“Healthy longevity” orHealthy Longevitymeans more than just getting old. It's about extending the healthy years of life (Healthspan) and thereby theQuality of lifeThe goal is to stay fit as long as possible – both mentally and physically. This is not only about avoiding illness, but also aboutTo slow down the aging process itself.
Health is not the same as health: General Health vs. Longevity Health
General health focuses on short-term health goals such as disease prevention, basic care, or compliance with general recommendations. Aging is often viewed as an immutable process.
Longevity medicine is based on the latest scientific findings, which show that aging can be influenced, slowed, or even partially reversed.Longevity medicine considers aging itself as the main cause of many chronic diseasesand starts right there.
What makes longevity approaches so special?
Longer time horizon:Instead of just treating the symptoms, it is about maintaining long-term health.
Holism:Lifestyle, genetics, epigenetics, micronutrients and mental health are taken into account.
Early intervention:Healthy longevity relies on modern diagnostics and personalized prevention to nip diseases in the bud.
The 12 Hallmarks of Healthy Aging
The following points or characteristics describe the biological processes of aging at the molecular level – supplemented here by brief explanations:
Genomic instability:Damage to the genetic material accumulates with age and promotes diseases such as cancer.
Telomere shortening:The ends of the chromosomes become shorter with each cell division – this limits the lifespan of the cells.
Epigenetic changes:Chemical changes in DNA influence gene activity – imbalances occur with age.
Loss of proteostasis:The cell's ability to correctly "fold" (assemble) or dispose of proteins decreases, disrupting cell functions.
Deregulated nutrient perception:The body reacts less well to signals such as insulin or mTOR – this promotes aging and metabolic disorders.
Mitochondrial dysfunction:The cell’s “power plants” produce less energy and more harmful byproducts.
Cellular senescence:Old cells (zombie cells) no longer divide, but emit pro-inflammatory signals and disrupt tissue function.
Stem cell exhaustion:The body's ability to regenerate decreases because stem cells are less active or functional.
Altered cell communication:Cells send faulty or too many signals – this can lead to inflammation and loss of function.
Chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”):A subliminal, age-related inflammation throughout the body – even without infection. This leads to disease.
Loss of adaptability:The body may react less flexibly to stress, such as changes in temperature or infections.
Impaired autophagy:Cellular self-cleaning is disrupted – damaged components are no longer broken down efficiently.
Modern strategies for living longer aim to identify and specifically influence precisely these processes.
What we can learn from the Blue Zones
In regions such as Okinawa, Sardinia, and Nicoya, particularly high numbers of people over 100 live in good health. These "Blue Zones" demonstrate the importance of a plant-based and natural diet, daily exercise, social interaction, and a sense of purpose in life. It's also important to reduce stress and get enough sleep.
Conclusion: Why Healthy Longevity can do more
It's not enough to simply follow general health recommendations. This doesn't automatically lead to longer or healthier lives. Healthy Longevity goes deeper: It's based on science, acts proactively, and considers the individual in their biological and emotional wholeness.
The distinction is crucial in order to choose the health strategy that best suits each individual.
Tip: Start with simple measures: exercise, sleep, conscious nutrition, targeted nutritional supplements in the best quality fromMedicom– and stay curious about the science behind healthy aging.
