Why healthy aging is more than just living longer

Good health isn’t just about adding years to your life - it’s about adding life to your years. 

What if we shifted our focus from how long we live, to how well we live? There is around a 10-year gap between life expectancy and health expectancy, meaning that many people spend their later years managing illness or frailty. 

Bridging this gap and enabling healthier, more fulfilling lives at every stage - that’s the dream we’re working toward.

Science holds the answer

By improving health expectancy, aging can become less about managing decline and more about enjoying life fully - at any age.

Cells, the tiny structural units that make up all living things, play a crucial role in this process. They have an essential role in producing energy, protecting the body, and transporting nutrients.

Research shows that targeting key processes at cellular and body-wide levels, such as cellular functioning, age-related inflammation, and the gut-brain connection, can slow the process of aging and can enhance overall health.

Scientific advances in investigating the causes of aging have the potential to increase health expectancy and transform the future for billions of people. 

By creating solutions that integrate existing core longevity ingredients with newer emerging ingredients and formulations, we are creating a portfolio designed to support vibrant health, help people age with vitality, and unlock a longer, healthier life.

Our Health, Nutrition & Care Business Unit is developing science-based solutions targeting those hallmarks of aging that can be addressed through nutritional solutions: cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis. In essence, our longevity approach targets key areas that are essential for staying healthy as we age:

• Cellular health: Helping cells function at their best, in order to slow down the natural cellular aging process (also known as senescence).
  We do this by using senotherapeutic ingredients, which help slow down cellular aging. These include resVida® (resveratrol), ALL-Q® (CoQ10), Quercefit® (quercetin), Life’s Omega® and other specifically selected micronutrients and bioactive compounds that support cellular repair and regeneration.
• Mitochondrial dysfunction: Mitochondria, often called the powerhouses of our cells, produce the energy our bodies need to function. However, as we age, their energy production slows down, and they become less effective at handling oxidative stress, which is when harmful molecules build up and damage cells. 
• Chronic inflammation: On-going, low-level inflammation that causes the immune system to over-react. This constant inflammation can gradually damage tissues and organs.
• Dysbiosis: Dysbiosis is when the bacteria in your gut, the microbiome, are out of balance or disrupted. This can affect digestion, your immune system, and your overall health. As we get older, this imbalance happens more often and can build up over time.

Building a healthier future for all

True sustainability isn’t just about the planet - it’s about people, too. At dsm-firmenich, we create solutions that help everyone thrive at every life stage. 

Our innovations are designed to be scalable and accessible, ensuring the benefits of healthy aging reach those who need them most. By focusing on health expectancy and sustainability, we can ensure our latter years are some of our best.
 

Want to learn more about increasing health expectancy? Click here.