Many of us envision living a longer, healthier life, free from the diseases we often associate with old age. Scientists around the world are joining in a collective effort to make healthy aging and longevity a reality, and Bar Ilan professor Haim Cohen is joining their ranks.

Cohen was invited to join the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research (AHLR), an international group of top scientists working to slow the aging process and improve quality of life as we age.

Cohen is a leading expert on how the body’s metabolism affects aging, with a specialty in a family of proteins known as sirtuins. These proteins function like tiny “repair crews” within our cells, helping them remain healthy over time.

In his lab at Bar-Ilan, Cohen has demonstrated that boosting a specific sirtuin, SIRT6, can help mice live up to 30% longer. The mice don’t just enjoy longer lifespans; they also gain less weight, have better cholesterol levels, and are better protected against age-related diseases, such as diabetes.

“If we can figure out how to activate this in humans,” Cohen has said, “we could extend life and dramatically improve health in old age.”

The Academy for Health and Lifespan Research (AHLR) was founded in 2019 to bring together the world’s best aging researchers. Its mission is to support breakthroughs that help people live longer, healthier lives and ensure those advances are available to everyone.

AHLR works across borders, connecting scientists, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and governments. Through shared findings, the aim is to accelerate discoveries and advance promising treatments that could revolutionize the aging process.

Cohen was chosen as a member of the academy due to his extensive experience in the field of aging. He heads the Sagol Healthy Aging and Longevity Center at Bar-Ilan and plays a key role in Israel’s efforts to become a hub for aging research. He’s also working with biotech companies to turn his lab’s discoveries into real-world therapies.

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