Andrea B. Maier, MD, PhD, FRACP Andrea B. Maier, MD, PhD, FRACP, is a world-renowned expert in gerontology and longevity medicine. She serves as the Oon Chiew Seng Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and is the Co-Founder of the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity. Additionally, she holds a Professorship in Gerontology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. A Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Dr. Maier has published over 440 research papers on aging and is the Founder of Chi Longevity, Singapore’s first evidence-based longevity clinic. She actively advises global health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), on aging, healthspan, and longevity science.

What Inspired Your Interest in Gerontology?

Dr. Maier’s journey into gerontology began with a deep-rooted curiosity about aging and longevity. As a medical student, she explored fundamental questions: What is aging? Can we extend healthspan while maintaining quality of life? This led her to pursue a PhD in aging biology, bridging research with clinical practice as an internal medicine specialist and geriatrician.

Her expertise lies in translating cutting-edge aging research into clinical applications, ensuring that longevity medicine is practical, accessible, and effective. Passionate about building global networks, Dr. Maier is dedicated to optimizing healthspan, promoting preventative medicine, and developing strategies to counteract aging throughout life.

Longevity, Mental Health & Purpose: A Holistic Perspective

While longevity is often associated with lifespan extension, Dr. Maier emphasizes healthy aging over mere longevity. The goal is not just to live longer but to remain physically and mentally vibrant.

Key aspects of longevity and mental health include:
✅ Healthspan vs. Lifespan: Aging should focus on functionality, independence, and well-being, not just survival.
✅ Purpose-Driven Aging: People must find meaning and joy in life to sustain mental and physical health.
✅ Bridging Science & Spirituality: Healthspan is not just about disease prevention—it’s about how we use our abilities to live fulfilling lives.

Core Practices for Mental Resilience & Healthy Aging

Dr. Maier highlights sleep as the #1 priority for longevity. Quality sleep is fundamental to mental clarity, emotional stability, and physiological repair. Other key factors include:

🔹 Purpose & Motivation: Mental health is tied to having a reason to wake up each day.
🔹 Preventative Health: Proactively managing nutrition, movement, and stress leads to long-term well-being.
🔹 Cognitive Engagement: Lifelong learning, creativity, and social interactions protect brain function.

Simple Yet Effective Steps for Healthy Longevity

Achieving optimal longevity requires personalized, sustainable habits. Dr. Maier advises:

✔ Self-Awareness & Goal Setting – Understand why you want to be healthy, not just how.
✔ Prioritizing Recovery – Sleep, stress management, and mindfulness enhance cellular repair.
✔ Lifestyle Medicine – Diet, exercise, and circadian health play a direct role in longevity.
✔ Proactive Healthcare – Regular health assessments help track and improve biological age.

Reversing Biological Aging: Is It Possible?

Yes! Clinical evidence confirms that aging is modifiable. The XPrize Healthspan Challenge, which aims to reverse biological age by 20 years, underscores the plasticity of aging. Key interventions include:

✅ Precision Nutrition & Fasting Protocols – Enhancing metabolic flexibility and cellular repair.
✅ Optimized Exercise & Recovery – Strength, mobility, and cardiovascular fitness directly impact aging.
✅ Personalized Longevity Therapies – Data-driven strategies, such as hormone balancing, peptide therapy, and senolytics, show promising results.

Making Healthy Longevity Medicine Accessible

Dr. Maier envisions a future where longevity medicine is widely accessible. While advanced diagnostics and biological age testing are expanding, the key to scaling longevity medicine lies in:

✔ Scientific Validation – Identifying the most effective, evidence-based longevity interventions.
✔ Public-Private Integration – Combining academic research with real-world applications in longevity clinics.
✔ Health Equity & Policy Advocacy – Ensuring longevity solutions reach all populations, not just elite wellness circles.