Should aging be officially classified and treated as a disease?

Aging refers to the gradual accumulation of changes in the body’s cells, tissues, and organs over time, leading to declines in function and increased vulnerability to illness. While traditionally seen as a natural process, recent advances in biotechnology, genomics, and regenerative medicine have prompted scientists and policy advocates to ask whether aging itself should be formally classified as a disease, something with defined diagnostic criteria and treatments. This idea has gained momentum in the 21st century, as researchers began identifying specific biological mechanisms that drive aging, such as telomere shortening, cellular senescence, DNA damage, and chronic inflammation. The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has historically listed age-related conditions (like osteoporosis or Alzheimer’s) as diseases, but it does not yet define aging itself as a pathology. However, in 2018, the WHO included “old age” as a condition in the ICD-11. Classifying aging as a disease could transform how medical systems allocate resources, how pharmaceutical companies develop treatments, and how insurance providers cover interventions aimed at slowing or reversing biological decline. It would echo earlier shifts in thinking, like when menopause or mental health disorders moved from being seen as inevitable aspects of life to recognized medical conditions with targeted care.