Life is the most precious of all commodities. A common attribute shared by most of us is the desire to remain alive. Modern medicine, public health interventions, and health insurance serve as forms of primary prevention, extending healthy lifespans. However, an issue that still needs addressing is the experience of survivors who face the increased and accelerated effects of biological aging on their bodies.

If you liken the impact of aging on the body to the effect of miles on a car, operating a car beyond its warranty results in a multitude of problems emerging, as there’s no specific built-in expiration for a car. The same holds true for human bodies. Once we operate our bodies beyond the equivalent of their biological warranty, a plethora of health issues begin to arise. Aging is a result of evolutionary neglect, not evolutionary intent.

The next significant stride is to target the roots of aging rather than just the consequences, using medical interventions. The science of aging offers medicine and public health a much more potent weapon to prevent disease, extend lifespans, and avoid the afflictions of old age. Research is actively underway in areas encompassing aging, longevity, lifestyle choices, happiness science, the mind-body connection, and healthier living.

There’s a curious case of a centenarian from Colorado studied at New York Hospital in the 1960s, who spent his entire life under primitive conditions yet remained active and cheerful until the end. Additionally, an observation by HBS on very old people found a correlation between longevity and a frugal diet (with a balanced composition), consistent physical exercise, and engagement in community affairs until the end of their lives.

Complete retirement is never an ideal approach to aging. When unwell individuals participate in their own treatment and recovery, it ignites their will to live and activates their body’s innate healing power from within, building resistance to disease.

It’s no surprise that we are circling back to ancient wisdom regarding healing through nature. This encompasses practices such as faith healing, shamanic practices, plant medicine, healing with colors/salts/crystals, pranayama, yoga, chakra healing, energy channeling, past life recall, soul healing, sound and vibration healing, and many other practices that are easily accessible and affordable, serving as complementary or augmented approaches to medical treatments.