Research Agenda on Ageing 21st Century

The Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st Century (RAA-21) is a joint project of the United Nations Programme on Ageing (UNPoA) and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG). It was developed through expert consultations and aims to support the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) is a plan adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002. It aims to address the challenges of an ageing population globally and promote positive ageing.

Priority 1 focuses on understanding the complex relationship between a rapidly ageing population and socio-economic development, especially in developing countries. It emphasizes the need to recognize older persons' contributions to society and measure them.

Priority 2 highlights the need for research into different methods of ensuring material security in old age, including income security systems, savings, and poverty reduction strategies. This is especially important in developing countries with limited social safety nets.

Priority 3 examines the changing family structures and roles, including intergenerational transfers and the increasing need for institutional support. It aims to understand the impact of these changes on individuals, communities, and society.

Priority 4 focuses on the determinants of healthy ageing, including individual behaviors, social conditions, and environmental factors. It aims to understand how to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent age-related diseases.

Priority 5 emphasizes the need for research into the fundamental biological mechanisms of ageing and age-associated diseases. It seeks to identify potential interventions to prevent, treat, or reverse age-related diseases.

Priority 6 focuses on understanding the concept of quality of life in ageing across diverse cultural, socio-economic, and environmental settings. It aims to identify factors that influence quality of life and develop appropriate measures.

Social participation and integration refers to the extent older people are involved in society and factors that facilitate their integration. It includes topics like intergenerational relationships, ageism, mental health, and strategies to promote participation.

Economic security refers to the ability of older people to maintain a decent standard of living. It covers topics like labour force participation, income security systems, wealth accumulation, and the impact of economic changes.

Macro-societal change and development focuses on understanding the impact of societal transformations, like globalization, on individual and population ageing. It aims to analyze the effects of these changes on older people’s lives and adjust policies accordingly.

Poverty, in this context, refers to the lack of essential resources for a minimum standard of well-being. This research area explores the multidimensional nature of poverty, specifically focusing on its impact on older persons.

Social security systems refer to formal programs designed to provide economic security in old age, such as pensions and social security benefits. Research in this area focuses on the design, evaluation, and sustainability of these systems, particularly in developing countries.

Healthy ageing focuses on the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the prevention of age-related diseases and disabilities. Research in this area explores the determinants of healthy ageing, interventions for health promotion, and the compression of morbidity.

The biomedical research area investigates the underlying mechanisms of ageing, age-associated diseases, and potential interventions. It includes topics like identifying biomarkers of ageing, developing new treatments, and evaluating the efficacy of interventions.

Physical and mental functioning examines the factors that influence older people's physical and mental abilities. It covers topics like disability, prevention, rehabilitation, and strategies for promoting optimal functioning throughout the life course.

Quality of life explores the concept of well-being and satisfaction in ageing. It covers topics like cultural variations in the meaning of quality of life, the impact of life course transitions, and the development of measures for assessing quality of life.

Care systems refer to the various formal and informal systems that provide care for older people. This research area examines the integration of these systems, the development of sustainable care arrangements, and the evaluation of care delivery models.

Changing family structures and functions examines the evolution of family structures and their impact on individuals and society. It includes topics like multigenerational households, family caregiving, and the challenges faced by individuals without family support.

Policy design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation focuses on the development and implementation of effective policies on ageing. It covers topics like linking research and practice, evaluating policy outcomes, and monitoring the impact of resource allocation.

Review and refinement of research methodology should be ongoing. This includes adapting and developing methods suitable for specific contexts, particularly developing countries.

Research needs to develop appropriate methods and instruments for different settings. This includes improving accessibility of research tools to researchers.

Concepts like 'quality of life' and 'healthy ageing' need to be clearly defined and measured. Research should develop tools to assess these concepts cross-nationally and cross-culturally.

Cultural harmonization of research methods and instruments is essential. This involves adapting and developing instruments that can yield comparable findings across national borders.

Longitudinal research methods need to be developed for developing countries, particularly focusing on cohort and multigenerational aspects. This will help track changes over time and across generations.

Participatory appraisal research, which involves collaboration with older people in communities, should be used alongside quantitative studies. This includes designing and implementing interventions.

