The human functionality revolution: a new paradigm for health and disability.

"We want to live longer, but we are not prepared to accept the functional limitations that this entails". With this reflection, Matilde Leonardi, neurologist and professor at the Catholic University of Milan and director of the Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, inaugurated the VI lecture of the Chair IDEA of New Longevities of the University of Navarra, entitled "Challenges and solutions for aging in people with disabilities".

Leonardi defended the need to change the traditional view of disability and aging, moving from an exclusively biological approach to a holistic one, in which functionality and environmental conditions are determining factors. "It is not about focusing on what a person cannot do, but on what he or she can do, and how society can facilitate that functioning," he stressed.

Beyond biomedicine

For the expert, biomedicine has long considered the human body as "a broken car" to be repaired. However, this approach is insufficient in a world where 50% of the population lives with a chronic disease and where the population over 60 years of age is multiplying at an accelerated rate. The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted the fact that health crises are not only biomedical, but also social, political, economic and cultural. "We are in a real revolution in neurology," said Leonardi, noting that currently 3.4 billion people in the world are living with some subject of neurological condition.

Among the core topic concepts he addressed, Leonardi stressed the importance of Brain Health, defined as the state in which a person can autonomously realize his or her cognitive, emotional and behavioral capabilities.

He also introduced the concept of Brain Capital, which links brain health with social and economic resilience in a "poly-crisis" scenario. "Today's challenges - climate change, geopolitical instability, threats to public health - cannot be solved by economic policies alone. We need to invest in mental health and functionality to build more resilient and cohesive societies," he said.

The throwaway culture and the value of the family

In his speech, Leonardi warned about the risk of a culture focused solely on productivity, which can lead to what he calls the "throwaway culture." "A person should be valued not for his or her disability, but for being a person. Age cannot become a factor of exclusion or disability," he emphasized.

The speaker also highlighted the critical role of the family and caregivers in people's well-being. "The family is the main facilitator of functionality. We cannot forget caregivers, who need support and recognition. Caring for caregivers is essential for a truly inclusive society," she added.

"Changing environmental conditions can reduce disability," the expert concluded. "Glasses that allow you to see or an accessible environment can make the difference between a limitation and a functional life. The revolution in functionality starts now, and it is everyone's responsibility."

roundtable: "Prevention and Support Strategies for Aging in People with Disabilities".

The lecture was completed with a roundtable entitled "Strategies for Prevention and Support for Aging in People with Disabilities", with the participation of Genoveva Montoya, Inés Sánchez-Ventura and Araceli Arellano, professors and researchers at the University of Navarra and reference letter professionals in their fields. 

Genoveva Montoya, neuropsychologist at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, pointed out that aging is a heterogeneous and multifactorial process that involves both functional losses and gains in knowledge and wisdom. She recalled that neurodegenerative diseases increase after the age of 60 and underlined three core topic factors for good longevity: physical activity, vital purpose and a supportive social network .

He also defended the value of non-pharmacological therapies to improve quality of life: cognitive stimulation, cognitive training and rehabilitation, with positive effects even in depressive states.

For her part, Araceli Arellano, professor of Education, called attention to the lack programs of study on aging in people with intellectual disabilities. She pointed out that many family caregivers face complex situations, as parents age at the same time as their children with disabilities require support.

"Caregiving can become a beautiful act, but also an unsustainable burden without financial aid," she warned. She stressed the importance of long-term planning to ensure support when parents are no longer able to care.

Finally, Inés Sánchez-Ventura, professor of Civil Law, explained the legal evolution in Spain with respect to the exercise of legal capacity. She detailed figures such as the curatorship, the judicial defender, the preventive power of attorney and the de facto guardianship, instruments designed to support the elderly in making personal and patrimonial decisions, always respecting their autonomy.