What does health care for a long life look like? It’s unlikely that a general practitioner will treat you for disease prevention, or recommend novel lifestyle interventions, supplements, and therapies for managing chronic conditions.

Instead, more and more people will integrate longevity care into their health routine. This resource may help you sort out the alternatives. 👇

Longevity medicine

Longevity medicine is focused on extending healthy lifespan by “preventing illnesses and degenerative biomarkers [biological molecules that act as signs of health or disease] of age from spreading.”

🌳 It is like a tree from which other disciplines of medicine have emerged.

Lifestyle medicine

This discipline focuses on the role of evidence-based lifestyle strategies to manage, prevent, or reverse chronic disease.

A ‘thread’ which can be integrated into modern medicine, lifestyle medicine emphasizes the prevention (or management) of chronic disease via diet, behavior, fitness, and more. This thread is favored in health-centered apps (Headspace, Nike Training Club, Yuka) and many health podcasts.

Functional medicine

The idea is to target the root cause of disease. Using a systems-biology-based approach, it aims to address the “underlying processes and dysfunctions that are causing imbalance and disease in each individual,” according to the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Integrative medicine

Integrative medicine combines complimentary medicine treatments (yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc) with conventional treatments to reduce side effects caused by conventional treatment, as well as treat the patient beyond physical needs alone, write to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Regenerative medicine

A branch of medicine focused on regenerating healthy cells; more specifically, it aims to replace tissues and organs damaged by age, disease, and other health (think Bryan Johnson and his ‘Liquid Gold’ plasma exchange procedures!) Lots of regenerative medicines are novel and experimental, but not necessarily clinically-approved to reverse cellular aging.

Preventative medicine

The goal is disease prevention, and this is often achieved with lab tests, shots, screening for diseases (i.e., colon cancer or breast cancer), early detection, and it promotes lifestyle as a method of reducing the risk of disease.

Precision medicine

Using genetics to provide individualized treatment, it also considers “individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and biology,” according to an article in JAMA. 

The goal: Make diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease more “personalized, proactive, predictive and precise,” according to UC Davis Health.

Longevity-forward health care services

Now that you have a general understanding of different longevity-forward medical disciplines, let’s talk shop—who to see, what they focus on, average cost, etc…

• Longevity Clinic

• Longevity Concierge

• Functional Doctor

• Alternative Healing (Naturopathy v. homeopathy)

• Optimization Clinic

• Bonus: Longevity Retreat

Longevity clinics/concierge services

When you consider health care for longevity, this is the most popular and rapidly-growing type of service.

It is well-suited for healthy individuals looking to optimize their longevity and wellness routine for preventing age-related diseases. 

It can also be useful for people who deal with chronic health conditions and are looking to manage, or reverse, symptoms of their disease, as it emphasizes developing a relationship with the practitioner and adapting your routine as time passes and your health evolves.

The traditional concierge is high-end. The price tag can be a drawback, but it usually means the practitioner offers an array of ‘executive physical’ tests, scans, and blood work diagnostic services to help clients understand current health risks (symptomatic or asymptomatic) and prevent age-related disease. 

• “You can tell me whether you feel healthy; I can tell you whether you're actually healthy," claims J. Craig Venter, a biochemist and co-founder of the first longevity clinic, Human Longevity, in Business Insider.

Disciplines: Prevention medicine + precision medicine
Average cost: $2,000-$10,000

Start-up longevity concierges

This is a more affordable type of longevity clinic (relatively) that uses diagnostic testing and on-demand consultants to offer personalized health recommendations and “VIP white glove service” to enhance wellness and longevity. 

• The service includes diagnostics, health tracking, customized protocols, and on-demand assistance from certified longevity consultants.

It can be a solid option for those invested in longevity and want to optimize their current treatments and protocols using expert-guided recommendations and advice.

Key players: Superpower, Function Health (Mark Hyman co-founder), Mito Health, Longevity Health, TruDiagnostic
Disciplines: Functional medicine + precision medicine
Average cost: $499 (Function Health) – $900 (Longevity Health)

Precision medicine

Precision medicine analyzes genetics (the information encoded within your DNA), biomarkers, and molecular risk factors to identify disease risk and the best treatment option for that individual.

• Interestingly, it considers a person’s life, race, finances, and environment, and how these factors influence the expression of certain genetic markers.

While many health systems are not precision-medicine specific, they offer precision medicine services and integrate them with other forms of treatment.

Key players: Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, City of Hope, and UCLA Institute for Precision Health
Longevity Disciplines: Preventative + precision medicine
Average cost: $10,000+

Functional medicine

The aim is to get to the root cause of an issue or condition (such as type two diabetes). According to the functional clinic Vida Integrated Health, functional medicine is commonly used to treat:

• Gut health

• Hormone health

• Autoimmune conditions

• Mood disorders

• Skin conditions

• Metabolic issues

Similar to precision medicine, functional doctors look at the interplay between lifestyle, genetics, and environment to create personalized recommendations that restore health.

Functional health services gather detailed analyses of biomarkers that impact disease and aging and integrate lifestyle recommendations to reverse symptoms and regain health from the root.

Key players: Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Will Cole, Daniel G. Amen, MD, Dr. Susan Bland
Disciplines: Functional medicine + lifestyle medicine
Average cost: $460 an hour

Alternative medicine

Naturopathic and homeopathic medicine are good if you desire natural, organic treatments with a focus on healing with lifestyle and natural, plant-derived medicine. Neither are usually covered by insurance, and it’s important to note that there’s little evidence on clinical effectiveness.

• Naturopathic medicine focuses on non-invasive, natural practices to treat disease and improve wellness—includes diet, stress reduction, detoxification, acupuncture, botanical medicine, and homeopathy.

• Homeopathic medicine stimulates a healing response and supports the body’s natural healing capabilities. The practice often uses diluted medicinal herbs and substances to stimulate healing.

Longevity Disciplines: Integrative medicine
Average cost: $150-$363 per visit.

BONUS! Longevity retreats

The concept of ‘vacation’ is metamorphosing into health-focused getaway. Longevity retreats are on the rise, equipped with clinics that use diagnostic tools, rejuvenating therapies, and expert lifestyle counseling to promote deep wellness at the resort, and long after the patron has left.

While similar to a longevity clinic, it lacks the specific medical attention and long-term follow-up, according to Business Insider. It is perfect for those who want a quick, integrated rejuvenation experience.

Key players: Canyon Ranch, Clinique La Prairie, SHA Wellness Clinic
Longevity Disciplines: functional medicine + lifestyle medicine + precision medicine 
Average cost: $2,000-$50,000

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