With the US population aging rapidly and chronic conditions on the rise, the public health community faces a defining opportunity: to reimagine aging as a time of health, purpose, and connection, not decline. This moment calls for bold vision and systems change, and that is why ASPPH is excited to announce the release of Healthy Longevity: Public Health’s Next Frontier, A Framework for Research, Education, Practice, and Policy.
Developed by the ASPPH Healthy Longevity Task Force, this framework charts a course for academic public health to lead a societal transformation, one that extends not only how long we live, but how well we live. It calls for modernizing public health systems, recognizing the societal value of longer lives, and shifting the focus from lifespan to healthspan.
This work reflects the principles of Public Health 4.0, a next-generation approach to population health that is data-informed, prevention-focused, equity-centered, and deeply collaborative. The framework recognizes that healthy longevity must be a shared, cross-sector priority and that public health institutions have a unique role to play in shaping the future of aging.
Four Domains of Action
The report identifies four core domains where academic public health can drive lasting change:
- Research: Calls for increased investment in geroscience, the exposome, social capital, and implementation science to better understand and support health across the life course.
- Education and Training: Encourages integration of aging and longevity into core curricula, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, cultural humility, and age-inclusive design.
- Practice: Advocates for a redesign of prevention systems, grounded in life-course approaches, age-friendly environments, and community engagement.
- Policy and Advocacy: Promotes shifting aging policy away from burden-based models toward proactive, asset-framed approaches that enhance well-being and functional health.
Each recommendation is grounded in evidence and aligned with ASPPH’s commitment to advancing equity, resilience, and health for all.
Leadership and Appreciation
We extend our deepest thanks to Dean Linda P. Fried, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, for her extraordinary leadership as Chair of the ASPPH Healthy Longevity Task Force. We are also grateful to the full Task Force membership for their vision, expertise, and dedication throughout this multi-year effort.
Get Involved
We invite our members and partners to explore the report and help bring its recommendations to life.