{"id":150257,"date":"2025-11-20T14:29:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T14:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/150257\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T14:29:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T14:29:09","slug":"not-to-live-forever-but-better-for-longer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/150257\/","title":{"rendered":"Not to live forever, but better for longer"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Prashanth Prakash noticed his blood sugar creeping toward pre-diabetic levels in his early 50s, he didn\u2019t just tweak his diet or start running more. Instead, the venture capitalist known for backing startups such as BookMyShow, BlueStone, and Rentomojo went deeper. What began as a personal health concern turned into an exploration of the science of ageing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter your 50s, you start losing muscle mass\u20145 to 10 percent every decade,\u201d says Prakash, founding partner, Accel India, and founding patron, Longevity India. \u201cThat idea of muscle atrophy really stayed with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

From experimenting with biohacking techniques and supplements to studying systems biology and cellular diagnostics, Prakash become a key figure in The Longevity India project. It is a growing coalition of Indian business leaders, scientists, technologists, and medical researchers who are reimagining ageing\u2014not as a slow, inevitable decline, but as a phase of life that can be optimised and even reversed in some ways. Their mission is not to help people live forever, but to help them live well and disease-free into their 80s and beyond\u2014prioritising healthspan over lifespan. In other words, they focus on healthy longevity.<\/p>\n

Rooted in science, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), and drawing upon both ancient wisdom and modern medicine, this movement is reshaping how India thinks about health and ageing, how businesses will rethink workforce longevity, how healthcare systems will shift from treatment to prevention, and how society will redefine what it means to grow old. The project, led by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, focuses on generating India-specific data that challenges global assumptions about ageing. \u201cWhether it is supplements or pharmacogenomics, what drugs work best for our specific genes \u2014there is a gap,\u201d says Prakash. \u201cIndians are largely using what is developed in the West. So, it became very important for us to anchor our work around Indian genetics.\u201d<\/p>\n

This realisation led to the launch of the BHARAT Study. Short for Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions, it seeks to build the country\u2019s first comprehensive ageing database and understand how healthy Indians age, organ by organ, in the context of their own genetics and environment.<\/p>\n

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Rules of Ageing<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rules of ageing are very different in India,\u201d says Deepak Saini, professor at IISc and one of the leads on the project. \u201cWe haven\u2019t done any systematic exercise in India. Our blood work reports are based on Western reference standards. By those standards, all Indians have high cholesterol, low vitamin D, low vitamin B12, and high inflammation\u2014we should all be dead. But here we are, 1.6 billion of us, thriving.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study aims to uncover what Saini calls the \u201cBharat baseline\u201d, identifying biomarkers and ageing patterns unique to India. \u201cWhatever clocks of ageing the world is developing, they don\u2019t apply to India. Our epigenetic clocks are different.\u201d<\/p>\n

This divergence from global ageing models is why the Bharat Study is building organ clocks, or tools that assess biological age at the organ level. <\/p>\n

Chronologically, your organ might be 50 years old, but biologically, where is it? Is it functioning like it\u2019s 40? Or older than it should be?\u201d says Prakash.<\/p>\n

Though Western longevity science increasingly explores pharmacological interventions such as Rapamycin, an immunosuppressant believed to promote longevity when taken in low, pulsed doses. Saini cautions against blindly adopting such approaches. \u201cIf you knock out your immune system, you won\u2019t die of ageing, you\u2019ll die of infection,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The Bharat Study is collecting data across diverse Indian populations using multi-omics and AI-driven analysis to build a new framework for understanding how Indians age. This includes mapping the exposome, which is a relatively new concept that encompasses everything from diet and air quality to stress and microbial exposure. \u201cIt\u2019s our genetics plus our exposome,\u201d Prakash says. \u201cAnd then there\u2019s epigenetics, which is how your genetics manifest and drive action in your body today.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the heart of this is a push for precision in prevention. \u201cPeople want to know what exactly is their issue, whether they are becoming pre-diabetic, and what could be driving that,\u201d says Prakash. He points to the concept of phenotypes, or physiological manifestations of disease, as the key to understanding conditions such as diabetes. \u201cUnless you understand whether the insulin resistance is coming from fat in your muscles or from pancreatic cells not functioning properly, you are missing the point.\u201d This is where advanced diagnostics come in. \u201cStandard blood chemistry often shows the result of a disease that has already set in. You are not seeing the trajectory of your health,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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AI, the Gamechanger<\/p>\n

What makes this the right time to go big on longevity research? The answer is artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n

For a lot of human data to make sense, it needs to be brought together, analysed and looked at for patterns. \u201cWithout AI, we would spend five to 10 hours on each person. That is not sustainable,\u201d says Prakash. AI helps triangulate data, find patterns, and personalise. \u201cThat is where the precision comes from\u2014the ability to digest data, identify patterns, and then pinpoint where the issues lie,\u201d he adds. And BioPeak he says, is \u201cthe clinic of the future\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Bengaluru-based <\/p>\n

BioPeak is India\u2019s first longevity clinic which does the whole nine yards from diagnostics to recommending treatment and diet. It was founded by Rishi Pardal and Shiva Subramanian to take medicine beyond generalisation. AI is core to that.<\/p>\n

