Quite simply, because we are all concerned about our lifespan, but our healthcare system is not built in a way that helps us maximize it! More importantly, longevity has evolved into its own discipline as the science behind lifespan extension is becoming clearer and the metrics that are associated with lifespan extension are well characterized. Working with a professional who understands the science behind longevity; who can help you develop a specific plan to achieve it; and help you stay accountable to the plan while monitoring the biometrics that actually predict longevity is an important part of achieving healthy longevity.
We are not at a point where "lifespan extension" means living well beyond 100yrs; we won't see that in our lifetime. It means living to age 80 and feeling so good and having so much functional ability that you would like to have another 10+ years to reasonably enjoy. That vision requires you to start planning and executing decades beforehand. Healthspan determines lifespan; most people live anywhere from 10 to 20 years after their healthspan ends, that is, after the onset of poor metabolic health.
It is generally accepted that our genes contribute 20% to our lifespan and the other 80% is determined by "epigenetics"--those environmental and metabolic factors that control what genes get turned on or off, and when that happens. Since you didn't get to choose your parents, you have no control over the 20%; however, the 80% is largely under your control. Our longevity program helps you control the 80% in order to optimize and prolong your healthspan, brainspan and bonespan.
The "big 3" diseases of aging--cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia--are causally related to insulin resistance. "Poor metabolic health" equals "insulin resistance". We are not supposed to have elevated insulin all the time, but rather, only when nutrients are abundant. If insulin is chronically elevated it causes atherosclerosis, cancer and brain "plaques" that cause dementia. There are 7 metrics which are causally associated with premature aging and death, and insulin resistance is associated with them. The more of these 7 metrics that are abnormal, the greater the likelihood of shortened healthspan, brainspan and lifespan: body composition; eating habits; tobacco status; blood pressure; cholesterol-carrying particles; blood sugar; exercise level. These are "life's simple 7", as outlined by the CDC's Healthy People 2020 project and later dubbed by the American Heart Association. A plan for longevity has to directly lead to optimization of these 7 metrics.
Once you understand that healthspan ends with the onset of insulin resistance and poor metabolic health, you can understand why the five main actionable areas are:
Too often we focus on supplements alone; or we cover diet and exercise but ignore sleep and stress. We only get one crack at this, so the optimal plan for healthy longevity has to utilize all 5 areas to optimize life's simple 7.
Your initial visit will include a comprehensive summary of your family and medical history to determine risks specific to you; advanced cardiometabolic labs; baseline body composition measurement; VO2 max assessment; and specific goal setting for lifespan extension.
It is important to follow the "metrics that matter" on a quarterly or semi-annual basis: all aspects of metabolic health; body composition measurement; assessment of lifestyle; and update to your longevity plan in all 5 of its actionable areas.
Your annual wellness assessment includes repeating the advanced cardiometabolic labs, measuring body composition, assessment of VO2 max, and an annual report of your progress in the biometrics related to longevity.
Health coaching is encouraged to help you implement your longevity plan. Life gets in the way of our wellness despite our best intentions. Our wellness coach helps you tap into the "why" behind your desire to improve health and to remove the obstacles that prevent even the most motivated among us from implementing our wellness plans. Having monthly virtual encounters with your coach and email interaction in between if needed will help ensure your success in achieving and maintaining your goals.
There are several other services that will be discussed as an option annually, such as advanced cancer screening (Galleri testing), polygenic risk mapping, micronutrient testing, DUTCH hormone testing, gut microbiome testing, methylation panels, carotid intima-media thickness scans or coronary artery calcium scores, and others as indicated.
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