Medtech marvels

​Alexandra Virtual Hospital (AVH) will be Singapore's first full-scale remote hospital combining digital health services, Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), digital therapeutics and care navigation technologies to provide continuous and coordinated care both inside and outside the physical hospital. Virtual nursing will improve staff retention and let retired nurses rejoin the workforce through advances in telemedicine. There are various other devices and medical sensors deployed at Alexandra Hospital. These include patches for nurses to monitor patients' vital signs even after discharge, and an artificial-intelligence food scanner that records a patient's nutritional intake and frees up nurses from having to document this data.

The National University Health System Centre for Innovation in Healthcare (CIH), which is housed on the grounds of Alexandra Hospital, is a one-stop hub for innovations that improve the quality of healthcare for National University Health System patients.

Two of its market-ready innovations are The Whizz, which helps asthma patients, and the Spectra IMDx, an optical biopsy device which detects gastric cancer. The Whizz simplifies medication delivery and routine to help patients achieve good asthma control. The Whizz was developed by researchers and doctors from the National University Hospital and National University of Singapore. The team is conducting clinical trials at National University Hospital and aims to deploy the gadget in the next one to two years.

பிள்ளைகளுக்கு மீள்திறன் அவசியம் (Children need to be resilient)

A recent study led by A/Prof John Wong Chee Meng from NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine is the first nationwide study of adolescents’ mental health and resilience. The study surveyed 3,336 respondents aged 10 to 18, as well as their parents. The results showed that only about one in 10 parents observed signs of distress in their children, even though one in three adolescents reported experiencing such symptoms. 

The study also identified four key aspects of resilience that contributed to better mental well-being: positive self-image or optimism, personal control, relationships and social support, and emotional regulation. A/Prof Wong, who is the Director of the NUS Mind Science Centre, said identifying these key domains would help young people and their parents to actively develop strategies to handle stressors they could encounter in life.

慈善音乐剧《与露西同住》为失智症研究及护理筹款 (Charity musical 'Living with Lucy' to raise funds for dementia research and care)

​The National University Health System's Mind Science Centre (MSC), in collaboration with the Inner Wheel Club of Singapore West and the Family Business Network (Asia), will present "Living with Lucy", an English-language charity musical to raise funds for dementia-related medical research and training of care volunteers. Since 2019, the MSC has been presenting a series of musicals to raise awareness of dementia in the community. The musical will be staged on 24 and 25 February at the National Library Drama Centre Theatre.

Health Check Podcast: Why is ageing viewed negatively, and what can we do about it?

​In a podcast on Singapore’s updated action plan for successful ageing, Prof Kua Ee Heok, Tan Geok Yin Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Vice Chairman of the Mind Science Centre, National Univesity Health System, spoke about a 10-year study on positive ageing and dementia prevention in the elderly residents of Jurong.

• Razor TV, 1 February 2023, S1E100: Why is ageing viewed negatively, and what can we do about it?
  

Chipping away at the mystery of immortality: The race to cheat death as populations age in Asia

In a four-part series that explores the idea of living longer, CNA explores some of the science surrounding reversing ageing in Asia.

As Asia ages faster than any other region in the world, the race is on to find ways to slow down the process. The research in longevity has advanced to the point of several potential interventions mostly in animal models that might work in humans, said Prof Brian Kennedy, Director of the NUHS Centre for Healthy Longevity. He noted that the problem right now is that life span was going up faster than health span. 

As governments in Asia pore over the issue of ageing population, preventative medicine is one available route. Big investors are zeroing in on age reversal research by biotechnology firms, with massive funding accelerating the pace of such studies. 

Longevity clinic with lofty aims

​A new diagnostic clinic by the National University Health System Centre for Healthy Longevity (CHL) aimed to slow down the process of ageing is expected to be up and running by early 2023. It will be located at Alexandra Hospital, where the centre's main research facility is.

Since 2019, CHL had been laying the groundwork for the clinic, which it says is the first of its kind in the world, and drawing up plans for preventive ageing healthcare by conducting research on healthy participants at its main research facility. The centre has a lofty mission to add up to five disease-free years to those aged 21 to 80 in Singapore, and aims to find new biomarkers to measure ageing, as well as ways to disrupt the process in order to stave off diseases. 

Its director, Professor Brian Keith Kennedy, had observed that Southeast Asian populations, in particular, had been under-documented in clinical ageing research globally. The centre's research findings will have a significant impact in Asia.

When the clinic is ready, the referral criteria for patients is 30 years or older, without a chronic age-related disease; and 30 to 60 years old with one stable age-related disease. Innovative, evidence-based diagnostics will be applied, as well as personalised, evidence-based interventions.

• The Straits Times, 4 December 2022, World's first clinic that aims to slow down ageing set to open in Singapore
  
• Berita Harian, 4 December 2022, Page 5, Klinik bantu perlahan proses menua bakal dibuka di S'pura (Clinic that aims to slow down ageing set to open in Singapore)
  
• GoodyFeed, 4 December 2022, There's Going to be a Clinic in S'pore That Aims to Slow down Ageing
  

Robot at Alexandra Hospital can take patients' vital signs

The average life expectancy has increased – how can we age healthily?

