Longevity
living a long healthy life
The term longevity comes from English and literally means “long life.” However, it does not just mean simply living longer, but also spending those years in good health, active, and full of energy.
The focus is therefore not only on the question “How old can I live to be?”, but above all: “How well can I live into old age?”. Scientists refer to this as healthy lifespan. In other words, the time during which we are fit and healthy, rather than being restricted by illness.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
“Aging is a disease. And that disease is treatable.” – David Sinclair (Longevity Researcher, Harvard)
Modern research is increasingly showing that we ourselves can do a lot to positively influence the aging process. Longevity gives us the tools to not only live longer, but also to enjoy those extra years.
Discover our topics on Longevity
Sleep
Micronutrients
Collagen
Macronutrients
Understanding Longevity: Die Hallmarks of Aging
When talking about longevity, i.e., strategies for a longer and healthier life, it is worth considering the question: What actually happens when we age? Science has described the most important mechanisms that cause our bodies to age in the “Hallmarks of Aging.” They help us understand why our cells lose their performance over the years and where we can take targeted action to counteract this.
These include, among others:
- Genomic instability – damage to our DNA accumulates.
- Telomere shortening – the protective caps on our chromosomes become shorter.
- Epigenetic changes – gene activity shifts unfavorably.
- Impaired nutrient perception – cells recognize signals less effectively.
- Loss of proteostasis – proteins clump together or lose their function.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction – our “power plants” produce less energy.
- Cell aging – old, non-functional cells accumulate.
- Stem cell exhaustion – the ability to form new cells declines.
- Impaired cell communication – cells no longer coordinate optimally.
Recent studies have even expanded the list to include changes in the microbiome, impaired autophagy (the “cellular waste disposal system”) and chronic inflammation.
The hallmarks not only show us why we age, but above all where we can take action. This is precisely the core of longevity: with nutrition, exercise, stress management, and targeted use of dietary supplements, we can positively influence many of these processes. So it’s not just about living longer, but also about spending the years we gain in good health and vitality.
