Cracking Longevity Science
In the past century, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones in healthcare, successfully diagnosing and treating various diseases, which have extended healthy lifespans. However, despite exponential gains early on, the extension of lifespan has largely levelled off in the past 30 years. This plateau can be attributed to current care systems, which do not consider aging itself as a disease and, therefore, aren’t set up to target it as an endpoint.
Understanding Longevity Metrics
To evaluate the successes and shortcomings in extending lifespan, we use two recognised mortality metrics:
- Premature Years of Life Lost (PYLL) or “lifespan”: This metric estimates the total magnitude of premature deaths (e.g., death at the age of 69 due to a heart attack would be considered 10 years of premature life lost due to a cardiovascular disorder).
- Years of Life with Disability (YLD) or “healthspan”: This metric estimates the total magnitude of disability years resulting from disease (e.g., the total number of years a patient lives with a disability or ill-health resulting from the underlying disease).
Discrepancies in Therapeutic Areas
Over the past 15 years, different therapeutic areas have experienced varying levels of success in impacting PYLL and YLD. While treatment advances for cancer and cardiovascular disease have significantly improved lifespan, other areas, such as respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal, and endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic (ENM) diseases, have led to worsening lifespan outlooks. These areas have even made headlines as leading causes for decreasing life expectancy in the United States.
Deteriorating Therapeutic Areas
These areas saw a reduction in both healthspan and lifespan, meaning more years of life with a disability as well as premature death. This deterioration is largely driven by worsening lifestyle behaviours (e.g., increasing body mass index (BMI) and type 2 diabetes) and the growing elderly population (aging is the leading risk factor for neurological and musculoskeletal disorders).
Fortifying Therapeutic Areas
Conversely, these areas saw the largest improvement in both lifespan and healthspan in the past 15 years, primarily due to progress in prevention and treatment.
The Emerging Longevity Ecosystem
The longevity paradigm shift has led to the development of an interdisciplinary ecosystem different from traditional healthcare models. This ecosystem comprises a growing community of life sciences, healthcare, and health tech companies focused on solutions that address the underlying drivers of disease and aging.
Key Trends in Longevity Science
1. Biotech Advancements in Genomic Editing
Personalised anti-aging therapies are becoming a reality with advancements in genomic editing. These therapies hold the potential to tailor treatments to individual genetic profiles, significantly impacting the aging process.
2. Rise of Longevity-Focused Startups
Investment opportunities in the health and wellness sector are booming, with startups dedicated to longevity science attracting substantial funding. These startups are pioneering new technologies and treatments aimed at extending healthy lifespans.
3. Regulatory Shifts and Policy Changes
Governments worldwide are beginning to support longevity research and treatments through regulatory shifts and policy changes. These efforts aim to create a conducive environment for innovation in the longevity industry.
4. Integration of AI and Machine Learning
AI and machine learning are pivotal in identifying aging biomarkers and developing targeted interventions. These technologies enable researchers to analyse vast datasets and uncover patterns that would be impossible to detect manually.
5. Global Collaboration
Researchers, institutions, and governments are increasingly collaborating on a global scale to accelerate longevity science. These collaborations facilitate the sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise, driving progress in the field.
6. Increasing Consumer Interest
There is a growing demand for longevity products and services among consumers. This trend is shaping the future of the industry, as businesses strive to meet the needs and preferences of health-conscious individuals.
Implications for the Future
Targeting the root causes of aging and disease has the potential to revolutionise healthcare as we know it, with many implications for incumbents. From startups to multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical organisations and regulatory agencies, a rich ecosystem of new and emerging stakeholders is defining the future of longevity.
Traditional innovation and care models will not cease to exist, but they will have less influence on how we think about and deploy healthcare in the future. To be sure, we may never be able to prevent all diseases, nor will we be able to detect all diseases early. However, as companies shift their mindsets and accelerate innovation, we will be better at learning about and responding to human conditions and diseases of the future. This, in turn, will help extend healthy lifespans across populations.
Strategies for Organisations
Companies that develop a long-term longevity strategy will be in the best position to influence and shift the existing paradigm. Whether they pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to gain key know-how, partner with startups and academic institutions, or leverage their own core competencies, these companies will be better able to compete as they help bring about a future of aging and health in which humans live healthier and longer lives than ever before.
Conclusion
While the field of longevity science is still in its infancy, it holds enormous potential for transforming healthcare and extending healthy lifespans. By targeting the root causes of aging and disease, we can create a future where humans live longer, healthier lives.
If you’re a health enthusiast, biotech investor, or longevity researcher, now is the time to get involved in this exciting field. Companies that develop and implement longevity strategies will be at the forefront of this revolutionary industry, leading the way toward a healthier, longer-lived future.
