Longevity and healthspan: what aging research knows

Reviewed by Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer, molecular biologist and founder of Novogenia · Updated: 12 October 2026 · Reading time: 8 min

In short

In research, longevity is mainly about more healthy years. Life expectancy has risen by three decades since the mid-20th century; the gap between lifespan and healthy lifespan is estimated at around 9 years – and that is exactly where the opportunity lies. Aging research now describes 12 hallmarks of aging and understands better and better where change is possible. Genes determine lifespan only to a small extent; exercise, sleep, nutrition and not smoking are the big levers that everyone has in their own hands.

The big opportunity: more healthy years

Since the mid-20th century, life expectancy has risen by three decades – one of humanity’s greatest success stories. The next task is already clear: the gap between lifespan and healthy lifespan is estimated at around 9 years (Garmany et al., npj Regenerative Medicine, 2021). Nine years that can be filled with more health.

That is what longevity is about if you take the term seriously. Not as many candles as possible on the birthday cake, but as many years as possible in which people are fit, independent and capable. Researchers call this healthspan – the healthy lifespan.

For you as a gym, company, practice, spa or hotel, this is great news. The strongest levers for healthy years are the ones you already work with: exercise, sleep, nutrition and how people handle stress. Here you will learn what aging research knows today and how to turn it into a strong, credible offer.

Lifespan and healthspan: two different clocks

Picture two cars that last the same number of years. One runs smoothly to the very end. The other spends most of its last years in the repair shop. Lifespan tells you how long a car runs. Healthspan tells you how long it runs without breaking down.

When you talk with members, guests or employees, clear terms help:

Term	What it means	What to keep in mind
Lifespan	the time from birth to death	applies to an individual
Life expectancy	a statistical average for a population	not a prediction for any one person
Healthspan	the years in good health, without serious chronic disease	studies measure it differently, for example as disease-free years
Biological age	an estimate of how far aging processes have progressed in the body	a fascinating research tool with several measurement methods (more in Measuring biological age)

The hallmarks of aging: the map of research

In 2013, aging research reached a milestone. A review summarized for the first time what defines aging at the level of our cells and described nine hallmarks that show up again and again across different organisms (López-Otín et al., Cell, 2013). Ten years later, knowledge had grown so much that an update described twelve hallmarks (López-Otín et al., Cell, 2023). Today, these two papers are the shared map of aging research.

Hallmark	In plain words
Genomic instability	Damage to DNA builds up.
Shorter telomeres	The protective caps at the ends of chromosomes get shorter.
Epigenetic alterations	The marks that control which genes are read shift over time.
Weaker protein quality control	Faulty proteins are recognized and disposed of less often.
Disabled autophagy (new in 2023)	The cell’s waste collection slows down.
Deregulated nutrient sensing	Signaling pathways that respond to food and energy fall out of step.
Struggling mitochondria	The cell’s power plants deliver less energy.
Cellular senescence	Cells stop dividing but stay active.
Stem cell exhaustion	The supply for renewing tissues shrinks.
Altered communication between cells	Messengers and signals between cells change.
Chronic inflammation (new in 2023)	A quiet, lasting inflammatory activity increases.
Dysbiosis (new in 2023)	The makeup of gut bacteria shifts.

To count as a hallmark, a process must meet three conditions: it appears with age. When researchers amplify it in experiments, aging speeds up. And – this is the truly exciting message – interventions in this process slow aging down in experiments. So aging is not a fixed fate but a process with levers. Many of these insights come from cell cultures, yeast, worms, flies and mice; they show where research is focusing today.

Think of an old house. The roof, the pipes and the windows age at the same time – and they affect each other. A leaking roof eventually damages the wiring, too. That is how the 2023 update describes the hallmarks: as closely interconnected. A clear conclusion follows: a broad approach that looks after several areas at once makes more sense than searching for one miracle molecule.

From the cell to daily life: how research fits together

Longevity knowledge comes from several levels that complement each other. If you know what each level contributes, you can explain studies correctly and draw smart conclusions from them:

Research field	What it shows	What you can conclude
Large long-term studies in humans	how exercise, not smoking, sleep and dietary patterns relate to healthy years	concrete recommendations for your customers’ daily lives
Cell and mechanism research	how the hallmarks of aging arise and interact	vivid pictures to explain what happens in the body as it ages
Studies in model organisms	what is biologically possible, for example in worms, flies or mice	insight into where research is heading – always labeled as animal data
First human studies on nutrients	how measurements in the body change with targeted intake	logical conclusions for targeted dietary supplementation

Genes have their place, too – and here there is encouraging news. Earlier estimates put the heritability of lifespan at about 15 to 30%. An analysis of family trees covering hundreds of millions of historical persons found that it is well below 10% (Ruby et al., Genetics, 2018). The older figures were too high because people tend to choose partners who resemble them in factors that influence lifespan.

