Metropol Inspire: Unlock healthier ageing

Life expectancy is slowly increasing, and scientific discoveries are allowing those all around to us to lead lives almost double the length of those before them. It is a great feat, yet an equally terrifying thought.

Will that life be filled with doctor’s appointments, loss of loved ones, mental deterioration, and a body slowly giving up?

Auckland’s Greg Macpherson (pictured) disagrees. To that end, the pharmacist, technologist, entrepreneur, and author of Harnessing the Nine Hallmarks of Aging, has spent years in the health field, looking into the biotechnology of ageing.

Now a globally recognised expert on healthy ageing, Greg’s new book, Age Less is a cheat sheet to the secrets and science of doing so slower and healthier. The five fundamental layers of a healthy ageing journey, exercise, nutrition, sleep, social connection, and mental well-being are dissected.

He hopes the book will inspire others to see ageing in a new light, where getting older is “no longer feared as an unrelenting journey of decay and ill-health.” That said, it won’t tell us how to achieve fewer wrinkles. Instead, it focuses on the important: ageing with vitality and energy, so that we can enjoy more quality time with those we love. Inside is a plethora of lifestyle shifts we can make towards a longevity mindset to increase our health span. Find the hacks for preventative wellness, wearable health trackers, and the science behind health crazes such as water immersion and sauna bathing. Focus on your purpose and embrace it. Find the people, the activities, and the work that light you up.

“I want to challenge readers to imagine a life where we don’t fear getting older but instead look forward to a long, healthy life – one that gives us many opportunities to fulfil our potential for the whole of our life,” Greg adds.

2 tips to take your life back

• You guessed it, physical activity. With the most benefits to lifespan and mental and physical health, plus a reduction in risk factors for ageing-related chronic diseases, an active person’s mortality rate will reduce by 30 to 60 per cent compared to a non-active person. Drawing from the shift towards a more inactive world with cars, technology, and ultra-smart appliances, Greg says “Nothing else compares to exercise – no drug, supplement or diet comes close.” To live your best life, regular exercise is a must. Aim for 30 minutes daily, and a mix of moderate to high-intensity activity, as well as flexibility and balance training. In short, move your body. “It’s essential to move regularly and cut down on prolonged sitting.”
• Feeding your microbiome is a fascinating discussion in Age Less. Gut bacteria are crucial for overall health and longevity, and as we age, so do they. “If the balance of gut bacteria is off, it can lead to inflammation in our bodies, a process known as ‘inflammageing’, which raises our risk of chronic diseases and speeds up ageing.” Invest in a diet rich in high-fibre foods, including fruits, vegetables, seeds, beans, and nuts.