Dr. Camillo Ricordi, renowned for his groundbreaking work in bioengineered pancreas transplants, is championing a shift in diabetes treatment to prioritize ‘healthspan’—the period of life spent in good health. In a recent interview, he highlighted how enhancing healthspan could save trillions of dollars globally.
“Healthy lifespan must become a priority,” said Dr. Ricordi, professor of Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology and Immunology at Miami University. He introduced these ideas to China with his new book, “The Healthspan Code: How to Reverse Biological Age.”
For decades, insulin therapy has been the cornerstone of diabetes management. However, Dr. Ricordi notes that while insulin is life-saving, it doesn’t halt the chronic complications associated with diabetes, an “accelerated aging disease.” He emphasizes the need for solutions that go beyond symptom management.
“In some cases, the body may view insulin as a foreign substance and attack it,” he explained, leading to the use of anti-rejection drugs with their own side effects. The ultimate solution, according to Dr. Ricordi, is finding a biological cure that replaces the pancreas’s function in producing insulin.
Advancements such as artificial pancreas and insulin pump systems have improved quality of life, but Dr. Ricordi sees promise in stem cell-derived islets. “Developing these cells in bioreactors could provide an almost unlimited supply for patients,” he said.
A study published in The Lancet reported that the number of diabetics in China rose from 98.4 million to nearly 141 million over the past decade. “It’s a global epidemic, not just China,” Dr. Ricordi stated, highlighting the rise in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with type 2 being more associated with lifestyle and nutrition.
He stressed that over 50% of diabetes cases could be prevented through healthy nutrition and moderate physical exercise. While genetic predisposition plays a role, lifestyle choices significantly influence the risk.
Dr. Ricordi urged a shift from increasing lifespan to enhancing ‘healthspan.’ “By adding one year to the global healthspan, we could save the economy $38 trillion,” he cited from a study in Nature Aging. “This is a powerful message to the international community.”
He advocates for personal responsibility in health through daily actions like walking and physical activity. “We could reinvest this massive amount of resources in other challenges that face our century,” Dr. Ricordi concluded.
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Camillo Ricordi: 'Healthspan' must be prioritized in treating diabetes
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