Rome, September 14 (askanews) – The far-sighted cure for longevity arrives in Venice to coincide with the Film Festival with a short film produced by The Skill Group, which features the Supplementary Health Care Fund (Fasi) and Sport e Salute, alongside Olympic champions such as Manuela Di Centa, Venanzio Ortis and Andrea Lucchetta and longevity experts such as endocrinologist Lucia Riganelli. With a life expectancy of over 83 years, Italy is now one of the longest-lived countries in the world and the documentary film “Old to whom? The cure for healthy longevity”, presented on 10 September at the Veneto Film Commission pavilion at the Venice International Film Festival is a journey through correct lifestyles and the secrets for a life that is not only long but also satisfying, made up of prevention, sport, proper nutrition and a healthy mind. The short film, produced by The Skill Group and directed by Lorenzo Munegato and Alberto Pezzella with a performance by the young actress Sofia Tocci, places the four pillars of longevity at the centre of the narrative. of longevity: physical health, psychological health, sports activity, and nutrition, told through the experiences and testimonials of doctors, psychologists, university professors, and former international athletes. "Recently," says Daniele Damele, President of FASI, "we completed a pilot research project in four Italian regions, approved by the National Ethics Committee of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and focused on the health, frailty, and autonomy of our assisted population over 65.
In the sample analyzed, the reports highlight that over half (approximately 57-59%) of the subjects involved live with one or more chronic diseases diagnosed during their lifetime, a percentage that requires ongoing care models. It is essential to intervene on this front, focusing on prevention, to ensure a healthy and independent life for as many people as possible. "Investing in healthy longevity," says Luca Del Vecchio, Vice President of FASI, "means investing in the future of the country and its businesses.
Initiatives like this demonstrate how integrative healthcare, sport and a culture of prevention can work together to change the way we approach aging, transforming it from a limitation into a resource." The documentary also describes the "Sport Illumina" project, promoted by the Minister for Sport and Youth through the Department for Sport, conceived by Sport and Health.
The initiative was born with the aim of transforming urban spaces into lively and accessible places for the community: modern, multifunctional, and colorful playgrounds designed as reference points for citizens of all ages. Spaces where children, teenagers, families, athletes, and seniors can use dedicated sports areas free of charge, in an environment designed to promote well-being, social interaction, and an active lifestyle. "The Sport Illumina project was born with the goal of bringing sport and physical activity to Italians' homes. Each space represents a redevelopment project in abandoned or degraded urban areas, but also an opportunity for many citizens to reprogram and recalibrate their habits towards a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle," explains Marco Mezzaroma, President of Sport e Salute. "And this applies to everyone, not just the younger generations. Having a place where they can share moments of sport, activity, and fun significantly improves the quality of their lives and that of their community. This is an asset, in my opinion, that is even more important for the elderly, who often find themselves dealing with isolation and exclusion from social life. This is a theme that, together with the Minister for Sport and Youth, we have placed at the center of the "Circolo 65" project, which aims to spread the culture of physical activity. and promote healthy lifestyles in old age." "Longevity is to one's body what physical activity is to the desire to be able to generate not only effort but also play and smiles, especially between different generations," underlines Andrea Lucchetta, former world gold medal volleyball player and a point of reference for Italian volleyball. The short film also talks about the "Barca xe Casa" initiative, psychomotor skills lessons based on the tradition of rowing supported by the Municipality of Venice within the city's retirement homes, the Veneto Region's investments in sports facilities, the studies of Anmdo (National Association of Hospital Directorate Doctors) and the project linked to epigenetic foods, which extend life, of the Bio Aging Gisva laboratory of the University of Padua. The cameras also entered the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, led by Antonia Ricci, which is part of the Network of Italian Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes, where two million fundamental analyses on food safety are performed every year." Between 1990 and 2024, life expectancy increased by approximately 8 years for men and 6,5 for women, reaching 81,5 and 85,6 years, respectively. We started from this premise to analyze and explain the secrets and best practices for living the second half of our lives in health and at the height of our powers,” concludes Lorenzo Munegato.
Notizie.it editorial team