Longevity and a look towards functional living

We all know that we maintain and build muscle through activity, but did you know that your bones also respond to use? That common phrase ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ applies just as much to bone; your body is great at repurposing material that isn’t being used. This means that if you become more sedentary or lose mobility, you’re more likely to lose bone quality and muscle mass, which then increases your chance of injury - a vicious cycle! Decreased mobility is also linked to depression, social isolation, and lower overall wellbeingand health. We’re living longer and the focus has begun to turn to extending our functional living, not just the number of years we’re breathing. Being able to do all the things we like doing, and going about our daily lives without pain or significant restriction for as long as possible is true longevity. At the heart of this is preventative monitoring and early intervention, especially in the realm of musculoskeletal and cognitive health. This is where wearable technology (and the algorithms that power it!) can make a huge impact both at an individual level and at a societal level. With the population over the age of 65 expected to hit 16% by 2050 globally (25% in OECD countries), the technology we’re building today has to be future-facing, not just fixing the problems of ‘now’ 🧠

”People've got to learn to live with who they are. And you can't give them any more life. Just because you live longer doesn't mean you get any more youth. You just get more old."
-Granny Weatherwax

Longevity needs to go beyond counting extra years 

Want to know a bit more about my background and inspiration? Check out this segment from my interview on the Tech Business Podcast with Paul Essery!