From Sick Care to Health Care
Insights from the Longer, Healthier, Better Conference on Living Well and Longevity
At the Longer, Healthier, Better Conference, hosted by John Hancock and Harvard, participants explored pressing questions about how to live healthier lives as we age and maintain a high quality of life in the years ahead. The event highlighted key longevity and well-being factors, emphasizing that while we are living longer than ever, new challenges arise in maintaining health as we age. The conference explored two main pillars for achieving this:
- Lifestyle Habits: Regular exercise, good nutrition, adequate sleep, and preventative health screenings.
- Technology and Education: Leveraging tools, incentives, and guidance to make healthy living more accessible and sustainable.
The takeaway was clear: meaningful, gradual changes can have a lasting impact on our overall health. Rather than relying on quick fixes, the focus was on science-backed steps that anyone can adopt to improve well-being. For instance, the disparity in life expectancy across Boston neighborhoods—ranging from 83 years near Harvard to 69 years in a nearby lower-income area—demonstrates the significant role that nutrition and lifestyle choices play in shaping health outcomes.
Stay Tuned for More Insights
This post is part of a mini-series capturing insights from the conference. To learn more about the topics covered—from proactive health measures to the science of longevity—stay tuned for upcoming blog posts that will delve deeper into these subjects.
The Science of Longevity: From “Sick Care” to Proactive Health Care
In a recent talk on the science of longevity, computational biologist Andrea Steele discussed groundbreaking research on the biological factors that influence aging and age-related diseases. Steele highlights the importance of shifting from a “sick care” model, which focuses on treating diseases as they arise, to a proactive “health care” approach aimed at maintaining lifelong wellness and being proactive about our health. This shift emphasizes understanding aging mechanisms to make healthier choices that promote a longer, more vibrant life.
Steele’s insights drew on the Hydra, a tiny freshwater organism that regenerates lost limbs and appears biologically ageless. Scientists studying Hydra are uncovering clues about how it avoids cellular aging and stays youthful by ejecting “senescent cells”—older cells that contribute to inflammation and age-related diseases in humans. Learning from Hydra’s regenerative powers could lead to therapies that prevent or treat age-related diseases by addressing these senescent cells
(source.Oxford Academic) (source. National Institutes of Health)
Why Understanding Longevity Matters for Health and Wealth
Research like Steele’s underscores a future where extended life spans don’t mean longer years with illness but more time in good health. For individuals planning their future, this insight isn’t just about health—it’s about aligning financial resources with a potentially longer, healthier life. Living longer may require rethinking retirement strategies to ensure financial stability across extended years. With thoughtful planning for both health care and wealth, it’s possible to look forward to a future that’s both financially secure and full of well-being.