What if getting older did not have to mean spending your final years dealing with illness or losing your independence?

That is the idea behind longevity medicine, an approach that focuses on staying healthy for as long as possible, rather than simply treating disease after it develops. Here Bartlett “Chip” Witherspoon, MD, with Lexington Family Practice Forest Acres explains what longevity medicine is, why healthspan matters and what people can do today to support healthier aging.

What is longevity medicine?

Most medicine works like a repair shop. You wait until something goes wrong, such as a heart attack, diabetes or cancer, and then seek treatment.

Longevity medicine takes a different approach. It asks: What causes the body to break down as we age, and can we slow that process before disease develops?

Many of the major health problems linked to aging, including heart disease, dementia, cancer and frailty, may have some of the same underlying causes. These include cells that become damaged, become "worn out," and long-term inflammation in the body.

Longevity medicine focuses on finding these risks early and addressing them before they lead to disease. It is a proactive approach that prevents disease and supports healthy aging.

What is the difference between lifespan and healthspan?

Lifespan is how many years you live. Healthspan is how many of those years you spend in good health. It means being able to walk, think clearly, live independently and enjoy your life.

In the United States, a gap of about 10 years exists between lifespan and healthspan. Many people spend their final years dealing with illness, disability or a loss of independence.

The goal of longevity medicine is not necessarily to help you live to 110. It is to help you stay healthy and active for as many years as possible. Ideally, if you live to 90, you want to spend most of those years being active and involved with your family, friends and community.

What should people actually focus on?

The most powerful tools for healthy aging are also some of the simplest.

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. Two types are especially important. Cardio exercise gets your heart working, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming. Strength training helps you maintain your muscles and strength.

Your fitness and muscle strength are two of the best predictors of how long you will live and how healthy you will be as you age.

Sleep is also important. Most adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night and try to keep a regular sleep schedule. Poor sleep over a long period can affect many parts of the body.

Nutrition matters. Eating enough protein becomes especially important as you get older because it helps maintain muscle. It is also helpful to limit ultra-processed foods and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Relationships and purpose are important for healthy aging, too. Staying connected to family, friends and your community can make a real difference. Hobbies and activities that give your life meaning can also support your health and well-being.

For many people, two other areas are especially important: keeping blood pressure under control and keeping cholesterol at a healthy level.

Are there special tests?

Yes. In addition to a regular checkup, longevity-focused doctors may use other tests to identify health risks earlier.

Blood tests: These may include ApoB, which can provide a more detailed look at cholesterol risk, and Lp(a), a type of cholesterol that is largely determined by genetics. About one in five people may have elevated Lp(a) without knowing it. Other blood tests can check for inflammation and blood sugar and insulin problems that may appear years before diabetes develops.

Fitness tests: A VO2 max test measures how well your body uses oxygen during exercise. Grip strength is another simple measure that can indicate overall strength and health. Both can help doctors understand your health and fitness.

Scans: A DEXA scan measures your muscle, body fat and bone density. A coronary calcium scan looks for calcium buildup in the arteries that supply blood to your heart, which can help identify signs of heart disease before symptoms appear.

Biological age tests: These tests estimate how quickly your body is aging compared with your actual age. Some tests look at changes in your DNA to estimate your aging rate. These tests are still being studied and are used more often in research than in everyday medical care.

How much can lifestyle actually help?

A lot. Healthy lifestyle choices can have a bigger impact than many medications.

Large studies that followed people for many years found that people who followed healthy habits, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking, lived about 12 to 14 years longer and spent fewer years dealing with serious health problems.

The goal is not to live to 120. The more realistic goal is to improve your chances of reaching your 80s and 90s while staying strong, sharp and independent.

What's new and exciting in the field?

Scientists are learning more about how to target the aging process itself, not just the diseases that can come with aging.

Researchers are studying medicines that may remove damaged cells that build up in the body as we age. These cells can contribute to inflammation and other problems. Other researchers are studying ways to help cells function more like younger cells. Some of these treatments have shown promising results in animals and are now being studied in people.

Researchers are also studying some familiar medications for other health benefits. For example, certain weight-loss medications may also protect the heart and kidneys and offer other health benefits. When people use these medications, it is important to combine them with good nutrition and strength training to help protect muscle.

Researchers are also studying older, affordable medications to see whether they may help slow some effects of aging.

We are also learning that small things can have a bigger impact on health than we once thought. Even the health of your gums may be connected to the health of your heart and brain.

The goal is to stay up to date on this research while focusing on what is proven to work today. We will not recommend something simply because it is trendy. When new treatments are shown to be safe and effective, we want our patients to have access to that information.

The smartest approach to longevity is simple: Stay as healthy as possible with the tools we know work today, so you are ready to benefit from what might come tomorrow.