At BioPeak the journey begins with a person\u2019s medical and lifestyle history to establish a personalised baseline. Most diagnostic tests\u2014including for genetics, metabolites, microbiomes, and hormones\u2014are done at home, followed by an in-clinic assessment covering scans such as DEXA scans, VO\u2082 max tests, gut and mitochondrial health assessments. This generates around 60 GB of data per person, which is analysed by a multidisciplinary team and AI to create a detailed, predictive health profile.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to decode your body, identify risks early, and personalise interventions to improve both healthspan and lifespan,\u201d says Pardal. Take iron deficiency. In a conventional setting, the solution is an iron supplement. But BioPeak\u2019s approach is different. \u201cIt is now possible to determine whether it is an issue of iron production, iron consumption, or something more complex like a genetic predisposition such as sickle cell. In such cases, simply prescribing iron may not lead to the intended outcome,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

This model considers not just genetics, but also lifestyle, \u201cexposome\u201d and how that influences gene expression. \u201cThen there is what is already manifesting, which shows up through their metabolites, biochemistry, or even imaging,\u201d adds Somil Sharma, BioPeak\u2019s vice president of sales. \u201cWe are combining all of this for each person and looking at data reference points to understand what is impacting which pathway at the cellular level, and then making interventions to address that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pardal says BioPeak\u2019s strength lies in its flexibility and precision. \u201cEverything we do is based on data. From that, we build a highly personalised programme that may include supplements, nutrition, stress management, mindfulness, sleep, and exercise. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

The startup is backed by marquee investors including Nikhil Kamath of Zerodha, Ranjan Pai of Claypond Capital, and Accel. According to Pardal\u2019s research, the lifespan for most Indians is 67-68 years on average. \u201cThe world average is 76 years. So it is not about increasing lifespan to 122, it is about taking that 67 to 76 years,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Also Read: Is India’s healthcare industry ready for the ‘longevity’ disruption? Deepak Saini weighs in<\/a><\/p>\n

No One-Pill Solution<\/p>\n

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson of Biocon Group and a patron of the Longevity India initiative at IISc, believes the field is on the cusp of a breakthrough. \u201cAnti-ageing is a huge area. Everyone is jumping into it,\u201d she says. \u201cWith all these GLP-1s, lifestyle has once again become the centre of everyone\u2019s attention. Everyone wants to look youthful, slim, and fit. I think the time has come for the world to seriously focus on living not just a long life but a healthy life.\u201d GLP-1, or Glucagon-like peptide-1, is the industry term for weight-loss drugs.<\/p>\n

Despite the buzz around anti-ageing pills and quick-fix solutions, Saini of IISc remains sceptical about their relevance in the Indian context. \u201cPharma companies always want quick-fix solutions. They want one pill that solves all the problems,\u201d he says. But longevity, he argues, does not lend itself to such simplicity. \u201cIt is not going to be easy. There isn\u2019t going to be one pill. Longevity requires changes at multiple levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

In India, where environmental and genetic factors shape ageing differently, it is a complex issue and that is why Indian pharma companies have not embraced longevity as a business opportunity. \u201cIf I can\u2019t give you a medicine, I have nothing to gain. There is no business model. That\u2019s why pharma industries aren\u2019t championing longevity,\u201d says Saini.<\/p>\n

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As the science of ageing evolves, Saini believes the future lies in integrated medicine\u2014a shift away from treating the body as a \u201cbag full of organs\u201d and towards a more holistic understanding of health. \u201cIf your gut goes wrong, someone fixes your gut. If your heart goes wrong, they fix your heart. But ultimately, this is not a bag full of organs; it\u2019s a connected, interconnected system,\u201d he says. Prakash agrees: \u201cNo single school of medicine has all the answers. Modern medicine is great for acute care. But there is also what I call slow medicine like ayurveda and other traditional systems. Can we integrate the two for the benefit of the individual?\u201d<\/p>\n

This interconnectedness, Saini says, demands a new kind of diagnostics\u2014one that does not just look for what is broken, but for what is working well. \u201cOur diagnostics are aimed at broken things. If you keep looking for signs of damage, you\u2019ll keep finding damage. What we need now is a way to measure health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through the BHARAT Study, Saini and his team are working to identify organ-specific signs of ageing, with the goal of slowing deterioration and improving quality of life. \u201cIf I can find that organ-specific science of ageing, I can probably put a page to every organ, identify the weakest one, and slow down its decline. That\u2019s the wish list for longevity.\u201d\"\"<\/p>\n

Deepak Kumar Saini, Professor, Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Insitute of Science
Image: Mexy XavierFuture of Work<\/p>\n

When Pardal launched BioPeak at the age of 50, he challenged convention. \u201cI\u2019m well past the typical age for a startup founder,\u201d he says, but emphasises that the possibilities are limitless.<\/p>\n

He points to global demographic shifts as a wake-up call. In many countries, birth rates are falling below replacement levels, shrinking the younger population. Though this is not yet India\u2019s problem, Pardal warns it is on the horizon. If older individuals retire and become dependent, it places a growing burden on healthcare and social systems, especially in countries with retirement benefits.<\/p>\n

