At Dakshin Healthcare Summit, a panel of stellar doctors reveals secrets to staying healthy until 2050. Read to discover 9 longevity tips from top-notch doctors on how to live healthily.
Published Aug 07, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 07, 2024 | 11:00 AM
Doctors at Dakshin Healthcare Summit revealing secrets to live longer
Knowing well that his days were numbered, millionaire Ira Howard founded the Howard Foundation. He intended to find means to extend the human lifespan.
With the limited scientific knowledge then available, the Foundation came up with the idea of a selective breeding programme to encourage people of long-lived ancestry to have children together.
Longevity has enthused people worldwide, and writers and artists unleashed their imagination on extended human lifespan. The above-mentioned Foundation was from one such science fiction, Methuselah’s Children.
The author, Robert A Heinlein, might have firmly believed that one day, science would unravel the secret of longevity.
The Future History he scripted, placing Ira Howard in the 19th century, and then taking researchers on a travel during the Great Depression might have seemed outlandish and impossible to many.
It was, however, not the case. There are means other than selective breeding that the fictitious Howard Foundation has envisaged,
Hyderabad, 3 August 2024, Saturday. A clutchful of eminent doctors from diverse streams of medicines came together to discuss the remarkable strides science has made, and the future course towards longevity.
The event was the inaugural edition of the Dakshin Healthcare Summit, jointly organised by South First and TV9 Network.
That Saturday witnessed experts addressing a session on The Secrets of Longevity: Unravelling the Science. They dwelled in detail on secrets of longevity — so far known — and paved the way for further discussion and scientific advancement.
Moderator Dr Arvinder Soin, Chairman of the Institute of Liver Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine of the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, set the tone for the session. His introduction emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in healthcare.
“The focus should shift from caring for the sick in hospitals to ensuring that everyone remains as healthy as possible,” he said.
He proposed the need for setting up dedicated centres to focus on wellness and positive medicine for longevity.
“In tertiary-care and quality-care hospitals, we have preventive medicine on one floor or at a corner of the hospital. The rest of the hospital is dedicated to managing critical patients, conducting surgeries, etc. So the focus does have to shift from sick care to positive healthcare to keep people healthy,” he opined.
He said it could be possible only if one aims to be healthy 20-25 years from now. His call to imagine oneself in 2050 — not just surviving but thriving — found resonance with the audience.
Preventive healthcare is often overlooked, Dr Soin opined. “We have the science today to start looking at preventive healthcare. From our research and data, we found that 25 percent of individuals in India will suffer a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Twenty-five percent of first heart attacks are killers. So that’s the only heart attack that some of us will have,” he warned.
Dr Sain said 90 percent of these heart attacks are preventable. He also highlighted that 10 percent of the population will die from cancer, with half of the cases preventable.
Stroke, another major cause of death, has an even higher preventability rate of 80 percent. Dr Soin emphasised that many other fatal conditions, such as respiratory diseases, diabetes, and liver and kidney diseases, have preventability rates ranging from 70 percent to 90 percent.
“By focusing on early diagnosis and preventive measures, we can significantly reduce the incidence of these diseases and add 15 to 20 years of healthy life to the average individual,” he revealed the second secret.
Dr Sain added that scientific knowledge exists. “What is required is a shift in healthcare practices towards predictive and preventive strategies. This approach can transform the future of health, ensuring longer, healthier lives for millions,” he added.
Dr Vritti Lumba, Programme Head at Fortis Cancer Institutes, highlighted the critical role of metabolic health in preventing the “Four Horsemen” of aging: Heart disease, stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer.
“Close monitoring of blood pressure, regular screening for insulin resistance, and addressing truncal obesity are essential,” she drew attention to the often-overlooked aspects of metabolic syndrome.
Dr Lumba said that apart from employing advanced diagnostic techniques like CT angiography and AI-enabled MRI scans, observing one’s diet, lifestyle, insulin resistance, and truncal obesity are equally important, as all of this in a person is called the metabolic syndrome.
“When discussing diabetes, insulin resistance, a crucial marker, is often overlooked. Even if your sugar levels are normal, it’s essential to stress your system with an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test to evaluate how effectively your body manages sugar under pressure. Similarly, while BMI is commonly discussed, we tend to ignore the issue of truncal obesity,” she said.
Dr Lumba further informs that a waist circumference exceeding 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women should be considered truncal obesity.
“All these combined are precursors for heart disease, neurostroke, and even cancers. Monitoring of metabolic health marks the future of preventive healthcare,” she added.
Monitor blood pressure, and in case of genetic predisposition to heart diseases, and a non-invasive check of coronary calcium deposits are simple ways to find heart-attack risks. A CT angio is also another way,” Dr Lumba added.
Dr Ummer Qadeer, Clinical Process Lead Physician from Hooke London, discussed interventions to manage and prevent diseases.
He emphasised the “satiety index” and “feeding windows” for controlling food intake and supporting metabolic health, stating, “These tools are crucial for managing overeating and maintaining a balanced metabolism.”
