Supertrends in Anti-Aging

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Supertrends in Anti-Aging

In the preface, Lars Tvede explains why anti-aging technology is a Supertrend. He discusses the growing interest in the concept of delaying the onset of aging and the cultural importance of longevity throughout history, from the quest for a Fountain of Youth to scientific breakthroughs and finally the likely impact that anti aging interventions will have on technology, finance, and the future of humanity.

The Introduction offers a brief summary of the historical interest in aging and the science behind it. From prehistory and Ancient Greece to the Industrial Revolution, the process of aging has been of interest to all generations; but until recently, the biological causes of aging on a cellular level were a mystery. We will outline causes and mechanisms of aging to set a foundation for the prevalence of the nine hallmarks of aging that are covered later in the report. The first scientific insights into the subject of aging were only gained as recently as 1908 when Elie Metchnikoff coined the term "gerontology" for the study of old age, although aging has been a concern to humanity as far back in time as Ancient Greece. In the timeline of this chapter you will find the contemporary breakthroughs in the field of anti-aging research as well as the key players in determining the hallmarks of aging presented in subsequent chapters. Finally, we will present the modern notion of aging as a disease as we dissect the possible cures to this omnipresent ailment.

Scientific knowledge on the subject of aging was acquired as recently as 1908, although aging was a concern since the ancient Greeks. In this timeline you will find the contemporary breakthroughs in the field of Anti Aging research as well as the key players in determining the hallmarks of aging presented in subsequent chapters.

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This dynamic report is structured along the nine Hallmarks of Aging identified by López-Otín et al. in their eponymous paper published in 2013. Each section describes one of the cellular and genetic causes of aging and offers an explanation of how their effects to the human body, the benefits that addressing them brings to the organism, and the consequences and current challenges of such treatments. Finally, each hallmark is complemented by a list of companies currently working on addressing aging through that particular focus, although some entities are applying a wider scope on anti-aging by working on more than one hallmark.

Using Senolytic Drugs to Kill and Remove “Zombie Cells”

Generating Multi-purpose "Rejuvenation Cells"

DNA Altering Through Methylation as a Metric for Biological Age

Helping Mitochondria Consume Nutrients and Oxygen to Increase Health and Lifespan

Ensuring cells can repair themselves and each other

After the comprehensive overview of the Hallmarks of Aging, the dynamic report provides a conclusion that summarizes all the aforementioned content. It includes an outline of the main demographics that stand to benefit from successful results of harnessing and artificially controlling the hallmarks of aging. Finally, we will provide an assessment of the current challenges and obstacles faced by companies and research facilities that are working on “curing” aging. This conclusion will also receive an update with each iteration of this dynamic report as the technological development behind the hallmarks of aging is ongoing and there are breakthroughs every day, which will be reflected in this product.

To wrap up our report, Lars Tvede provides some food for thought on the effects of the innovations that Anti-Aging technology will bring to modern society. Lars also forecasts what the consequences of having a fountain of youth will currently be, and how we stand to benefit (or suffer) from an extended lifespan as components of a workforce, providers of goods and services, and members of a constantly changing society with prominent extremes and an uncertain financial landscape.

When is the best time to invest in anti-aging? What are the business opportunities in anti-aging technology? We will answer these questions in this document by navigating the future map of anti-aging.

Anti-aging has always been a topic of controversy. There are both challenges and great opportunities in the anti-aging business. Information accuracy is especially important in this field.

Compared to the year 2000, anti-aging technology has seen an increase in both scientific publications and clinical trials in 2020. These trends reflect increased interest from both the academic field and the healthcare industry. In the following, we will discuss the transition from research to application.

With a rapidly aging population, age-related diseases are the leading causes of global death, as well as causing more than half of all global disease burdens (calculated by financial cost and other indicators). Arguably, anti-aging therapeutics offer the biggest market opportunity in the healthcare industry. However, the market opportunities will be different in the short term versus the longer term.

Our selection of 150 companies in the anti-aging business are based on individual company’s focus and core technology. The landscape evolves rapidly in this field. We found that the general trend of anti-aging start-ups is moving towards a faster life cycle. This trend is reflected in the founding, maturing, and exiting of the companies.

Anti-aging companies may face a few disadvantages when it comes to funding. For example, aging is not yet classified as a disease, and anti-aging technology is still at an early stage. However, at the root of longevity is one of humankind’s oldest desires. Investing in anti-aging businesses is viewed by wealthy investors and ordinary people alike as one of the most lucrative investments, as a way to impact our society, and as a way to access this technology. Funding for anti-aging companies is increasing both in number and size. There are some very enthusiastic key investors. Ordinary people are also showing their support through crowdfunding.

In addition to overcoming technical challenges, anti-aging technologies must also undergo strict regulatory procedures and face social controversies. Companies must consider all the challenges when forming their strategies. It is at the intersection of computer science and anti-aging technology that we find the future trends in anti-aging – in particular, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in drug discovery, eHealth and mHealth, and personalized approaches.

Predicting the future is very challenging, especially in the field of healthcare. By collating and studying current trends in research, markets, start-up ecosystems, and the investment landscape, we can arrive at the most likely future scenarios. With the assistance of the Supertrends app, we have created a future map of the anti-aging business. The most critical elements of this map are the right timing and the right companies.