​Dr Guan Shou Ping, Senior Research Assistant at National University Health System, Centre for Healthy Longevity, speaks about healthy ageing on a Chinese radio talk show. 

New clinic looks at how to slow ageing, prolong disease-free years

A new longevity clinic, where the doctor will diagnose a healthy person's biological age and then provide a customised plan to slow ageing, is being set up at Alexandra Hospital (AH) and is slated to open by January next year. 

Professor Brian Kennedy, CHL director, said the centre, located in AH and a laboratory at NUS Medicine, integrates pre-clinical and clinical research to test ways of slowing ageing in a Southeast Asian population. The centre has screening tools that analyse facial ageing and measure arterial stiffness, body composition and functional ability.

The centre's mission is to enhance health span by three to five years in Singapore's population by slowing biological ageing.

• The Straits Times Online, 7 September 2022, New longevity centre looks at how to reverse ageing and prolong disease-free years
  

• The Straits Times Video, Youtube, 7 September 2022, New longevity centre looks at how to reverse ageing and prolong disease-free years 
  

• Lianhe Zaobao, 7 September 2022, 成立健康长寿中心 国大研究最佳方案助国人延长健康寿命 (NUHS sets up Centre for Healthy Longevity to study best solutions in helping to increase healthy lifespan of Singapore population)
  

• Shin Min Daily News, 8 September 2022, Page 4, 国大设健康长寿中心 目标为国人延长5年健康寿命 (NUHS opens Centre for Healthy Longevity with target to increase healthy lifespan of Singaporeans by 5 years)
  

• Berita Harian, 8 September 2022, Institut penyelidikan penuaan dibuka NUHS (NUHS opens ageing research institute)
  

• AsiaOne, 7 September 2022, Prolonging healthspan by delaying ageing – NUHS opens Singapore’s first Centre for Healthy Longevity to increase healthy lifespan of Singapore population by five more disease-free years
  

• CNA Singapore Tonight, 7 September 2022, Centre for Healthy Longevity aims to enhance lifespan of Singapore population by five more years
  

• CNA Singapore Tonight, 7 September 2022, Professors Brian Kennedy and Andrea Maier on ageing and healthy longevity
  

• Channel 8 News, 健康长寿中心展开研究 探讨延长寿命方案 (New Centre for Healthy Longevity to study best solutions to increase longevity)
  

• Channel 8 Hello Singapore, 8 September 2022,【十分访谈】：长寿与健康 (In-depth Interview: Longevity and health)
  

• 8World, 7 September 2022, 健康长寿中心展开研究 探讨延长寿命方案 (New Centre for Healthy Longevity to study best solutions to increase longevity)
  

• Berita Mediacorp, 7 September 2022, Lebih 300 individu sertai ujian NUHS bagi kaji huraian capai usia panjang (More than 300 individuals participated in NUHS research on longevity)
  

• Tamil Murasu, 8 September 2022, Page 2, New longevity centre looks at how to reverse ageing and prolong disease-free years 
  

Old is gold: How healthy ageing can turn things around for greying societies

​GovInsider noted the U.S. National Academy of Medicine's Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity seeks to provide a blueprint for guiding societies through the challenges and opportunities as the proportion of older people continues to grow. The article highlighted comments by the speakers at the summit co-hosted by the National University Health System, Ministry of Health, National University of Singapore, and Tsao Foundation. 

Prof Linda Fried, Dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, who co-chaired the Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity report, shared that a real transformative vision is needed to create a world for longer lives. Prof John Eu-Li Wong, Senior Advisor at National University Health System, and Senior Vice President of Health Innovation and Translation at National University of Singapore, added that "there is a whole science in learning for older people that really needs to be developed".

How wearable, no-prick glucose monitors are changing the way diabetics manage their blood sugar levels

​Prof Tai E Shyong, Director of National University Health System Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, commented on the use of wearable for monitoring blood sugar level.

Critical for societies to unlock ‘longevity dividend’: DPM Heng

​Extensive media coverage of the first dissemination summit on the United States of America, National Academy of Medicine (NAM)'s Global Roadmap for Health Longevity Report – Implementation in Asia held at the National University Health System on 25 August, highlighted remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and experts including Prof John Eu-Li Wong, Senior Advisor to National University Health System. In his opening address, Deputy Prime Minister Heng said that in order to better unleash the potential of people to contribute as they age, it is critical to unlock the "longevity dividend", which will in turn benefit people of all ages and societies around the globe.

The roadmap published in June 2022, is the result of three years' work by an international commission of experts from multiple domains to envision a world where people live longer lives, and how they can best do so through a whole-of society approach. 

 Dr Victor Dzau, President of NAM, said that if countries do not make changes to seize the opportunity that come with longer lives, they could face higher fiscal burdens, lower gross domestic product, and have more people living with poor health and being dependent on others. 

