Potential cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget are raising alarms in the aging research community. Experts warn that reducing funding now could slow breakthroughs in geroscience, the study of aging mechanisms that underlie multiple chronic diseases.

“Aging research is not just another disease field; it’s the foundation for healthier, longer, and more productive lives,” said a spokesperson.  “Cuts at this stage risk delaying discoveries that deliver long-term healthcare savings and improved quality of life.”

Funding uncertainty is already affecting labs and early-career scientists, while international competitors are ramping up investments in longevity research. Analysts caution that treating aging science as discretionary overlooks the growing healthcare demands of an aging population.