On February 19, hundreds of longevity devotees attended the Don’t Die Summit in Manhattan, each paying $349 in the hopes of discovering the secret to extended life.
Keynote speaker, US tech millionaire Bryan Johnson, the subject of the recent Netflix documentary, Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, took to the stage to tell the audience: “We are at war with death. We are trying to eliminate death from our environment.”
Johnson made headlines last year when he revealed he spends over $2 million a year on his Project Blueprint, for which he receives plasma transfusions from his teenage son along with gene therapy injections in a bid to reverse or stop ageing.
As far as health buzzwords go, longevity has, no pun intended, stuck around. Claims by the likes of Johnson and his researchers might dominate headlines, but his experiments remain unapproved by the health authorities, further muddying the waters of what longevity actually means. Add in vague phrases such as “biohacking”, “rejuvenation” and “somatic” and it’s clear that the meaning of longevity has got a little lost.
Just as the vague catch-all term “wellness” replaced and repackaged a collection of words such as “diet” and “healthy lifestyle”, longevity has become an all-encompassing concept that covers everything from diet and exercise to genetics. So what exactly is it?
“Longevity, in the medical sense, refers to an individual’s ability to live a long and healthy life while maintaining good physical and mental well-being,” says Dr Afshan Zulfiqar, general practitioner at Aster Clinic, Nuaimiah in Ajman. “It is the period during which a person remains free from serious illness and enjoys a high quality of life free from chronic diseases and disabilities.
“While 'longevity' has gained significant popularity in recent years, it has always been a crucial focus of medical science. Historically, medicine has been concerned with prolonging life and improving overall health through disease prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatments,” she adds. “Modern advancements and research in healthcare, nutrition and lifestyle modifications have further refined and increased our understanding of what contributes to a longer and healthier life.”
Short-term aims for long-term goals
According to Alberto El Bitar, founder and chief executive of Re Wellness Club, one common misconception about longevity is that people think it’s simply about living a longer life.
“In reality, longevity is more about the quality of life rather than just its duration,” he says. “It’s about maintaining the ability to move, run, play and stay in good health and shape as we age.”
The array of new wellness centres across the UAE dedicated to longevity treatments and programmes is a testament to the popularity of the concept, which boils down to developing a series of short-term habits and goals that make up the bigger picture of an individual’s overall health.
Traditional routes to health such as nutrition and exercise are supported by the development of daily habits which focus on mental and emotional well-being; recovery in the form of rest, sleep and active recovery; and adaptability, allowing the individual to change behaviours and pivot seamlessly between activities as necessary.
Adds El Bitar: “By focusing on these short-term aspects consistently, we create a strong foundation for long-term longevity, allowing us to stay active, healthy, and resilient as we age.”
Bespoke health and personalised programmes
The sheer scale of modern medicine and the amount of health information available online concerning alternative and complementary therapies, supplements, exercise and more means it can be difficult to know how to put together a personalised programme. This is where longevity come in, pulling together a variety of aspects based on the results of things such as blood work assessment, cardiovascular health and fitness levels.
“Longevity is a deeply personal journey, and its success lies in tailoring interventions to everyone’s unique physiology, lifestyle and goals,” says Paulina Mercader, general manager of the Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie at One & One Za’abeel.
“This means moving beyond traditional healthcare’s reactive model and instead focusing on preventive precision medicine, leveraging cutting-edge diagnostics, metabolic assessments and genetic insights to create an individualised blueprint for longevity.”
Areas such as stress management, sleep quality, mental and emotional health and preventive measures are considered alongside the traditional health markers of nutrition, exercise and lifestyle.
“Health and strength lay the foundations,” says Sarah Lindsay, owner of Roar Fitness. “Your nutrition and sleep are two major contributing factors to health that you have immediate control over and then strength comes down to your training programme design.”
El Bitar adds: “For true longevity, three key factors must be in alignment: biochemical health, biomechanical health and mental health. These elements work together to support overall well-being. Additionally, having a strong, supportive community and being mindful of where and how you spend your time can significantly impact brain health and overall longevity.”
Can longevity be leveraged?
The general acceptance that no hack will make us immortal, at least in this century, has led us to focus on how to make our finite lives better, says Dr Nas Al Jafari, co-founder and chief medical officer at DNA Health & Wellness.
“Despite all the medical advances of the postwar period, research indicates today’s 50 to 70-year-olds are at greater risk of chronic illness and disability than their predecessors, with rising rates of cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” he says. “Viewing longevity as life enhancement as opposed to extension helps manage expectations around what biohacking can actually achieve, by putting the focus on living healthier for longer.”
Lindsay of Roar Fitness adds: “All my grandparents lived [to] between 95 and 101 years old, which is truly amazing. I want to do everything I can to remain as capable and young as possible for as long as possible.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Getting%20there
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed Sustainability Prize
