The KAUST Center of Excellence for Smart Health (KCSH), founded to address the evolving health needs of Saudi Arabia’s aging population, is pioneering smart-health technologies through interdisciplinary collaboration, focusing on areas like One Health, Healthy Aging, smart diagnostics, and bioinformatics, ultimately aiming to enhance healthcare outcomes and economic health in the Kingdom.
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The health of the Saudi population has undergone a remarkable transformation since the middle of the twentieth century, with life expectancy in the Kingdom increasing from 41 years in 1950 to 77 years in 2021. Yet these incredible gains in life expectancy have been countered by health concerns associated with an ageing population. This will become more acute in the coming decades: 9.5% of the Saudi population will be over 65 years old by 2035, increasing to 20% by 2050. An aging population will inevitably lead to an increased prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and dementia. At the same time, Saudi Arabia suffers from an unusually high prevalence of genetic diseases due in part to a high rate of consanguinity. Critical advances in health and well-being are further at risk due to the changing climate, declining air quality and the rise of cross-border travel. These factors contribute to premature mortality while increasing the risks from communicable disease threats and antimicrobial resistance. These facts demonstrate the unique and dynamic demands of maintaining a healthy Saudi population.
