Aging is the biggest risk factor for developing diseases like cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular disease. However, as the biology of aging is becoming better understood, early approaches to geroprotection – interventions that aim to slow aging and reduce age-related disease risks – are beginning to emerge, with the potential to help people stay healthier for longer. The discussion paper published by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina therefore calls for a paradigm shift in research and medicine with a stronger focus on aging itself. This approach is also supported by the Leibniz Research Alliance “Resilient Aging” (LRA-RA) and the Leibniz Institute on Aging (FLI) in Jena.