The satiety index signifies how full and satisfied different foods make you feel. Foods with a high satiety index keep you fuller for a longer period, which prevents overeating and supports weight management.
Feeding windows refer to specific periods during which you eat your meals (often associated with intermittent fasting). Managing feeding windows can help control food intake, improve digestion, and support overall metabolic health.
Dr Qadeer also highlighted increasing protein and fiber intake, reducing salt, and weight loss for improving cardiovascular health.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of sleep and the “Mind Diet” for preventing neurodegenerative conditions.
Dr Lumba, meanwhile, spoke on anti-aging interventions like metformin and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, noting, “Metformin shows promise in extending life, especially in those with diabetes, but its use in healthy individuals needs more study.”
She also discussed hyperbaric oxygen therapy. “While this therapy has potential benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects, it must be approached with caution and under strict medical supervision.”
The discussion highlighted the importance of personalised healthcare, where diagnostics, lifestyle changes, and targeted therapies work in tandem to prevent disease and promote longevity.
The experts concluded that while there are emerging treatments that show anti-aging promises, such as resveratrol and rapamycin, these should only be considered after establishing a solid foundation of healthy living practices.
“Why are we concerned about longevity? As a species, is there an evolutionary reason for us to extend our lifespan?” questioned Dr Deepak Saini, Professor, Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, and Convenor, Longevity Institute at IISc.
Historically, the human lifespan has remained relatively constant. Unlike tortoises, which can live for over 200 years, humans have a natural lifespan that has been relatively fixed.
“So, what makes us, as a species, so unique?” Dr Saini asked.
He argued that throughout history, humans have adapted to cycles of scarcity and abundance, developing a genetic predisposition to endure nutritional extremes. This adaptability allowed men to overcome significant challenges, from malnutrition to infectious diseases.
“But now, as we conquer these hurdles, a new challenge emerges: How to manage our newfound abundance and ensure longevity,” he questioned.
He said metabolic health is the key to unlocking a longer life. “And it all comes down to how our bodies utilise the abundance of nutrition available to us,” he pointed out
Metabolism, the process by which our bodies convert food into energy, plays a crucial role in longevity. The modern diet, rich in sugars and processed foods, poses a significant challenge to our metabolic systems.
“We weren’t biologically designed to handle large amounts of sugar,” the researcher explained. “Nature, in its design, makes essential nutrients readily available, while those we need less of are harder to come by. Restrict calories if you have to live longer,” Dr Saini advised.
By optimising how our bodies use available resources, we can enhance our resilience and potentially extend our lifespan. This could involve developing new drug molecules or gene therapies aimed at fine-tuning our metabolic processes.
Sohrab Kushrushahi, Founder, SOHFIT, presented an engaging segment by taking the audience through a practical demonstration of simple yet effective mobility tests.
“Life is your biggest athletic event,” he declared, urging the audience to prioritise strength training and recovery as critical components of a long and healthy life.
His emphasis on the importance of muscle mass and the need to challenge conventional wisdom about exercise struck a chord with many.
“Mobility and strength training is absolutely important,” Kushrushahi said.
Dr Manvir Bhatia, Director and Founder of Neurology and Sleep Centre, New Delhi, presented a unique perspective, focusing on the often-neglected aspect of sleep.
“Sleep deprivation activates the inflammatory system in the body,” she explained, linking poor sleep quality to a host of health issues, including metabolic syndrome and cognitive decline.
Her advise to prioritise sleep and ensure a regular sleep schedule was a stark reminder of the importance of rest in maintaining overall health.
Speaking about sleep being connected to health Dr Qadeer stressed the interconnected nature of various health issues, explaining how sleep, or the lack thereof, can exacerbate metabolic conditions, leading to cardiovascular disease.
“People often sacrifice sleep to juggle multiple responsibilities, which not only leaves them tired but also drives them to consume quick energy snacks, fueling metabolic disorders and increasing cardiovascular risk,” Dr Qadeer noted.
He stressed that sleep plays a vital role in clearing the brain of harmful proteins that contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Dr Lumba also shared her experiences from the Blue Zones—regions known for their high concentration of centenarians. She highlighted the commonalities across these regions, such as strong social bonds, a sense of purpose, and a diet rich in legumes and whole grains.
“Wisdom bridges across generations,” she said, stressing the importance of maintaining family ties and community connections as key factors in living a long and fulfilling life.
Investment in longevity is significant, with around $7 billion already poured into the sector, including $3.5 billion invested in Altos Labs in 2022 alone, highlighting its unique position.
Prashanth Prakash, Managing Partner and Founder, Accel India, elaborated on how to invest in longevity.
The longevity sector can be divided into two main investment categories: “Longevity now” and “Longevity next.”
In the “Longevity now” aspect, Prashanth Prakash focuses on three key areas: longevity clinics, the convergence of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, and health technologies like red light therapy and hyperbaric chambers.
Giving the example of skincare, he adds, “The most promising area for investment is skincare, which has been the most profitable and is one of the few fields where age reversal has been demonstrated.”
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
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