Published: 24.06.08

Why could a 400-year-old clam help you live to a healthy old age? How can studying old pond snails help you remember your PIN number? Hear the answers to these and other questions at a University of Brighton public lecture held in association with Help the Aged from one of Britain’s foremost experts on the ageing process.

In the run-up to the largest international meeting ever held by the British Society for Research on Ageing Dr Richard Faragher, of the University of Brighton will explain how the latest research in science and engineering promises better lives for older people.

Dr Faragher directs SPARC (Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity), a network of the best and brightest biologists, designers and chemists dedicated to finding ways to make later life better in every possible way. Activities such as SPARC have a clear objective he says:

"If we can reduce dependency among older people by just 1% per annum we will save literally billions of pounds on the costs of long term care. Far more importantly, we will be able to make sure that older people continue to live independently in good health in their own homes. In other words, to live the kinds of lives we all want.”

“Knowledge is the key to progress and so my lecture will discuss the huge advances that have been made in understanding why and how we age, the breakthroughs that are just around the corner and the hopes of researchers for a better future.”

The public lecture takes place on Monday 14th July and doors open at 6:30pm, at the Sallis Benney Theatre, Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 0JY. To register for your free place please contact Dr Nicky Hewson on n.hewson@brighton.ac.uk or call 01273 642124.

The university will also be taking part in the BSRA annual scientific meeting to be held in Brighton from 17-18 July. Further details are available at www.bsra.org.uk.