Associate Professor, Doctor of Medicine Phan Minh Hoang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation and Occupational Diseases, stated at a community health workshop on 4/6 that a key goal of modern medicine is not just to help people live longer, but also to extend the number of years lived healthily, independently, and with quality.

"Age increases every year, but biological age can slow down with good health management," he said. For example, a 40-year-old can maintain their physical condition and bodily functions comparable to many years prior if they properly control nutrition, exercise, and underlying health conditions. Figuratively, one might "age one year every five years."

In reality, many individuals of the same chronological age exhibit varying rates of aging. Some in their 60s and 70s remain mobile, self-sufficient, and lead normal lives, while others are completely dependent on family members. This difference stems from years of health management, including nutrition, exercise, controlling underlying diseases, and maintaining a positive mindset.

Biological age reflects the actual level of bodily aging, independent of the birth year on official documents. It is determined through tests of saliva, blood, or urine samples to assess biomarkers like chronic inflammation, cell elasticity, and metabolic function. A 2023 study published in the journal Nature Aging showed that lifestyle, particularly diet, can significantly slow or even reverse biological aging more than genetic factors in many cases.

According to Doctor Hoang, amidst rapid population aging, the concern is not just increased longevity but also the number of years lived with illness and functional decline. Many older adults currently face hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and risks of stroke, dementia, or Parkinson's disease simultaneously.

Therefore, healthcare needs to shift from a "disease treatment" mindset to "health care," centering on prevention, early detection, and functional maintenance. According to Hoang, rehabilitation is one of the important pillars in elder care, aiming to reduce fall risks, limit complications, and extend the ability to live independently.

Doctor, Level 2 Specialist Tran Ngoc Trieu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, stated that the healthcare sector faces a significant challenge with the accelerating rate of population aging. Older adults require not only disease treatment but also comprehensive physical and mental care, where rehabilitation plays a vital role in helping them live healthy, happy, and integrated lives within the community.

Older adults participating in day care services at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation and Occupational Diseases. Photo: Quynh Tran

According to Master of Science, Doctor of Medicine Doan Duy Tan, Head of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation and Occupational Diseases, nutrition and exercise are two important "keys" to slowing aging. Older adults need individualized diets tailored to their specific conditions, ensuring sufficient protein, vitamins, and fiber, avoiding skipped meals or excessive restrictions. They also need to maintain appropriate exercise to preserve muscle mass, increase endurance, and maintain balance.

One often-overlooked factor is mental health. According to Associate Professor Hoang, many older adults experience rapid decline not solely due to physical ailments but also because of loneliness, lack of social interaction, limited physical activity, or loss of purpose. Community activities, psychological therapy, and peer group engagement can significantly improve their quality of life.

Based on this reality, the Hospital for Rehabilitation and Occupational Diseases implemented a day care model for older adults, integrating rehabilitation. Older adults attend the hospital during the day for physical therapy, nutritional counseling, therapeutic activities, and health monitoring, returning home to their families at the end of the day.

"The goal is not to help people 'not age,' but to age more healthily, maintaining independence and quality of life for as long as possible," said Doctor Hoang.

Le Phuong