There’s an effort to shift the focus solely on treating age-related diseases to delaying aging altogether.

Dana Goldman is director of the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics in Los Angeles.

She says medical research is beginning to show that it’s possible to cause a slower aging process delaying the onset and progression of diseases.

Jay Olshansky is professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois and the co-author of a report published in the peer-reviewed journal – Health Affairs.

He estimates an emphasis on delayed aging research would create nearly 10 million more non-disabled seniors by 2060.

It would do that by reducing the incidence of heart disease and cancer.

The National Institutes of Health is hosting a research summit later this month on the topic.

The Gerontological Society of America will also discuss the topic at its annual meeting next month.