Webinar: “Healthy Ageing: Nutrition, Metabolism, and Life Course Pathways to Longer Healthspan”

October 2026

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health India Research Center hosted a webinar titled, “Healthy Ageing: Nutrition, Metabolism, and Life Course Pathways to Longer Healthspan” on October 13, 2026. The session examined the impact of nutrition and metabolic health on healthy ageing, including how healthy behaviors across the life course can help extend the number of years spent in good health.

This was the fourth session of our webinar series, “The Impact of Diets on Non-Communicable Diseases: Evidence and the Next Steps,” that aims to bring together global and national experts to explore the relationship between diet, nutrition, and various types of NCDs.

The discussion began with opening remarks and context setting by Dr. Swati Bakshi, Deputy Director, Harvard Chan India Research Center. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring esteemed experts and thought leaders in the field:

Speakers:

• Dr. William Mair, Professor of Molecular Metabolism, Director of the Harvard Chan School Aging Initiative, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Dr. Prabhdeep Kaur, Professor and Chair, Isaac Centre for Public Health, Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
• Dr. Ritu Rana, Mission Head – Healthcare, HelpAge India

The session was moderated by Dr. Courtney Marie Peterson, Associate Professor of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The session brought together more than 248 participants globally, including policymakers, public health professionals, researchers, civil society organizations, and academic institutions.

The discussion examined the growing shift in public health from extending life expectancy to improving the years spent in good health. Drawing on advances in the biology of ageing, speakers explored how nutrition and metabolic function influence the body’s ability to maintain health over time, and how these processes may contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Particular attention was given to the emerging understanding of biological ageing as a process influenced by factors throughout life, including dietary patterns, meal timing, and socioeconomic and environmental conditions. This perspective places greater emphasis on identifying and addressing health risks before they manifest as disease, rather than viewing healthy ageing primarily as a concern of older adulthood.

In the Indian context, speakers considered the implications of earlier cardiometabolic risks and the country’s diverse nutritional and socioeconomic circumstances for developing effective approaches to healthy ageing. The Longevity India Initiative and the ongoing BHARAT Study (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions) were highlighted as efforts to bring together biological, clinical, and population-level evidence to better understand ageing among Indian populations. The discussion also examined how scientific advances can inform public health practice, particularly by building on existing primary healthcare systems and community-based models of care.

Panellists emphasized the importance of extending preventive efforts across the life course, supported by policies and environments that enable healthier diets, regular physical activity, and sustained access to care, with the broader objective of preserving functional ability and independence as people age.