The longevity of the future will be truly sustainable only if it remains profoundly human”
reports Father Alberto Carrara, promoter of the Summit, neuroethicist and president of the International Institute of Neurobioethics.
The ten key points
- Put health before illness
The real revolution in longevity does not only consist in treating better, but in preventing earlier. Balanced nutrition, daily exercise, quality sleep, cancer prevention, vaccinations and screening must become rights that are truly accessible to every person throughout their life. Prevention remains the most powerful tool for democratic longevity. - Protecting the brain as human capital
Brain health is the great challenge of the 21st century. Protecting memory, cognitive abilities, social relationships, emotional balance and mental health means safeguarding the “Brain Capital” of future societies. A long-lived society without brain health risks becoming more fragile, more isolated and less human. - Transforming lifestyle into daily medicine
Scientific evidence shows that many aging factors are modifiable. Not smoking, limiting alcohol, maintaining constant physical activity, cultivating social relationships and training the mind are concrete interventions that can increase health and quality of life. Up to 40% of many cancers and chronic diseases are potentially preventable through healthy behaviors. - Promote equitable and non-elitist longevity
Innovations in regenerative medicine, neuroscience and artificial intelligence must not create “longevity for the few”. Access to treatments, prevention and health technologies must be equally distributed, avoiding new forms of biological, social and economic inequality. - Value all ages of life
A long-lived society cannot reduce old age to decline or marginality. Aging must be recognized as a season of experience, relationships, memory, creativity and cultural transmission. Authentic longevity adds not just years to life, but life to years. - Promote environments that generate health
Longevity does not only depend on genetics, but also on the environment in which we live. Sustainable cities, green spaces, community relations, decent work, access to art and culture and reduction of social isolation represent authentic “protective factors” for a long healthy life. - Integrating science, ethics and humanism
Major innovations in longevity (from cellular reprogramming to stem cells to artificial intelligence) require shared ethical guidance. The question is not only “how long can we live?”, but above all “how do we want to live?”. The science of longevity must remain deeply human. - Cultivate relationships, meaning and participation
Studies on semi-supercentenarians show that longevity and well-being are also linked to relational, spiritual and existential factors. Loneliness, exclusion and loss of meaning accelerate fragility and decline. Belonging, solidarity and life purpose instead become authentic factors of health. - Building a new intergenerational pact
Aging societies need an alliance between young and old. Sustainable longevity requires new social, economic and cultural architectures capable of promoting cooperation, knowledge transmission and shared responsibility between generations. - Defend human dignity in every season of life
Global longevity must be based on an essential principle: every human person has value and dignity regardless of age, efficiency or productivity. The true measure of progress will not only be the extension of life, but the ability to safeguard humanity, justice and solidarity throughout the entire journey of existence.
