SIMR is expanding its efforts to develop innovative therapies for life-threatening inflammaging diseases, aiming to improve the quality of life for patients worldwide.
Ø Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection primarily caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. According to data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), including pneumonia and bronchiolitis, affected approximately 489 million individuals globally, resulting in 2.5 million deaths and imposing immense pressure on public health systems .
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most prevalent form of pneumonia. Its annual incidence ranges from 1 to 25 cases per 1,000 individuals, with approximately 40% of patients requiring hospitalization (Torres et al., 2021; Martin - Loesches et al., 2023). Reported mortality was 3.5% during hospitalization, 8.2% within 30 days after discharge, and 17.7% within one year post-discharge (Averin et al., 2021). Advanced age (≥65 years) and comorbidities are significant risk factors for the high incidence, mortality, and poor prognosis of CAP (Capelastegui et al., 2009). As global populations age rapidly, pneumonia has become one of the leading causes of death globally, posing a critical public health challenge that requires urgent resolution.
Ø Diabetic kidney diease (DKD）
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of syndromes caused by multiple factors such as genetic background, environmental factors, poor lifestyle habits, and immune system imbalance.It is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. By 2030 the global number of diabetic patients will reach approximately 439 million worldwide (Thipsawat, 2021). Diabetes is closely associated with damage, dysfunction and failure of several organs - especially the eyes, nerves, feet, blood vessels, kidneys and heart (Samsu, 2021).
DKD is one of the most common and severe complications of diabetes and is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, with extremely high morbidity and mortality rates (Samsu, 2021). Approximately 40% of DM patients will develop DKD. In the United States, the number of diabetic patients treated for ESRD rose from over 40,000 in 2000 to more than 50,000 in 2014 (Burrows et al., 2017). In China, the incidence and prevalence of DKD has also risen dramatically over the past decade, now affecting an estimated 24.3 million people (Zhang et al., 2016).
Ø Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, accounting for approximately 50%-60% of all cases. It is a leading causes of cognitive decline and loss of daily functioning in older adults. According to the 2023 World Alzheimer’s Disease Report published by the Alzheimer’s Disease International, there are currently over 40 million AD patients worldwide, with the number projected to reach 70 million by 2030 (Alzheimer's Association, 2023).
In China, there are approximately 9.83 million AD patients (Jia, 2020). As the population aged 60 and above is expected to reach 409 million by 2030, the number of AD patients may increase to 21.6 million without effective prevention and control strategies (Wang et al., 2019).
As the aging population continues to grow, enhancing the prevention and treatment of AD and slowing its progression have become urgent public health challenges that must be addressed.
