Living Longer, But Are We Living Better?
SingaporeMon Feb 24 2025
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People are living longer than ever. But, are they living healthier? That's the big question. The gap between lifespan and healthspan is growing. Healthy Longevity Medicine (HLM) aims to bridge this gap. It's about adding life to our years, not just years to our lives.
HLM focuses on keeping us healthy and active. But, not everyone knows about it. That's where the HEalthy LOngevity (HELO) framework comes in. It's a tool to understand what people think about healthy longevity.
The HELO framework has three main parts: awareness, knowledge, and motivations. Awareness is about knowing what healthy longevity is. Knowledge is about understanding it. Motivations are the reasons why people want to live a long, healthy life.
The HELO framework is like a guide. It helps us figure out what people know and want. But it's not just about knowing what people think. It's about using that information to improve public healthcare.
The plan is to test this framework with focus groups in Singapore. Then, use it in surveys all over the world. The goal? To find out what people really think about healthy longevity. And use that info to make healthcare better.
But here's a question: If we know people are living longer but not necessarily healthier, why aren't we doing more to change that? Why isn't everyone talking about how to make sure we're living our best lives for as long as possible? It's a big question, and it's one that the HELO framework is trying to answer.
The HELO framework is a step in the right direction. But, it's just one piece of the puzzle. We need more than just a framework to make real changes. We need action. We need to start talking about healthy longevity. We need to start making changes in our healthcare system.