What this article is about

• Why Longevity is also increasingly appearing in economic future analyses
• What is meant by the term “healthy longevity”
• Why prevention is considered one of the biggest levers for health systems
• What social changes a longer life brings

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Longevity is often discussed as a medical or technological topic — for example in connection with new drugs, biomarkers or anti-aging strategies. But the term is also increasingly appearing in another context: in economic analyses, future reports and strategic papers from large consulting firms.

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One example of this is McKinsey Health Institute, which deals with the question of what effects increasing life expectancy could have on society and the economy. The starting point is a simple observation: People are living longer today than ever before. At the same time, many of these extra years of life do not necessarily spend in good health. This difference between lifespan and healthy life years is often referred to as Healthspan-Gap means — i.e. the gap between the entire lifespan (lifespan) and the time that people actually spend healthily and functionally (Healthspan). In many countries, this gap is several years.

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According to data from World Health Organization On average, people worldwide spend around 9-10 years of their lives with illness or functional limitations.

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Why this matters

According to analyses by the McKinsey Health Institute, up to nine additional healthy years of life be possible if known prevention measures were implemented more consistently. That sounds amazing at first, but it's nothing new. Because much of what has the biggest effects on health has long been known.

These are not spectacular medical innovations, but factors that play a role in everyday life: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, stable social relationships and mental health are among the most important foundations for a long healthy life. Precisely because these factors are so self-evident, they are often underestimated.

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Numerous studies show that they have a significant impact on the risk of many chronic diseases — including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and dementia.

A major international analysis in the scientific journal The Lancet shows, for example, that round 40% of dementia cases could potentially be prevented or at least delayedif known risk factors were reduced over the entire life course. These include:

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• lack of exercise
• smoking
• high alcohol consumption
• hypertension
• diabetes
• preponderance
• chronic stress
• social isolation

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Many of these factors do not arise suddenly in old age, but develop over decades. This is precisely why prevention is becoming increasingly important and important.

The effect of these changes would not only be medically relevant, but also socially. In model calculations by the McKinsey Health Institute, an improvement in global health could be achieved by the year In 2050, an economic added value of around 12.5 trillion US dollars per year produce.

The reason is simple: People who stay healthy longer can be active for longer — at work, in social life and in society as a whole.

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A broader understanding of health

The definition of health is also interesting. In the McKinsey Health Institute approach, health comprises several dimensions:

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• physical health
• mental and emotional stability
• social relationships
• Meaning and quality of life

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This brings more focus to a finding that is also increasingly being discussed in Longevity research: Health does not only arise in the healthcare system. It is created in everyday life — through lifestyle, environmental conditions, social structures and access to prevention.

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At the same time, a longer life also raises new social issues. Although many people want to live a long life in good health, they do not necessarily associate this with a longer period of employment. Studies from various countries report that, after a few years of retirement, some people have difficulty finding new tasks, social roles or a clear daily rhythm.

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A longer life therefore not only changes medicine, but also ideas about work, retirement and social participation. Healthy life years can open up new opportunities — but they also pose the question of how these additional years can be managed in a meaningful way.

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What this means

The growing focus on “healthy longevity” shows that healthy aging is increasingly considered as key social task is considered.

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While Longevity is often combined with futuristic technologies or approaches in public discussion, a large part of the potential lies in comparatively simple measures.

Exercise, diet, sleep, social connectedness and access to preventive medicine remain among the most important factors for healthy years of life. The real challenge therefore lies less in knowledge — but in implementation.

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At the same time, living longer also raises new questions. When people are able to spend several additional decades in good health, this not only changes medicine and prevention, but also ideas about work, retirement and social participation.

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The decisive question is therefore not only How long do people live, but How these additional years can be designed.