Tengrinews.kz — The world is obsessed with eternal youth: billionaires are snatching up "longevity pills," and shelves are overflowing with trendy supplements. However, this year’s most honest conversation about longevity didn't happen at a promotional launch, but in the corridors of a scientific summit in Cannes. In this guest column for TengriHealth, the President of the Academy of Preventive Medicine Almaz Sharman discusses what truly extends a healthy life versus what is merely clever marketing.
Aging is not a single breakdown
Earlier this summer, for a few days, Cannes became the capital of future medicine rather than cinema. An international summit brought together over 250 doctors, scientists, and innovators from more than 30 countries. They were all focused on one question: is it possible to slow down, or even reverse, the aging process?
For decades, science sought a single primary cause of aging—free radicals, DNA damage, inflammation, mitochondrial failure, or immune system decline. Yet, no single theory explained the full picture. The key takeaway that upends our traditional understanding was voiced in the summit’s sidelines, away from the presentation slides.
It is a systemic process in which several levels of defense—primarily immune, metabolic, and cellular regulation—falter simultaneously. The body ages not because "something broke" in one place, but because the system of internal equilibrium itself begins to fail.
Furthermore, as we have written previously, aging cannot be viewed as a smooth, uniform process for everyone. The body changes in distinct "leaps," with particularly noticeable turning points occurring around the ages of 44 and 60.
Analysis of a vast array of biological markers shows that these changes simultaneously affect metabolism, the immune and hormonal systems, and the body's ability to recover and respond to stress.
Immunity and the brain: Two age-control centers
Two systems set the pace of aging most significantly—the immune and nervous systems—since both permeate the entire body.
- Immunity is a distributed "surveillance" network in the blood, tissues, vessels, and gut. As long as it functions accurately, we don't notice it, but once it falters, the consequences become systemic.
- The nervous system is the control center, coordinating sleep, appetite, stress, and metabolism.
When these two systems start to fail, it is rarely a local problem—more often, it is a signal that the entire organism's resilience is eroding.
- A distinct threat is chronic inflammation: not an acute reaction to injury, but a silent background process that undermines tissues for years.
As we age, a background of minor damage accumulates—aging cells, cellular "debris," DNA errors—keeping the immune system in a state of constant high alert.
Paradoxical molecules and the temptation of simple solutions
The story of rapamycin is illustrative.
In a clinical setting, it suppresses the immune system during organ transplants, while in the lab, it has extended the lives of animals—leading it to be hailed as a leading candidate for a "longevity pill."
However, the high hopes for rapamycin as a universal geroprotector (substances or drugs that can potentially slow down the aging process — Ed.) have not yet been realized: animal results do not translate directly to humans, and the effect is too dependent on dosage and regimen. It has shifted from a hot favorite to a question for which science is still seeking an answer.
At the center of discussions is also the NAD molecule, the levels of which drop in certain tissues with age. This leads to the temptation to simply "replenish" it via supplements (NR, NMN) or IV drips.
But a cell is not a reservoir where a leak can simply be plugged with molecules—there is no guarantee they will help. Furthermore, the potential risks associated with such manipulations remain an open question.
Sirtuins are also closely linked to NAD. These regulatory proteins, often called "longevity switches," manage cellular stress responses, metabolism, and DNA repair. Their activity depends directly on NAD levels: as NAD drops, sirtuin function changes.
This role as a bridge between cellular energy and resilience has made sirtuins a central theme in aging science. However, they have been surrounded by massive commercial hype—supplements, "activators," and bold promises of "eternal" youth—which has led the topic to be more frequently associated with marketing than with science.
The general conclusion across all these examples is universal: the principle that one can simply "boost a single marker linked to aging and become healthier" almost never works.
The most ambitious frontier is the attempt to reverse age-related cellular changes through partial epigenetic reprogramming, returning cells to a more youthful state.
Animal experiments are encouraging: for instance, vision was restored in mice following optic nerve damage and in cases of glaucoma. In 2026, this approach reached human clinical trials for the first time.
However, this is still the early research stage; scientists must evaluate the safety of the method, including potential immune responses.
