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Should Clinicians Be Agents of Anti-Aging?

Sarah McKiddy1

  • 1Doctoral student at the University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle.

AMA Journal of Ethics
|December 18, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Geroscience offers potential for extending health span, but its integration into care requires careful consideration of ethics, equity, and individual values. Clinicians play a key role in the responsible use of anti-aging therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and biomedical science
  • Gerotherapeutics development
  • Health equity and aging

Background:

  • The pursuit of longevity is a growing biomedical field and consumer market.
  • Anti-aging products are widely marketed, claiming to reverse or slow aging.
  • Advances in geroscience introduce new therapies and biomarkers for aging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the implications of geroscience for older adult care.
  • To examine the role of clinicians in the ethical integration of gerotherapeutics.
  • To provide systems-level recommendations for practice.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of geroscience advances.
  • Analysis of ethical considerations in applying gerotherapeutics.
  • Exploration of clinical integration challenges.

Main Results:

  • Geroscience has the potential to extend health span.
  • Effective integration depends on aligning with values, equity, and prevention.
  • Clinicians face ethical dilemmas regarding new anti-aging interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Ethical incorporation of gerotherapeutics is crucial for maximizing health span benefits.
  • Systems-level changes are needed to support equitable integration.
  • Focusing on prevention of age-related diseases across the lifespan is essential.

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