But what if older people remained healthy, sharp, and self-reliant? Pardal argues that they could continue contributing meaningfully. These are individuals with experience, global exposure, and valuable insights. \u201cIt\u2019s a different mindset, and while we are not there yet, the conversation is beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

He cites a compelling insight: \u201cFor every additional year of productive lifespan added, the American economy gains trillions of dollars. That\u2019s the thinking behind longevity science; it\u2019s not just about living longer, it\u2019s about contributing longer.\u201d Pardal believes our expectations around ageing are outdated, shaped by historical patterns of productivity loss. \u201cBut if we change that, we change the entire conversation. That\u2019s what the real debate around lifespan is about\u2014improving the quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prakash adds a personal lens to the discussion. \u201cCan you carry your grandchild? Can you dance at your daughter\u2019s wedding? These are the real reasons why healthspan matters.\u201d The benefits, he says, ripple outward. \u201cYes, it also means greater productivity, longer working lives, and national economic benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even a modest extension of healthspan\u2014say, from 60 to 65\u2014could save the country crores in healthcare costs. \u201cWe are not saying people should live forever; we are saying: Can we moderate the curve of decline? Can we compress morbidity?\u201d<\/p>\n

This vision of healthy longevity challenges how we think about work, age, and ambition. Pardal believes that if people are physically, cognitively, and biologically younger, they will naturally want to do more. Often, he says, the passion to pursue something and the ability to do it do not align, but healthy longevity narrows that gap. It opens the door to older startup founders, second or third careers, and a rethinking of organisational structures. With healthy longevity, people can be more productive for longer. That means organisations may need to restructure themselves and review who does what, and for how long.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about the power that individuals gain. Imagine a world where people can pursue what they love well into their 80s. That opens up entirely new possibilities as well as new markets,\u201d Pardal says. If older individuals remain active, they become active consumers too.\"\"<\/p>\n

Rishi Pardal, founder and CEO of Biopeak;
Image: Hemant Mishra for Forbes IndiaWay Forward<\/p>\n

The shift towards a healthspan mindset is already visible. \u201cWe are now seeing more Indians lifting weights, doing resistance training, optimising nutrition, tracking sleep, and choosing movement over medication,\u201d says Akshay Verma, co-founder of FITPASS, a fitness and wellness platform. \u201cLongevity thrives on ease and consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n

The government has declared non-communicable diseases an epidemic, underscoring that fitness is the most effective way to prevent these lifestyle-related conditions from eroding the country\u2019s demographic dividend. Research suggests that a more active India could add more than \u20b915 lakh crore to the gross domestic product by 2047 through increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs.<\/p>\n

Kris Gopalakrishnan, one of the founders of Infosys and a patron of the Longevity India project, envisions longevity not as a luxury pursuit, but as a public health imperative rooted in science, accessibility, and behavioural change.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe business of longevity,\u201d he says, \u201cis a holistic look at health and changing people\u2019s behaviour\u2026 creating affordable solutions so they can stay healthy much longer. Whatever we do, we want to make sure it is available to a large percentage of the population. It should not be only for the rich.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though the idea of a national policy on ageing and longevity may seem timely, Mazumdar-Shaw believes India needs a policy that encourages research in this area. \u201cWe must first build a strong scientific foundation.\u201d She favours targeted investment in research, suggesting that longevity should be recognised as a priority area for India. \u201cSome research funding should be budgeted for it,\u201d she adds. With private capital beginning to flow into the space and initiatives like BioPeak supporting research-led models, she sees an opportunity for India to take the lead in a field still in its early stages globally. \u201cWe have missed the boat in so many areas of research. I think we now have a chance to lead in this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gopalakrishnan suggests a shift from curative to preventive healthcare, from reactive hospital visits to proactive daily choices. \u201cPeople think about health only when they fall sick. That\u2019s too late. We need to create incentives for people to think about health every day.\u201d This includes integrating traditional systems like ayurveda and yoga into mainstream healthcare but only through evidence-based and scientifically validated approaches. \u201cIt can\u2019t be just knowledge. You need businesses that practise this, and you need incentives to change people\u2019s behaviour,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

From food labelling and insurance-linked health scores to digital literacy and mental health support for the elderly, Gopalakrishnan\u2019s approach to longevity is systemic, inclusive, and rooted in India\u2019s unique context.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a long journey,\u201d he says, \u201cbut it has to start with science, move to market, and ultimately shift to culture.\u201d For Prakash too, this isn\u2019t just a personal mission; it is a national imperative. \u201cAs a country, we are becoming metabolically unhealthy and increasingly prone to cardiovascular issues. We need to wake up and act,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Prashanth Prakash noticed his blood sugar creeping toward pre-diabetic levels in his early 50s, he didn\u2019t just…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":150258,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[103,397,396,61,60],"class_list":{"0":"post-150257","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthcare","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-health-care","10":"tag-healthcare","11":"tag-ie","12":"tag-ireland"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}