S. Jay Olshansky1 and James L. Kirkland2 1School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA 2Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA Correspondence: sjayouic.edu; kirkland.jamesmayo.edu

Why we age and whether our lifespan can be extended have intrigued scientists for centuries. Meanwhile public health advances mean humanity is having to confront the realities of an aging and increasingly frail population. The nascent field of geroscience offers hope that healthspan not just lifespan can be extended. It has spawned a vibrant scientific community that includes researchers studying fundamental biology, translational approaches, economics, and research funding. The knowledge gained from work in this area has the potential to influence the lives of most people alive today.