(O-09) Reframing Women's Health and Aging through the Lens of Ovarian Function

Abstract Authors: Jennifer L. Garrison

Abstract Text: Reframing Women's Health and Aging through the Lens of Ovarian Function

Jennifer L. Garrison^1,2

1. Buck Institute for Research on Aging
2. Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity & Equality

Ovaries are the architects of health and the pacemaker for aging in females. Beyond reproduction, ovaries signal to nearly every tissue in the body to promote general health. Aging in the ovary dramatically affects aging in somatic tissues, yet we know little about the mechanisms regulating healthy aging in reproductive organs, nor how this crosstalk is achieved. Understanding how and why ovaries age prematurely may provide important clues about aging in the rest of the body; ovaries also represent an elusive human model to test longevity interventions on a relatively short timescale.

This presentation will discuss a global movement to advance scientific research focused on ovarian aging through funding, infrastructure, resource-building, and advocacy to accelerate the pace of discovery toward useful therapies. It will cover the state of research, the gaps, and where it's headed as we forge a collaborative dialogue about ovaries, health and aging.