In early 2000, I saw one of my favorite artists, Bob Dylan, perform live in Stockholm. At the end of the concert the lights were dimmed and he sang Forever Young. It really struck a chord with me. The song makes it clear that staying forever young is about one’s mindset and actions, not something that could be lost as soon as one ages. The trick is, as I interpret it, to do something meaningful, something you are passionate about. Or as one line of the song goes: “May your hands always be busy, may your feet always be swift”… whether it is working in your garden, joining a book club, or continuing to do science research when you have far surpassed your retirement age.

Their rigorous routines involve complicated diets, meticulously calculated sleep, and even plasma exchange.

Today, many people, not least millionaires on Instagram, showcase to the world how they reverse their aging process with the intention of living for as long as possible. Their rigorous routines involve complicated diets, meticulously calculated sleep, and even plasma exchange. This is not joyful and meaningful living in my mind, it is wasting large parts of your life if you go to the extremes.

However, the millionaires do have a point in the sense that we need to figure out how we can get old healthier throughout this demographic shift towards aging populations. And based on new geroscience findings, many of the diseases that emerge later on in life could be prevented if the aging process could be slowed down. And that’s exciting!

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The science of aging better

All over the world, countries are experiencing a demographic shift towards aging populations. The field of aging research seeks to answer the question of how we can age healthier, and not just live longer.

Luckily, in the Nordic life science industry we do have a strong foundation to stand on, and perhaps we can even lead the way, for the times they are a-changin’.

The latest issue of NLS magazine (No 02 2025) includes a special report on the changing world. There is so much happening in geopolitics right now so I am afraid some of the articles in this printed magazine will need to be updated as soon as they are published online. However I hope they capture the essence of time right now, and hopefully, when we look back upon this year we will see that the unnecessary turmoil has slowed down and that the world can focus more on what matters most, like encouraging progress in global health.

And to quote another line from Dylan’s song: “May you have a strong foundation, when the winds of changes shift.” Luckily, in the Nordic life science industry we do have a strong foundation to stand on, and perhaps we can even lead the way, for the times they are a-changin’.

About the author

Malin Otmani, M.Sc., is the Editor in Chief of Nordic Life Science. This column was originally published in NLS magazine No 02 2025, out May 2025.