Episode 14: Professor Andrea Maier
Precision longevity medicine: why your biological age matters more than your birthday
AIRED: 03/02/2026
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Introduction
Is it possible to slow down time? What if you could measure your body’s true age and understand exactly which parts are aging faster? For Professor Andrea Maier, a global expert in longevity and a leading voice in geroscience and precision medicine, the future of healthy aging isn’t about extending lifespan — it’s about maximising the years where we can do what we love, pain-free and fully engaged.
If you’re in your forties or fifties and starting to wonder why recovery takes longer, why those stairs feel steeper, or why the interns at work seem faster than you, you’re not imagining things. But here’s the good news: those changes aren’t inevitable, and the science of aging has evolved dramatically in recent years.
In this interview, Prof. Andrea Maier, we break down the critical difference between healthspan and lifespan and reveal why your biological age matters far more than the number of candles on your birthday cake. If you are interested in reverse aging and preventative healthcare, this is the data you need.
For men navigating the second half of life, this conversation couldn’t be more timely. Whether you’re planning your next career chapter, thinking about retirement, or simply wanting to maintain the energy and vitality to enjoy your grandchildren, understanding how your body actually ages – and what you can do about it – is essential knowledge. Andrea brings decades of scientific research down to earth, explaining complex concepts in ways that make sense for our daily lives.
Andrea’s journey in longevity medicine spans over 25 years of studying centenarians, leading hospital departments across three continents, and pioneering evidence-based longevity clinics. Based in Singapore, she’s at the epicentre of Asia’s emerging longevity medicine ecosystem, working with the National University of Singapore (recently ranked number one in Asia) to bridge cutting-edge research with practical clinical applications. Her approach is refreshingly grounded: she has a dog, values being happily married, and emphasises that your body is beautiful at any age – it’s what’s happening on the inside that counts.
This discussion covers:
- The difference between geroscience, precision geromedicine and gerotherapeutics, and why these emerging fields matter for men in midlife
- Why longevity and healthspan aren’t the same thing, and which one you should actually care about
- The two critical ages where our bodies accelerate decline (40 and 60), and what’s happening biologically at these turning points
- The 12 hallmarks of aging that scientists now understand, and how this knowledge translates into actionable interventions
- Why Silicon Valley’s ‘bro culture’ approach to longevity might be doing more harm than good, and what evidence-based practice actually looks like
- How longevity clinics like Chi Longevity work, who they’re designed for, and what a comprehensive biological age assessment actually involves
- The role of food in aging – cutting through the confusion between different dietary approaches from leading longevity experts
- Why centenarians lack disease genes rather than possess longevity genes, and what this means for the rest of us
- The democratisation challenge: how can precision longevity medicine move from private clinics to public healthcare systems?
- Practical steps you can take right now to understand and influence your own aging trajectory
Why this conversation matters
Andrea’s message is both empowering and practical. She emphasises that it’s never too late to understand your body better and make changes that matter. Whether you’re 45 or 95, measuring your biological age gives you a dashboard for your health – similar to how you’d monitor your car or investment portfolio. The conversation cuts through the noise of wellness trends and biohacker extremes to focus on what’s actually evidence-based and achievable.
What stands out most is Andrea’s commitment to making longevity medicine accessible beyond wealthy elites. While she co-founded Chi Longevity, a private clinic in Singapore, she’s simultaneously working to democratise these interventions through public healthcare systems, medical education and global health policy. Her work with the Healthy Longevity Medicine Society and the World Health Organization shows genuine commitment to helping populations, not just individuals.
Perhaps most importantly, Andrea addresses the equity question head-on. She acknowledges that longevity medicine needs to move beyond the wealthy 40 to 70-year-old males who currently make up the majority of private clinic clients. The economic argument is compelling: healthier individuals who can work longer and require less healthcare spending benefit everyone. As Singapore and other governments recognise, investing in healthy longevity isn’t just about individual health – it’s about creating sustainable healthcare systems and productive societies.
Guest info
Professor Andrea Maier is the Oon Chiew Seng Professor in Medicine at the National University of Singapore and Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity. A physician-scientist specialising in internal medicine and geriatrics, she has published over 500 peer-reviewed articles on aging mechanisms and age-related diseases.
Andrea is the founding president of the Healthy Longevity Medicine Society, co-founder of Chi Longevity (Singapore’s first evidence-based longevity clinic), and co-founder of the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity. She serves on numerous international committees including the World Health Organization’s Decade of Healthy Ageing evaluation. Her research focuses on translating geroscience into clinical practice, with particular expertise in sarcopenia, cellular senescence and precision geromedicine.
Andrea is also a prolific communicator, frequently appearing on radio and television to make aging research accessible to the public.
Connect with Andrea:
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