Published on: Jan 22, 2026
A recent study conducted in collaboration with the University of St. Gallen (HSG) has closely examined how governments, companies, and other major stakeholders are prioritising healthy ageing, revealing clear strategic imbalances. As populations age rapidly and chronic diseases become more widespread, healthcare systems worldwide are facing growing financial pressure. By 2050, the number of people aged over 60 is expected to double, making healthy ageing
The long-term maintenance of physical, mental, and social well-being a critical global challenge. While organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have outlined frameworks to address demographic change, it has remained unclear how these ideas are reflected in real-world priorities. To address this gap, the study analysed the strategic focus of 56 key global actors in 2024, including government agencies, multilateral organisations, research institutions, and companies in the longevity sector. The findings show a strong emphasis on public health and medical care, which accounted for 38% of priorities, followed by work and lifelong learning at 27%. Social factors such as inclusion and combating age discrimination received significantly less attention at 19%, while physical infrastructure adaptations ranked last at 16%. The imbalance is even more evident at a granular level, with initiatives targeting loneliness representing only around 2% of value propositions and public transport essential for mobility and independence in older age appearing in just 1% of cases.
Experts involved in the study argue that healthy ageing is still viewed too narrowly through a medical lens, with disproportionate investment in treatment rather than prevention and everyday support systems. Despite the fact that chronic diseases account for roughly 80% of healthcare costs, only about 3% of spending is directed toward prevention, highlighting a structural gap between existing medical knowledge and its practical implementation in policies, environments, and sustainable prevention models.
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