Healthy Ageing and Lifestyle Medicine: Current Knowledge and Future Direction

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Community Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 567

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Translational Medicine (DiMeT), Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Interests: patient safety; clinical pathways; quality in healthcare; healthcare planning and organization; lifestyle medicine and safety
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Population ageing is a major 21st century phenomenon that is also known as the third demographic transition and it is estimated that by 2050, there will be an increase in the number of people aged 65 and over. The World Health Organization defines healthy ageing as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability (i.e., people’s capabilities of being and doing what they have reason to value) that enables well-being in older age”.

From a public health perspective, the emerging health needs for the global population have become fundamental in this field and it is clear that the healthcare systems need to adapt to this change and reorganise themselves, as the current models of care are inadequate to meet the health needs of a rapidly ageing population. In this scenario, lifestyle medicine, health promotion and prevention interventions have become imperative, reflecting a major shift in our society towards an emphasis on healthy and safety lifestyles.

This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality articles that provide valuable insights and practical implications for improving active and healthy ageing among the global population. We are interested in studies that investigate new approaches or innovative strategies for promoting longevity and lifestyle medicine.

For this Special Issue, we are looking for original research, review articles, short reports, brief commentaries and case reports. We look forward to receiving your submissions and appreciate your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Geriatrics.

Dr. Alice Masini
Prof. Dr. Massimiliano Panella
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • active aging
  • healthy ageing
  • aging population
  • longevity
  • lifestyle medicine
  • healthcare
  • care model
  • policy
  • quality of life
  • well-being
  • safety
  • systematic reviews
  • scoping reviews
  • narrative reviews
  • observational studies
  • quasi-experimental studies
  • randomized control trials
  • qualitative study
  • mixed methods research

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 498 KiB  
Article
Public Awareness and Perceptions of Longevity Determinants in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study (2024–2025)
by Lamah Allehaibi, Lamia Abuhaimed, Bashaer Hakami, Ayman Alotaibi, Sarah Alabbasi, Zain Alsharif, Taif Alayyafi, Asayel Alamri, Rawan Althaqil and Mohammed Alnuhait
Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111229 - 23 May 2025
Abstract
Introduction: Longevity is increasingly recognized as the result of modifiable lifestyle, environmental, and social factors rather than genetics alone. While global interest in healthy aging is growing, public awareness of these determinants remains understudied in the Middle East. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Introduction: Longevity is increasingly recognized as the result of modifiable lifestyle, environmental, and social factors rather than genetics alone. While global interest in healthy aging is growing, public awareness of these determinants remains understudied in the Middle East. This study aimed to assess public awareness and perceptions of longevity-related factors among adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between November 2024 and January 2025 targeting residents of Saudi Arabia aged 18 and above. A researcher-validated questionnaire explored awareness across various domains, including lifestyle, environment, genetics, sleep, and religious beliefs. Perceptions were assessed using a series of items measuring beliefs about the influence of lifestyle, environmental, technological, and cultural factors on health and longevity. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze responses from 395 participants. Results: The sample included 395 participants, with 67.8% females and more than half (51.4%) aged 18–25 years. The participants exhibited high awareness of key lifestyle factors; greater than 88% acknowledged the role of sleep, and more than 90% recognized the importance of exercise and nutrition. However, fewer were aware of environmental (72.2%) or social determinants, and nearly half believed that genetic factors exert a primary influence on longevity. Higher awareness was significantly associated with behaviors like regular exercise (p = 0.004), dietary supplement use (p = 0.002), and recognition of the importance of sleep (p < 0.001). Younger adults showed higher awareness than older adults, while there were no significant differences in regards to gender, education, and income. Support for incorporating religious themes into health campaigns was also linked to greater awareness. Insurance status and chronic illness were not associated with awareness levels. Conclusions: While awareness of lifestyle-related longevity factors is strong, gaps remain in understanding broader influences such as environmental and social determinants. Culturally grounded public health strategies that integrate religious framing and emphasize actionable, evidence-based behaviors may enhance community engagement and support healthy aging across Saudi Arabia. Full article
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15 pages, 585 KiB  
Systematic Review
Identification of Barriers That Can Influence Older Adults in Community Pharmacies: A Systematic Review
by Rita Pedro, Ramona Mateos-Campos and Agostinho Cruz
Healthcare 2025, 13(9), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13090981 - 24 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: This systematic review examines the barriers that may influence the proper care and counseling for people who are 65 years or older, in community pharmacies. Also, we attempt to identify potential strategies to mitigate these barriers. The research question addressed is [...] Read more.
Objectives: This systematic review examines the barriers that may influence the proper care and counseling for people who are 65 years or older, in community pharmacies. Also, we attempt to identify potential strategies to mitigate these barriers. The research question addressed is “What kind of barriers influence older people in community pharmacies?”. Methods: Five electronic databases were used: Medline from Pubmed, Core collection of Web of Science, Science direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) through EBSCO and RCAAP (Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal). This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was prospectively published in PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Review) having the following identification number: ID CRD42024516422. The original articles about individuals over 65 years of age and about barriers to counseling in community pharmacies were included. The Critical Appraisal tool made by Joanna Briggs Institute was chosen. Results: From a total of 919 articles identified, 9 were included in this systematic review. The identified barriers were categorized into four typologies: centered on the pharmacy profession, centered on older adults, centered on the pharmacy layout and infrastructure, and centered on society. Other than this, some facilitators were identified during the research and were also categorized into the same four typologies. Conclusions: The classification of the identified barriers and facilitators has significant importance as it provides essential insights for responsible bodies of community pharmacies. Comprehending these barriers and facilitators is crucial to transforming community pharmacies into a more accessible and supportive environment for older patients. Full article
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