Prof John Eu-Li Wong, Senior Advisor, National University Health System and Senior Vice President of Health Innovation and Translation, National University of Singapore and Co-Chair of the Commission for a Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity, USA NAM, shared the example of good housing, which is affordable and safe, with no step entry, wide doors and switches, and outlets at easily reachable heights. 

Prof Linda Fried, Dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, who co-chaired the report with Prof Wong, said designing for older adults often results in better design for all ages. She added that the money spent on keeping them healthy reaps huge rewards.  She shared that delaying the onset of chronic conditions by one year is estimated to be worth US$37 trillion in the US alone. 

Other experts, which include Prof Zhao Yaohui from China Centre for Economic Research at Peking University, and Prof Hiroki Nakatani from Keio University, spoke virtually at the Summit.  

• The Straits Times, 26 August 2022, Page A4, Ageism, poor health are major barriers to seniors working longer: Experts
  
• Channel NewsAsia, 25 August 2022, Attitudes around work and age need to change, says DPM Heng
  
• Channel NewsAsia, 25 August 2022, Roadmap for Healthy Longevity, Professor John Eu-Li Wong on 'Healthy Longevity'
  
• Lianhe Zaobao, 26 August, Page A1, 我国打造"无龄城市"实现百年健康 (Singapore to build `ageless city` to realise living to 100) 
  
• Lianhe Zaobao, 26 August 2022, Page A9,  "健康长寿全球路线图"报告：我国须善用"长寿红利"实现愿景 (Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity Report: Country must unlock the longevity dividend to realise its vision)
  
• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 25 August 2022, 我国独居年长者过去10年倍增 (Seniors living alone in my country have doubled in the past 10 years) 
  
• 8World, 25 August 2022, 国际研究：让老年人发挥潜力 有助实现健康长寿社会 (International study: Unleasing the potential of older people can help achieve a healthy longevity society) 
• Berita Harian, 26 August 2022, Page 5, Struktur kehidupan masa kini perlu dikemas kini: DPM Heng (Current life structure needs to be updated: DPM Heng)
  
• Berita Harian, 26 August 2022, Page 5, Warga senja SG digesa kekal sihat bagi kurangkan kos jagaan kesihatan (Singapore's senior citizens urged to stay healthy to reduce healthcare cost) 
  
• Ageless Online, 25 August 2022, Summit on Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity
  

Singapore to host summit on global roadmap for healthy longevity

Youth Mental Health-New toolkit aims to help the young overcome stressors

​The Mind Science Centre under the National University Health System (NUHS) launched the Singapore Youth Resilience Scale (SYRESS) on 1 July, and it was included in the "Raising a resilient child" self-help handbook written by clinical psychologists. The guide book contains frequently asked questions as well as scenarios and strategies parents can use in their daily interaction with youths. These resources were launch alongside an exhibition by the Mind Science Centre that aims to destigmatize mental health among youths. Artworks by a commissioned artist and 16 primary and secondary school students are among the items on display. SMS Dr Janil Puthucheary, the Chair of the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being and who is also the Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, and Health, opened the exhibition. The exhibition is located at MAELab on level 2 of Block 29 of Alexandra Hospital and will be displayed from 1 July 2022 to 31 October 2022. It is open for public booking by appointment only via [email protected].

• Berita Harian Online, 1 July 2022, Sumber baru beri sokongan lebih baik bagi kesihatan mental belia (‎New resources provide better support for youth mental health)
  

• Berita Mediacorp, 1 July 2022, Rangka penilaian, panduan ibu bapa antara sumber baru bantu belia jaga kesihatan mental (Assessment framework, parental guidance among new resources to help youth take care of mental health)
  

• CNA Evening News, 1 July 2022, Youth Mental Health-New toolkit aims to help the young overcome stressors
  

• Vasantham TV News, 1 July 2022, The National University Health System,NUHS, is providing new resources to assist youth in maintaining mental health
  

• Suria News, 1 July 2022, New guideline to help youth overcome stress feeling
  

• Warna 94.2 Evening Radio News, 1 July 2022, New guideline to help youth overcome stress feeling
  

• Lianhe Zaobao, 2 July 2022, 去年378人自杀身亡青少年占三成 本地自杀率下降但年轻人寻短增加 (378 committed suicides in 2021, 30% of whom were young people; local suicide rate dropped, but number of young people committing suicide goes up)
  

长寿养生不养病 (Longevity with health, not illnesses)

​A 2019 survey revealed that Singapore had one of the highest life expectancies in the world, with a life expectancy of 81.4 years and 85.7 years for men and women respectively. However, the healthy life expectancy (HALE) was 75.2 years and 73.7 years respectively. This meant that people lived longer, but the quality of life declined, with both men and women suffering from diseases for the last six to 12 years of their lives and having to struggle with their health.

Professor Brian Kennedy, director of the National University Health System Centre for Healthy Longevity, shared that many healthcare systems around the world focused on "illness" rather than the maintenance of health. He believed that healthcare should refocus on helping people maintain their health, by slowing down or even reversing ageing. The key would be to allow HALE to grow faster than life expectancy, which would reduce morbidity rates, improve quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs.