Longevity

Longevity, also known as longevity, refers to the ability to live a long life. In a scientific context, it is not only about the mere length of life, but also about the quality of life at an advanced age.

Longevity can be defined as the ability of an organism to achieve an above-average lifespan, often combined with a prolonged period of good health and vitality.

• The average life expectancy of humans has changed dramatically throughout history.
• In the Stone Age, it was around 20-30 years, mainly due to high infant mortality and dangerous living conditions.
• With the development of agriculture, improved hygiene and medical advances, it has risen steadily.
• Today, the global average life expectancy is around 73 years (as of 2024), with significant differences between different countries and regions.

• Increasing life expectancy leads to demographic changes with far-reaching social and economic consequences.
• Increasing importance of ageing research and gerontology in science and medicine.
• Growing market for anti-ageing products and services in the longevity sector.

• Lifespan: total duration of life from birth to death.
• Healthy lifespan(healthspan): Period during which an individual lives free of age-related diseases and limitations.
• The aim of longevity research is often to extend the healthy lifespan, not just the absolute lifespan.

• The oldest verified person was Jeanne Calment from France, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old (1875-1997).
• Regions with an above-average number of very old people are known as “blue zones” (e.g. Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy).

Longevity is a field of research that combines findings from various disciplines, including

• Biology
• Medicine
• Genetics
• Nutritional science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Economics

Longevity is influenced by a complex interplay of different factors. Let’s take a look at the most important influences:

Heritability of longevity:

• Studies show that about 20-30% of the variance in longevity is due to genetic factors.
• For people who live to be 100 years or older, the genetic influence increases to about 33%.

Specific genes:

• FOXO3: A gene associated with longevity in different populations.
• APOE: Variants of this gene influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease.
• SIRT1-7: The sirtuin gene family plays a role in the regulation of ageing processes.

Gender-specific differences:

• Women have a longer life expectancy than men in most populations.
• Hormonal and genetic factors contribute to this difference.

Nutrition:

• Calorie restriction: Consistent results in animal models show life-prolonging effects.
• Mediterranean diet: Associated with reduced risk of chronic disease.
• Specific nutrients: Antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols are associated with healthy ageing.

Physical activity:

• Regular exercise reduces the risk of age-related diseases.
• Both endurance and strength training have positive effects on health in old age.

Environmental pollution:

• Air pollution, especially particulate matter, is associated with shortened life expectancy.
• Exposure to pollutants can lead to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

Social status and education:

• Higher socioeconomic status and educational attainment correlate with longer life expectancy.
• Access to healthcare and a healthy lifestyle play a role.

Smoking and alcohol consumption:

• Smoking is one of the biggest preventable risk factors for premature death.
• Moderate alcohol consumption shows neutral or slightly positive effects in some studies, while excessive consumption is harmful.

Sleep:

• Regular, adequate sleep is important for health and longevity.
• Both too little and too much sleep are associated with increased mortality risk.

Stress management:

• Chronic stress can lead to accelerated cellular aging.
• Techniques such as meditation and mindfulness can have positive effects.

Social relationships:

• Strong social ties and a supportive environment are associated with higher life expectancy.
• Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of mortality.

Access to healthcare:

• Preventive medicine and early treatment of illnesses contribute to longevity.
• Vaccinations reduce the risk of infection-related mortality.

Chronic diseases:

• Management of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease affects life expectancy.
• Early detection and treatment of cancer improves the chances of survival.

Medication and supplements:

• Some drugs such as metformin are being investigated for their life-prolonging properties.
• The role of dietary supplements in longevity is controversial and continues to be researched.

Blue zones:

• Regions with above-average numbers of very old people (e.g. Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria).
• Common characteristics: plant-orientated diet, regular exercise, strong social ties.

Cultural practices:

• Different attitudes to ageing in different cultures can influence health and longevity.
• Traditions such as the Japanese “ikigai” (meaning of life) are associated with healthy ageing.

• Environmental influences and lifestyle can affect gene expression through epigenetic modifications.
• These changes can potentially be passed down through generations.

• The composition of gut bacteria is increasingly recognised as an important factor in health and possibly longevity.
• Probiotics and prebiotic foods may play a role in promoting a healthy microbiome.

Based on current scientific evidence and research, several strategies can be identified to promote longevity and healthy ageing. This table provides a clear overview of the various strategies for extending lifespan. It is divided into categories and contains a brief description and potential benefits for each strategy.

Understanding the biological mechanisms of aging is critical to the study of longevity. Let’s look at the key theories and processes:

Telomeres and Hayflick limit:

• Telomeres are protective structures at the ends of chromosomes.
• They become shorter with each cell division.
• The Hayflick limit describes the limited number of divisions that a cell can carry out before it enters senescence.
• Enzymes such as telomerase can lengthen telomeres, but are inactive in most adult cells.

Cellular senescence:

• State of irreversible growth arrest
• Senescent cells secrete pro-inflammatory factors (SASP – Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype)
• Accumulation of senescent cells contributes to age-related diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction:

• Mitochondria are the “power plants” of cells
• Their efficiency decreases with age
• Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)

Free radical theory:

• Postulates that oxidative stress caused by free radicals causes cell damage
• Antioxidants may be able to slow down this process

DNA damage theory:

• Accumulation of DNA damage over the course of a lifetime
• Impairment of cell function and repair

Proteostasis:

• Decrease in the ability to repair or remove damaged proteins
• Leads to the accumulation of misfolded proteins (relevant for neurodegenerative diseases)

• Age-related changes in DNA methylation and histone modification
• “Epigenetic clock” as a biomarker for biological age

• Decrease in the number and functionality of stem cells with age
• Impairment of tissue regeneration and repair

• “Inflammaging”: chronic, low-grade inflammation in old age
• Contribution to age-related diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

• Decrease in metabolic efficiency
• Changes in hormone systems (e.g. decrease in growth hormone, DHEA, melatonin)

Antagonistic pleiotropy:

• Genes that are beneficial at a young age can be detrimental in old age

Disposable soma theory:

• Organisms allocate resources between reproduction and body maintenance
• Long-lived species invest more in body maintenance

Longevity research is a rapidly growing and constantly evolving field. Here is an overview of some of the most important current research directions and developments:

• Definition: Drugs or compounds that selectively remove senescent cells.
• Potential: Delaying age-related diseases and improving health in old age.
• Examples: Dasatinib and quercetin combinations, fisetin.
• Current research: Clinical studies to evaluate efficacy and safety in various age-related diseases.

• NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an important coenzyme for cellular processes.
• NAD levels decrease with age.
• Research into NAD precursors such as NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside).
• Objective: Improvement of mitochondrial function and cellular energy production.

• Rapamycin: A drug that was originally developed as an immunosuppressant.
• It works by inhibiting the mTOR signalling pathway, which plays a central role in cell metabolism.
• Studies show life-prolonging effects in various organisms.
• Current research: optimisation of dosage and investigation of rapamycin analogues.

• Goal: Renewal and regeneration of tissues and organs.
• Approaches:
  a) Transplantation of stem cells
  b) Activation of endogenous stem cells
  c) In vitro cultivation of organoids for transplantation
• Challenges: Safety, immune rejection, ethical concerns.

• CRISPR/Cas9 and other genome editing technologies enable precise genetic modifications.
• Potential applications:
  (a) correction of disease-causing genetic mutations
  b) Introduction of life-prolonging genetic variants
  c) Telomere lengthening
• Ethical and safety concerns must be addressed.

• Senolysis: Targeted removal of senescent cells.
• Senomorphics: Modulation of the behaviour of senescent cells without removing them.
• Aim: Reduction of the negative effects of cellular senescence on the organism.

• A widely used diabetes drug that has been associated with increased longevity in observational studies.
• TAME study (Targeting Aging with Metformin): Large-scale clinical trial to investigate the life-prolonging effects of metformin in non-diabetics.

• Investigating the role of hormones such as growth hormone, DHEA and melatonin in the ageing process.
• Aim: to restore youthful hormone levels to improve various physiological functions.

• Research into the long-term preservation of tissues, organs and entire organisms at extremely low temperatures.
• Goal: Enabling future resuscitation and treatment of currently incurable diseases.
• Challenges: Prevention of tissue damage due to ice formation, ethical and practical concerns.

• Identification of new biomarkers of ageing
• Predicting individual ageing trajectories
• Developing personalised anti-ageing interventions
• Acceleration of drug development

• Investigating the role of the gut microbiome in the ageing process.
• Development of probiotics and prebiotics to promote a healthy microbiome in old age.
• Research into faecal transplants to rejuvenate the microbiome.

• Investigating the role of exosomes in cell communication and the ageing process.
• Potential therapeutic applications for tissue regeneration and inflammation modulation.

Research into various nutritional approaches such as:

• Intermittent fasting
• Time-restricted feeding
• Ketogenic diet
• Plant-based diet

Aim: Optimisation of metabolic health and activation of longevity pathways such as autophagy.

These areas of research represent only part of the current efforts to better understand and influence human ageing. Many of these approaches are still in the early stages of research and further studies are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety in humans.

The longevity trend: striving for a longer and healthier life

Longevity is a growing trend that aims to extend the human lifespan while improving the quality of life in old age. This trend is based on the aforementioned scientific advances in areas such as genetics, biomedicine and nutritional science, which open up new possibilities for slowing down the ageing process and preventing age-related diseases.

Key aspects of the longevity trend:

1. Scientific basis: research on telomeres, senescence, epigenetic reprogramming and metabolic optimisation.
2. Holistic approach: combination of nutrition, exercise, stress management and medical interventions.
3. Personalised medicine: Tailor-made treatments based on individual genetic and biochemical profiles.
4. Preventive healthcare: Focus on early detection and prevention of diseases.
5. Technological innovations: Use of AI, biomonitoring and advanced diagnostic methods.

List of services and products in the area of longevity:

Diagnostics and analysis

• Genetic tests to determine disease risks
• Comprehensive blood count analyses
• Body composition measurements
• Telomere length determination
• Epigenetic age determination

Medical treatments

• Hormone replacement therapies
• Stem cell therapies
• NAD infusions
• Senolytic therapies to remove aged cells
• Peptide therapies

Nutrition and supplementation

• Personalised nutrition plans
• Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting
• Anti-ageing supplements (e.g. NMN, resveratrol, metformin)
• Functional foods and nutraceuticals

Fitness and exercise

• Personalised training programmes
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
• Strength and endurance training for seniors
• Yoga and flexibility training

Mental health and stress management

• Meditation and mindfulness programmes
• Neurofeedback therapies
• Cognitive stimulation and brain training
• Stress reduction programmes

Technology and devices

• Wearables for monitoring health parameters
• Smart home technologies for age-appropriate living
• VR-based cognitive training tools
• AI-supported health apps

Cosmetic treatments

• Anti-ageing skincare products
• Non-invasive facial treatments
• Laser and light therapies
• Regenerative skin treatments

Lifestyle and wellness

• Longevity retreats and wellness resorts
• Anti-ageing spas
• Sleep optimisation programmes
• Detox programmes

Education and counselling

• Longevity coaching
• Workshops on healthy ageing
• Online courses on anti-ageing strategies
• Personal health counselling

Insurance and financial services

• Longevity insurance
• Financial planning for a longer life
• Health savings accounts for anti-ageing treatments

The longevity trend is constantly evolving and new products and services are launched regularly.

Note: not all solutions offered are scientifically based and individual needs and health conditions should always be considered first.