Why most researchers now talk about healthspan, not just lifespan.
TL;DR: Longevity is the study of how and why we age, and how to extend the years we spend in good health. It is not a promise of immortality, and no supplement has been proven to extend human lifespan.
When people say "longevity" they usually mean one of two things:
Modern longevity research focuses on healthspan. The goal is not simply to live longer, but to compress the period of poor health into the very end of life. This matters in the UK, where the Office for National Statistics estimates that healthy life expectancy is around 63 years for men and 64 years for women, while total life expectancy is roughly a decade longer.
In 2013, a landmark paper by López-Otín, Blasco, Partridge, Serrano and Kroemer proposed nine Hallmarks of Ageing. The framework was updated in 2023 to include additional mechanisms. The main hallmarks are:
These are not just abstract concepts. Many are measurable: epigenetic clocks estimate biological age from DNA methylation, blood tests track inflammation and metabolism, and imaging can assess muscle and bone loss.
The strongest evidence for extending healthspan still comes from the basics:
Supplements such as NMN and NAD+ precursors, resveratrol and spermidine are being studied, but none have replaced these lifestyle foundations.
These sources are referenced inline throughout the article and listed below for full transparency.
"The Hallmarks of Ageing." The foundational framework for understanding the biological mechanisms of ageing.
View DOI"Hallmarks of Ageing: An Expanding Universe." Updates the 2013 framework with new hallmarks such as inflammageing, dysbiosis and disabled macroautophagy.
View DOI"Health and life expectancy in the UK." Estimates healthy life expectancy and total life expectancy for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
View ONS"Biological clocks, healthspan and the future of ageing." Reviews biomarkers of ageing and how they may predict healthspan rather than lifespan alone.
View DOILifespan is the total number of years a person lives. Healthspan is the number of years lived in good health, without chronic disease or disability. Longevity science increasingly focuses on extending healthspan, not just lifespan.
The Hallmarks of Ageing are a widely used framework proposed by López-Otín et al. in 2013. They include genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem-cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication and chronic inflammation.
Not exactly. Anti-ageing is often used for cosmetic or consumer products. Longevity science is the study of the biological processes of ageing and how to delay age-related decline. It does not promise to stop ageing or reverse ageing in humans.
No supplement has been proven to extend human lifespan. Some compounds, such as NMN, NAD+ precursors, resveratrol and spermidine, are being studied for effects on ageing biomarkers. Evidence is mostly from cells, animals or small short human trials.
The content on this site is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, exercise routine or supplement regimen, especially if you have a medical condition or take prescription medication.