A Letter from Sir Muir Gray: Preventing and managing disease

Dear Readers,

I am delighted to share with you the third theme of our Live Longer Better Plan: Preventing and Managing Disease.

As people live longer, it is true that more of us develop one or more long-term conditions. But this is not simply “ageing.”

The truth is that many diseases - heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia among them – are largely caused by the environment in which we live and the way we adapt to it. They are not inevitable. In fact, the risks of most diseases can be reduced, and if a condition has already developed, it can be managed and its progression slowed.

In the 20th century, infectious diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis gave way to what we now call “non-communicable” diseases - conditions not caused by infection but by how we live and work. The modern world has made us less active, more stressed, and more socially disconnected. These factors drive disease, but, importantly, they are modifiable.

Of course, disease itself can have a direct impact – a heart attack, for example, reduces the strength of the heart muscle. But what is often even more damaging is the social consequence. Too many people still believe that once you are diagnosed with a disease, rest is best. In truth, the opposite is needed.

Once a condition develops, physical and social activity become more important than ever. Continuing with everyday life, with movement, connection and purpose, is essential to maintaining independence and narrowing the “fitness gap” that disease can widen.

The earlier we act, the better - but it is never too late to begin. Small steps taken daily in activity, diet, sleep, and social connection can make a measurable difference at any age.

You are not powerless, disease is not inevitable decline. Health is an ongoing project, and with the right knowledge and actions you can prevent, manage, and live well for longer.

Live longer better- you can do it and help others!

-Sir Muir Gray

OLP Board Member