Professor Faragher talks about his research into ageing
In the wild, the chances of surviving into old age are slim. Natural selection favours any gene that makes its organism a better replicator in the early part of its life course. So although some people are lucky, on average most will be carrying between four and six chronic diseases by the age of 85.
The costs of social care are high. Forty per cent of the total NHS budget is set to combating the effects of aging badly - more than £50bn per annum. There is the potential for our research to reduce these costs, but the most important thing is for our research to have positive effects on the quality of life for older people.
