Aging does not begin at 65 years of age. How we live the last several decades of life is hugely influenced by the care we receive in the first few decades of life. We are standing at the door step of discovering implementing and evaluating novel and innovative ways of radically changing and improving the aging experience for everyone.

The Stanford Aging & Ethnogeriatrics Research Center (SAGE) was founded and is directed by Dr. VJ Periyakoil in 2018 with funding from the National Institute of Aging (NIA) and Stanford School of Medicine. SAGE aims are to solve many of the current problems in aging research using the latest technological tools including artificial intelligence/machine learning, precision medicine, digital interventions, virtual reality and others. We seek to foster research on diverse  populations and increase involvement of junior scientists from  underrepresented groups in aging research.

SAGE Scientists are currently conducting  studies using innovative approaches that are digitally driven and uniquely Stanford to answer key research questions in the aging arena:

• SAGE will promote multi-level, transdisciplinary research using an integrative biopsychosocial framework and harnessing emerging technologies to discover new knowledge and solve existing challenges in the aging arena.
• SAGE small grants will use emerging methodologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence and other big data techniques, as well as innovative methods like virtual reality, wearables, digital interventions and precision medicine approaches.
• We recognize that the aging process is not defined just by the chronological age. Aging is a life long process and impacted by numerous modifiable processes and we intrepret aging research broadly.
• Prevention of many diseases that occur in older adults is best done by adopting key health behaviors in twenties and thirties.
• Waiting until you hit 65 years of age to prevent and cure many chronic illnesses is a recipe for failure.
• Technological advances have great potential to shed new light on a broad variety of questions related to aging and we seek to harness this power through the work done at the SAGE center.

Methodologies used by SAGE Center Scientists in aging research

Numerous senior and junior investigators are affiliated with the SAGE Center and working to solve many of the health issues currently common in the aging process. A sample of topics include use of big data approaches to shed light on the  genetic risk factors for dementia, using data science  to understand opioid addiction, using virtual reality to treat mental illnesses, electronic phenotype algorithms to assess quality of healthcare for diverse populations and many more.