Dr Alexandre Kalache

Alexandre Kalache, born in 1945 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a medical epidemiologist and gerontologist whose career has focused on global ageing policies, research and interventions related to population ageing.

Education and early training

Kalache obtained his medical degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1970, specialising in tropical medicine at the same institution in 1972 and obtaining a diploma in medical education in 1974. He then moved to the United Kingdom, where he completed a Master of Science (MSc) in social medicine at the University of London in 1977. In 1978, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in public health, and completed his academic training with a PhD in epidemiology from the University of London in 1993. This educational background combined his clinical experience in Brazil with a focus on public health and epidemiology, laying the foundation for his specialisation in ageing.

Professional and academic career

Kalache began his career in Brazil in clinical and educational roles in public health, addressing infectious diseases in contexts of rapid urbanisation. In the mid-1970s, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he joined the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), part of the University of London, as a clinical professor in public health at the University of Oxford between 1977 and 1984. He remained at LSHTM for almost two decades, where he founded the Epidemiology of Ageing Unit in 1983, pioneering longitudinal studies on age-related health determinants. In addition, in 1991, he established the first Master's degree in Health Promotion in Europe, integrating perspectives on ageing into postgraduate training.

In 1995, Kalache joined the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva as Director of the Ageing and Life Course Programme, a position he held until 2008. During this period, he led global initiatives to promote active and healthy ageing. Subsequently, between 2008 and 2010, he served as Senior Advisor on Global Ageing Policy at the New York Academy of Medicine.

Since 2012, he has chaired the International Longevity Centre-Brazil (ILC-Brazil), a think tank dedicated to research and policy on ageing in Latin America. In addition, since 2015 he has been co-chair of the Global Alliance of International Longevity Centres, global ambassador for HelpAge International and advisor to the World Economic Forum on ageing issues in developing countries. His career combines academic, international leadership and advocacy roles, influencing policies in more than 100 countries.

Research contributions and main initiatives

Kalache's research focuses on the epidemiology of global ageing, highlighting the impact of declining fertility and mortality on population ageing. His studies project a doubling of the population over 65 by 2025, with increases in non-communicable diseases in developing countries, and emphasise the extension of ‘healthspan’ over mere longevity, promoting modifiable factors such as lifestyle and social engagement, based on longitudinal data. He criticises unproven therapies and advocates for preventive and equity interventions.

Among its key initiatives, in 2002 it launched the WHO Policy Framework for Active Ageing, which defines active ageing as the optimisation of health, participation and security to improve quality of life, with pillars in behavioural, social, economic and environmental factors. This framework influenced national plans and the UN Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

In 2007, it initiated the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities movement, assessing eight domains (outdoor spaces, transport, social participation, etc.) to adapt urban environments to older populations. This evolved into the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities in 2010, which now includes more than 1,000 cities.

Under ILC-Brazil, she promotes evidence-based strategies, such as age-friendly urban planning and public health programmes, collaborating with local governments and affiliating with the WHO network. His publications include the WHO report Active Ageing: A Policy Framework (2002) and a 2005 chapter on global ageing demographics, emphasising upstream interventions to reduce morbidity and dependency.

Throughout his more than 40-year career, Kalache has integrated his medical, epidemiological and gerontological training with research, advocacy and activism, positioning himself as a leading figure in global ageing.