Until not long ago we assumed aging was a natural process, without questioning why it happens. Now society has evolved and we want to know which internal processes cause that deterioration. We do it out of curiosity and, as far as possible, to add years to our life. At WeLife Longevity we bring together experts in this field to explain to us, in easy-to-understand language and with a practical focus, why deterioration associated with aging occurs and what we can do to prolong our longevity.
The next stop on this interesting cycle will take us to Gijón. It will be on October 19 and we will have professionals who will explain what science says about longevity. Will you join us?
What happens inside the body?
Let’s be realistic: the language used by scientists isn’t always easy to understand. “There are hormones, but not everyone is clear on what they are, what insulin is, what role it plays in metabolism, or the very concept of metabolism,” explained Claudio Nieto, a teacher, science communicator specialized in exercise physiology and metabolism, and performance advisor for a book presentation on ‘Hormones, metabolism and performance’.
At WeLife Longevity Gijón, a new variable will be added: how changes in hormones and metabolism affect our physiology. The ‘Professor’ Claudio Nieto (@profeclau dionieto) will analyze the biological keys to preserving vitality over time and what we can do to modulate the metabolic and hormonal changes that accompany the passing of years.
A very practical reminder that his beloved ‘mitochondria’, as he affectionately refers to his almost 50,000 Instagram followers, cannot miss.
From hormonal decline to the aging cascade
The doctor Natalia Gennaro, founder and director of the First High-Resolution Diagnostic Unit and Precision Robotic Surgery in Pelvic Floor at the HLA University Hospital Moncloa, will also speak to us about hormones. In her talk ‘The Center of Time: the hormonal revolution behind longevity’, we will learn how the endocrine system is the true command center that governs overall health and the pace of aging.
“People often think that progressive hormonal decline affects only intimate health and the pelvic floor. But it also has consequences for systemic inflammation, bone density loss, metabolism, and cellular vitality,” she explained at the last ASISA WeLife Menopause in Madrid. With rigorous grounding in the most advanced medical science, the specialist will tell us how to restore endocrine balance to prevent chronic diseases and extend our quality of life.
Sleep also deserves care
We pay little attention to sleep. And yet it is the third pillar of wellbeing, along with healthy nutrition and regular physical exercise. But if we don’t sleep well, we won’t recover, repair, and build new muscle mass properly. And eating well is of no use if our body doesn’t have all its resources available.
“These three pillars do not compete with each other. They are needed,” says Gregorio Mora, a specialist in sleep and human performance through biological intelligence. In his appearance at WeLife Longevity, he will remind us of something we know but often forget: nightly rest is key to cellular rejuvenation and longevity.
Not to mention, those sleeping hours are crucial for regulating gene expression, hormonal balance, and brain-cleaning processes, such as the glymphatic system, essential for preserving memory and preventing neurodegeneration. “If you wake up tired every day, you depend on coffee to wake up, and you sense that something isn’t quite right, it’s time to check the quality of your sleep,” he notes on his Instagram profile (@gregoriomorasleep).
Because if the body does not repair itself well during the night, it will function worse and age faster. On the other hand, if we take care of the environment around sleep, we will transform sleep hours into a proactive health tool. And good health is the first step toward good longevity.
Living with a purpose is living longer
Destiny determines much less our life than our own decisions. And that is good news, because changing habits is indeed within our control. Dr. Fernando Mora, head of the Psychiatry department at the Infanta Leonor University Hospital, professor at the Complutense University of Madrid and a science communicator on mental and emotional health, will explore the connection between daily decision-making and our quality of life.
Sometimes it’s meeting friends for a drink, getting up and taking a walk, or visiting a museum. Seemingly small decisions with consequences for resilience against chronic stress, cardiovascular health, the immune system, and biological markers of aging.
From an integrative psychiatric perspective, we will understand why longevity science places so much importance on life purpose or conscious optimism as factors that promote long life. “Isolating yourself from others, moving little during the day, stopping learning new things, or not having moments of calm and disconnection are factors that age our brain,” explains the psychiatrist from his Instagram (@doctormora).
What happened to grandma also conditions you
One of the great findings of epigenetics has been discovering that certain milestones lived by our ancestors leave an epigenetic imprint that we inherit without knowing. Beatriz Crespo, doctor in Medicine and Sports Performance and pioneer of the ‘Healthy Micro-Habits’ methodology, will examine how epigenetics and biological inheritance influence the way we age.
When grandma had to improvise during times of hunger, she left epigenetic “messages” that can predispose us to better manage our diet. It is one of many examples showing that experiences, nutrition, activity level, and stress levels of our ancestors left molecular marks that shape our health and longevity predisposition.
Countdown to Gijón
Lifestyle habits, attainable changes, and curiosities about what helps people live longer will be some of the topics addressed at WeLife Longevity Gijón on October 19 at Somió Park.
This highly anticipated gathering is organized by WeLife, Vocento and El Comercio—with the sponsorship of ASISA and the collaboration of Grupo Adarsa and Clínica Bagarey.
At the end of each talk, there will be a Q&A session. At the end of the day there will be a cocktail to chat with the experts or with new friends who share the same concerns.
Tickets are already on sale at welifelongevidad.es for 20 euros.
Don’t miss your ticket!
