icgw 2025 Session 2

Session 2: Innovations for Wellness: Harnessing Technology for Ageing Well

As technology rapidly advances, the care and quality of life for older adults are being transformed in significant ways. Technological and social innovations are playing crucial roles in addressing the specific needs of a growing ageing population. In this session, we will discuss cutting-edge technologies such as wearable health monitors, telemedicine, and smart home systems that are revolutionizing how we support older adults’ well-being. Additionally, we will explore social innovations that integrate technology to enhance the quality of life for ageing individuals. This includes community-based tech initiatives, collaborative platforms, and solutions that foster social engagement and connectivity among seniors.Read More!

Moderator:

Asst. Prof. Dr. Tobias Endress,
Assistant Professor of AIT School of Management at Asian Institute of Technology

Speakers:

Main idea: Technology and social innovation can significantly improve the well-being and independence of older adults, but equitable access and ethical implementation are critical.
Important points:

Underrepresentation of non-European populations:
○ 81% of genetic data as of 2016 came from people of European ancestry; the gap has only widened by 2022.
○ Populations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America remain significantly underrepresented, which affects the accuracy of genetic diagnostics and treatments.
Consequences in pharmacogenomics:
○ Example: a child in Ethiopia metabolized codeine too quickly due to a genetic variant, leading to fatal toxicity.
○ The gene CYP2D6 affects metabolism of 25% of all prescribed drugs, yet data on non-European variants is scarce.
Gender bias in clinical trials:
○ Women, especially elderly women, suffer more adverse drug reactions but are underrepresented in studies.
○ Most clinical trials have been based on male and European subjects, creating diagnostic and treatment biases.
Impact on diagnosis and treatment:
○ Lack of diversity skews risk assessment tools and treatment guidelines, putting non-European populations at greater risk of misdiagnosis or ineffective therapies.
Call to action for equitable science:
○ The UN asserts equal access to scientific advancement. Bridging the diversity gap is necessary to achieve that right in genomics.

1. Ms. Grace Chan,
Business Director at the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, International Vice President of the International Federation on Ageing

Main idea: Japan’s policies and innovations support aging in place, but cultural trust, data governance, and workforce shortages are key challenges to expanding wellness technologies.
Important points:

Japan leads in healthy life expectancy:
○ With policies like "Pin Pin Korori" (living healthily until death), Japan promotes well-being through retirement age extensions and national health innovations.
Tech innovations support aging society:
○ Telemedicine, drones for deliveries, and digitized medical records connected to national ID cards enhance access and efficiency.
Digital nursing and care robotics:
○ AI-based care plans, predictive excretion monitors, and emotionally supportive robots help address human resource shortages in elder care.
Transportation tech reduces accidents:
○ Seniors must pass cognitive tests to retain driver’s licenses; technologies like automatic braking and autonomous vehicles aim to maintain mobility.
Cultural skepticism toward data sharing:
○ Despite tech advances, many (including his own wife) distrust data-sharing systems, revealing a need for stronger governance and public reassurance.
Aging is linked to loneliness:
○ Technology can help overcome isolation through expanded access to information and social connections, offering hope beyond physical decline.

2. H.E. Masaharu Nakagawa,
Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan

Main idea: Wellness technology should be part of a bottom-up, socially driven healthcare model that integrates behavior, genetics, and social determinants starting from early life.
Important points:

Healthy aging starts early:
○ Behaviors from childhood impact long-term health outcomes; prevention must begin well before age 60.
Social determinants outweigh medical treatments:
○ Issues like food insecurity, mental health, transportation, and community support are more influential than medical interventions in overall health.
Cultural and individual context is critical:
○ Health strategies must adapt to local cultures, behaviors, and community traits—one-size-fits-all national plans often fail.
Genetic traits influence health behavior:
○ Tendencies like laziness or unhealthy eating may be heritable and shape chronic disease risk across generations.
Intergenerational solutions foster wellness:
○ Programs that combine elderly care with youth services (e.g., daycare + senior homes) enhance cognitive and social well-being.
AI and wearables create opportunities—but need integration:
○ Devices are generating valuable data, but there’s a lack of standardized protocols to use them effectively in care systems.
Data governance and trust must improve:
○ Patients need clear, transparent data policies to build trust in digital healthcare; HIPAA-like protections are spreading globally.
Advocacy and leadership are key:
○ Change starts with small-scale champions who advocate for trusted, inclusive, and tech-integrated health systems.

3. Prof. Dr. Shashank Kraleti, MD,
FAAFP, Professor and Chair of Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Director of Primary Care and Population Health Service Line, Senior Vice-President, UAMS Health Network

Main idea: Future healthcare must integrate multi-omics data, AI, and personalized wellness programs to optimize health across the entire lifespan—not just extend it.
Important points:

From lifespan to healthspan:
○ The focus is shifting from simply living longer to living healthier lives through optimized wellness and personalized medicine.
Multi-omics and AI are game changers:
○ Technologies such as genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics enable early disease detection and tailored interventions.
Longevity begins before birth:
○ Screening can start at preconception (carrier testing), newborn stage (genetics-first NBS), and continue with lifelong personalized care plans.
Digital coaching and AI-driven devices:
○ Tools like wearables and smart fitness machines guide health behavior and track progress, integrated into electronic medical records.
Personalized wellness partnerships:
○ His hospital uses a “subscription model” where individuals are treated as healthcare partners, receiving tailored coaching, diagnostics, and interventions.
Tech-enabled mental and cognitive health:
○ Programs include mindfulness coaching, cognitive training, and psycho-social support, recognizing mental well-being as a core aging factor.
Barriers include literacy, language, and culture:
○ UX/UI design must be adapted to local languages and cultural preferences, especially in diverse populations with limited tech familiarity.
Data privacy requires layered security:
○ Genetic data is highly sensitive and is protected with restricted access, masked records, and third-party cybersecurity protocols.
Collaborative innovation is essential:
○ A “tripartite model” involving hospitals, insurers, and government can drive adoption, lower costs, and influence national policy.

4. Asst. Prof. Dr. Polakit Teekakirikul,
CEO of VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center and Chief Strategy Officer at Bumrungrad Hospital