Stress is a major factor for ageing, so people must address it
photo: shutterstock/microgen
new 40, and there are plenty of people who think that’s crazy. But there will be a lot of people living younger for longer. Already we’re seeing the beginnings of this, where through advances such as CRISPR, we’re able to edit out the genes that cause sickle cell disease, for example. Longevity will not just be ‘the next disruptor’, it will be the biggest disruptor – it will give us life itself.
What do you view as your greatest achievement so far in life? I’ve driven a lot of innovations in life, from being one of the first to use echocardiography in humans, to advances in pre-op testing. But my work with RealAge and getting people to understand how much power they have over their own health – that each person is really the greatest genetic engineer for their own bodies – is by far my greatest accomplishment to date. What role can health and fitness and spa and wellness operators play in supporting people to make improvements to their own wellbeing? So far, these services have appealed to the middle and upper-middle classes – and the wealthy. We must figure out how to make them available to all. We need a more mass-market approach with McDonald’s-style pricing and McDonald’s-style
I don’t think anyone now doubts 60 is the new 40, but in 2004 I had a lot of critics when I said that. If you don’t have critics you’re not far enough advanced reach to make spa and wellness affordable and accessible for everyone. There’s also a major role for these industries in continuing to lead. It was these industries that got us to change our emphasis on stress management, for example, and that brought mindfulness to the forefront. It also brought healthy eating and physical activity for all into common practice. These industries need to keep pushing to bring new wellness ideas to the forefront, and pushing for more scientific studies. They’ve had a huge impact on people’s wellbeing to date and can continue to do so in the future. l ©Cybertrek 2022 Issue 1 2022
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