What to actually watch for: three takeaways from the Cannes Summit
- First—"background" longevity.
Smartwatches, rings, and sensors are transforming into a distributed clinic. The physician who learns to interpret this data will become a leader of the era.
- Second—drugs with the potential to impact age-related diseases.
These include new medications for lowering blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, as well as treatments for obesity and osteoporosis. Scientists are studying their potential impact on aging processes. A shelf full of hyped-up supplements lacking data to confirm real benefits simply cannot compete with them.
- Third—a standard complete blood count.
This is the most underrated test: RDW and NLR levels correlate with biological age and mortality risk.
In Kazakhstan, where cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, this virtually free tool is available at any clinic—from Almaty to regional centers.
Ten habits that can delay aging
While laboratories debate molecules, everyone has access to effective levers of change.
How a person treats their body in middle age (40–60 years) largely determines how they age.
1. Consistent sleep schedule
Sleep deprivation is linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. Consistency is paramount. The habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time is a more reliable predictor of longevity than sleep duration itself.
2. Proper breathing
We breathe automatically and almost always shallowly. Meanwhile, slow abdominal breathing—roughly six breaths per minute with an extended exhale—reduces stress levels, helps the nervous system switch to recovery mode, and gently conditions the heart and blood vessels.
A few minutes of mindful breathing per day, especially before sleep, costs nothing and acts as a built-in tranquilizer.
3. Interval training
Instead of 30 minutes of steady running, try 30 seconds of sprinting followed by 30 seconds of rest, repeated ten times. It takes less time but offers greater benefits: cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the best predictors of longevity.
4. Strength training
Strong muscles are linked to longevity and independence in old age, while weight training prompts muscles to release myokines, which suppress inflammation. You can start at any fitness level, gradually working your muscles to the point of noticeable fatigue.
5. Protein with every meal
Muscle loss begins as early as age 30 and accelerates after 60. Aim for 0.8–1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, distributed across all meals to ensure optimal absorption.
6. Stairs instead of the elevator
Taking about 7,000 steps a day significantly reduces the risk of death and age-related diseases. Walking instead of driving or parking further away—these steps add up and have a real impact on health.
7. Probiotic Foods
These nourish the microbiome, which is linked to immunity and inflammation control. Kazakhstanis don't have to look far: ayran, kurt, shubat, and kymyz are a national pharmacy for the gut, every bit as effective as trendy kimchi or kombucha.
8. Socializing as Wellness
Social connections are an underrated and perhaps essential "wellness procedure." Combine tasks with social time: take a walk, work out, or go grocery shopping together. In Kazakhstan's culture of feasts and large families, this resource is built into life and is worth preserving.
9. Vaccinations
Data suggests the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of dementia by about 20 percent; vaccines for the flu, pneumococcus, and tetanus are also beneficial. The advantage is that these are often one-time or long-term measures.
10. Family Medical History
Genetics matter: find out what illnesses your close relatives have had and discuss with a doctor how to manage these risks in advance—what signs to watch for and what steps to take if they appear.
Simplicity Wins
For many, longevity still feels like an elite club reserved for those attending summits in Cannes. However, it is not a closely guarded secret, but the sum of simple daily decisions.
The clearest confirmation of this was a personal conversation during the Cannes summit with Dr. Dawn Mussallem, an American oncologist and longevity medicine specialist.
She is one of the most powerful voices in this movement. A survivor of stage IV lymphoma and a heart transplant, she now completes marathons and broadcasts a simple truth: longevity is built on lifestyle medicine, not "hyped" experiments.
Humanity has never known so much about the biology of aging—and yet the picture is becoming more complex, not simpler.
Almost no molecule proves to be purely beneficial or harmful; every intervention carries both benefit and risk. Therefore, the most reliable tools remain sleep, movement, proper nutrition—and so on down the list.
Longevity medicine in Kazakhstan is moving in the same direction, where personalized nutrition projects and early prevention are turning the science of longevity into an accessible everyday practice.
The author’s views do not necessarily reflect the position of the editorial board.