For counseling, this means: genes show tendencies, not destiny. A large part of how healthily we age is up to us – and that is exactly where your offer comes in.

How to recognize a strong longevity offer

The longevity market is growing, and with it the choice of tests, products and programs. These features mark an offer that truly benefits your customers and builds trust in your business:

It builds on lifestyle: exercise, sleep, nutrition and not smoking are at the center; everything else complements them.
It names its sources: authors, journal and year – verifiable instead of “studies show.”
It explains where insights come from: human studies, mechanisms or animal data, each clearly named.
It thinks in networks: it addresses several aging processes instead of expecting everything from a single substance.
It explains measurements honestly: values such as “biological age” are presented as estimates, not exact numbers.
It provides support: counseling, training and follow-up turn knowledge into habits.

How to talk about longevity seriously

In the longevity market, credibility is your strongest differentiator. These ground rules help:

Healthy years, not lifespan: talk about fitness, strength, sleep and well-being – not about the number of years someone will live.
Lifestyle first: exercise, sleep, nutrition and not smoking are the big levers. Everything else complements them (more in Lifestyle first).
Name the source: say whether a statement is based on human studies, on mechanisms or on animal data.
No promises of cure or disease claims: for foods and food supplements, only authorized health claims are allowed in the EU (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). What this means in practice is explained in Advertising longevity.
Put genetics in the right context: lifestyle genetic analyses show predispositions, not diagnoses. Medical analyses belong in a physician’s hands wherever national law requires it.
Support, don’t just sell: counseling, training and follow-up make the difference.

A few sentences that fit this approach: “We focus on the factors with the strongest evidence for healthy aging.” – “These fascinating results come from animal studies; research in humans is under way.” – “Your genes show tendencies. What you do with them is up to you.”

What this means for your offer

A strong longevity offer does not start with an exotic ingredient; it starts with the basics. A gym with 800 members does not need a lab in the basement for this. It needs good training, a clear message and partners who make science easy to understand.

Genetic analyses and supplements make such an offer personal – as a building block on top of the basics. Which six aging processes research describes in detail, and what can be concluded from them, is covered in The six aging processes at a glance. How to put the topic into practice is shown in Longevity in the gym and Corporate health programs with genetic analyses.

How we do it at Novogenia

How we approach longevity at Novogenia:

Lab: Novogenia has been a genetic laboratory in Eugendorf near Salzburg, Austria, since 2009. We analyze all samples in our own lab in Austria and have already analyzed more than 30 million people.
Genetic analyses: Our lifestyle analyses on sport and performance, nutrition and weight, stress and skin show predispositions. Genes are one factor among many.
No biological age: We do not offer a biological-age measurement.
Longevity line: launch planned for 2026 – six building blocks aligned with six aging processes described in research. Formulations, quantities and availability may still change before launch.
Literature: Our lab has produced its own literature reviews with a combined 90 referenced PubMed studies. We deliberately left out some popular substances from the US longevity scene, such as NMN, rapamycin and metformin – some of them are not permitted as food supplements in the EU.
Sales: We sell exclusively through partners – as the Novogenia line or, on request, as a private label under your brand.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between lifespan and healthspan?

Lifespan is the time from birth to death. Healthspan covers the years a person lives in good health, without serious chronic disease. The gap between the two is estimated at around 9 years. Longevity in the serious sense puts these healthy years at the center.

What are the hallmarks of aging?

Since 2013, aging research has described processes in our cells that work together as we age – first nine, and twelve since the 2023 update. They include shorter telomeres, slower autophagy, cellular senescence and chronic inflammation. The exciting part: these processes can be influenced in experiments.

How much do genes determine how long we live?

Less than many people think. A large pedigree analysis estimates the heritability of lifespan at well below 10%. That is encouraging news: lifestyle and environment play a major role – and much of that is in everyone’s own hands.

What role do animal studies play?

They show which mechanisms lie behind aging and which levers research is working on. Statements about humans require human studies. That is why you always label results from animal studies as such in your communication.

Can I market my offer as a longevity offer?

That depends on what you promise. For food supplements, only authorized health claims are allowed in the EU, and statements about preventing, treating or curing diseases are off-limits. What this means for products and services is explained in the chapter “Advertising longevity.”

Want to add longevity to your offer?

Tell us about your gym, company or practice – we will show you what is possible today.

Become a partner →The Novogenia longevity line

Note: This guide is general information for businesses and professionals and does not replace medical or legal advice. Novogenia longevity products are food supplements and not a substitute for a balanced, varied diet and a healthy lifestyle; statements in this guide are not promises of cure and not statements on the prevention, treatment or healing of diseases. Recommendations derived from genetic analyses are logical conclusions, not scientifically proven. Regulations can change; errors and changes excepted.