NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND UNITED NATIONS CO-SPONSOR FIRST JOINT CONFERENCE ON HEALTHY AGEING

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND UNITED NATIONS CO-SPONSOR FIRST JOINT CONFERENCE ON HEALTHY AGEING

The First Joint Conference on Healthy Ageing will be convened from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, 29 April, in the Economic and Social Council Chamber at United Nations Headquarters. There will be a press conference from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Monday in room 226 for United Nations-accredited correspondents, as well as for correspondents specifically invited to attend this conference.

Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Programme on Ageing, with support from ASTA Medica, Henkel Corporation and the NGO Committee on Ageing, it is the first conference of its kind to examine measures needed to lengthen productive life and prevent chronic diseases associated with ageing.

In anticipation of 1999, proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Year of Older Persons, this Conference will echo that Year's theme -- "A Society for All Ages".

The Conference aims to meet the challenges posed by the ageing of the world population, which is associated with increased suffering from chronic disorders, such as heart disease and cancer. Such diseases have a wide- ranging impact, affecting not only the victims, but also their families, work places and ultimately the national health care systems which seek to provide for them.

Distinguished leaders in the health profession will present the latest research findings on how nutrition, dietary supplements and lifestyles can contribute to the prevention of disease. Presenters include: Charles Hennekens, MD (Harvard Medical School, Boston); Lester Packer, PhD (University of California, Berkeley); David Dranove, PhD (Northwestern University, Illinois); Bruce Ames, PhD (University of California, Berkeley); Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD (Tufts University, Boston); Julie Buring, ScD (Harvard Medical School, Boston); Hellmut Mehnert, MD (Diabetes Research Institute, Munich); and Ursula Lehr, PhD (University of Heidelberg, Germany).

- 2 - Note No. 5334 26 April 1996

Abstracts of the speakers' presentations suggest that prevention should play a larger role in addressing the problems posed by chronic disorders. By promoting preventive health strategies through research and incorporation into public policy, societies can reduce the financial burden to their health care systems while helping their citizens to lead longer, healthier lives.

For further information on the Conference on Healthy Ageing, please contact Rosemary Lane, UN Programme on Ageing, DC2-1340, Tel. (212) 963-5090, Fax: (212) 963-3062. For details on the press conference, please contact Adrea Mach, Department for Public Information, Tel. (212) 963-1313.

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