Healthspan Extension is the clinical and scientific objective of increasing the period of life during which an individual is healthy, functional, and free from debilitating chronic disease. Unlike lifespan, which merely measures survival time, healthspan focuses on the quality of life and the duration of peak physiological performance. This paradigm prioritizes the delay of age-related functional decline and morbidity.
Origin
The term is central to the field of gerontology and longevity medicine, emerging from the realization that extending life without improving health quality is insufficient. Its roots lie in identifying and intervening in the fundamental biological hallmarks of aging. This concept represents a critical shift in focus from simply surviving longer to thriving throughout the entirety of one’s life.
Mechanism
Strategies for healthspan extension target primary aging mechanisms, including telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and loss of proteostasis. Interventions often involve the judicious use of senolytics, mTOR inhibitors, and hormonal optimization to maintain youthful cellular signaling and regenerative capacity. The mechanism is fundamentally about preserving the intrinsic biological resilience of the organism.
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