Research should integrate biological, medical, psychological, and social approaches. Ethical considerations are essential, especially in biomedical research, ensuring the protection of participants' rights and confidentiality.

It's essential to measure all aspects of older persons' contributions to families and society and to explore and categorize these contributions effectively. This will help demonstrate the value older people bring to society.

Interdisciplinary studies are essential for understanding the entire life course and the ageing process.

Methods to measure disability should be improved to enable valid comparisons across time and place. This will help understand the prevalence and impact of disability across diverse populations.

Research studies should include both men and women. Data should be tabulated and analyzed by gender, age, and other social characteristics to ensure a comprehensive understanding of ageing.

Comparative analyses of the effects of different socio-economic conditions, policies, and institutional arrangements on ageing are crucial. This will help identify effective interventions and policies.

Consolidating information from multiple sources, establishing linkages between databases, and re-analyzing existing datasets are important. This will help researchers and policy makers access and utilize available information more effectively.

Data archival and improved access for researchers are important. This includes exploring the feasibility of establishing a global archive of studies on ageing. This will provide researchers with a centralized repository of research findings.

Researchers, policy makers, and the public need to recognize the role of research in policy development and implementation. This will help ensure that research findings inform policy decisions and translate into practical action.

Researchers and policy makers need to maintain high ethical standards, particularly in biomedical research and social responsibility. This includes protecting the rights, confidentiality, and well-being of study participants.

The operationalization of the Research Agenda is closely linked to the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). The Research Agenda can be seen as a tool for promoting, monitoring, and updating the MIPAA.

Political will and commitment from governments are essential for the successful implementation of the MIPAA and the Research Agenda. Clear political endorsement is required at all levels to link research, policy, and action.

Accountability of government should be matched by the ethics of evidence obtained by researchers. The idea of responsible governance includes developing supporting evidence to guide policy action.

Government and researchers need to communicate effectively. This includes avoiding confusing jargon and promoting a shared understanding of key concepts and research findings.

All key players should feel a sense of ownership over policies and research activities. This includes governments, researchers, and other stakeholders involved in ageing-related issues.

The results and outcomes of the Research Agenda implementation need to be clearly demonstrated to ensure sustained commitment at all levels. This includes showcasing the impact of research on policymakers' decisions and actions.

For the Research Agenda to achieve its goal, it must be adopted by UN Member States as a key tool in the implementation process at all levels (local, national, and international).

Three major components of the Research Agenda's implementation are: (1) dissemination, (2) integration, and (3) monitoring and evaluation.

The UN Programme on Ageing and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) should continue their joint efforts to develop and maintain the Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st Century.

The Research Agenda should remain open for broad participation from all interested parties. This includes UN Member States, research institutions, UN system bodies and organizations, the NGO community, and the private sector.

The UN Secretariat and the IAGG should encourage all interested parties to establish a global commitment to research in the key priority areas identified in the agenda and to its implementation at all levels. This includes fostering a network of research centers in developing countries.

Ongoing efforts are needed to raise awareness of and support for the Research Agenda among all interested parties. This includes promoting the agenda's importance and benefits to stakeholders.

Resources need to be allocated to ensure that a globally coordinated effort is implemented for the Research Agenda. This includes providing funding, expertise, and training for research initiatives.

Organizations such as the ILO, UNESCO, UNFPA, WHO, UN Regional Commissions, Development Banks, etc., should review their policies and priorities relating to ageing research within the context of the global Research Agenda. This will help align their efforts to advance knowledge and understanding on ageing.

Research infrastructure needs to be strengthened, and capacity improved in developing countries by drawing on the strengths of relevant international scientific research bodies, such as IAGG. This may include exchanges of information, data archives, case studies, and training.

Funding and in-kind support, such as expertise and training, should be provided for international collaboration and exchanges that support local research initiatives in developing and transitional economy countries. This includes promoting the exchange of research data between countries.

The long-term goal of the Research Agenda is to continue as an ongoing project with periodic reviews, linked to the review process of the MIPAA. The results of periodic reviews should be made available to all interested parties and inform an ongoing process of reformulation based on progress and emergent issues.