HKUST launches 5-year study into long lifespans of Chinese people

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has launched a five-year study into why Chinese people often enjoy long lifespans, and aims to recruit 500 residents aged 90 or older for biomarker analysis using advanced blood testing technologies.HKUST president Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, who is leading the research, said Hong Kong urgently needed to uncover the healthy ageing process as the city had become a “super-ageing society” in 2024 under UN standards, with more than 20 per cent of the population aged 65 or above.“Once we understand the biological basis behind healthy longevity, we will have the opportunity to provide personalised methods to help delay ageing or promote a long and healthy life,” she said.Ip added that the research team also aimed to establish a biological sample database specifically for long-lived Chinese individuals, which would lay a solid foundation for future medical research.In 2024, the life expectancy of Hongkongers reached 84 years for men and 88 years for women.On a nationwide basis, China’s National Health Commission put the average lifespan at 79 years in 2024.