Aging is a reality we all face, but how we experience it is largely within our control. For the longest time, we’ve accepted that growing older means wrinkles, joint pain, chronic illness, and a general decline in quality of life. But today, science tells us otherwise. Aging isn’t just about how many birthdays we’ve had—it’s about how well we’ve taken care of our body at a cellular level.

At The Manila Times’ Innovative Keys to Universal Health conference, I had the privilege of sharing how a preventive, proactive approach can slow, and in some cases, even reverse the effects of aging. The future of healthcare isn’t just about treating disease—it’s about preventing it before it even starts.

Your biological age vs. your chronological age

We tend to measure aging by the number of years we’ve been alive, but that’s only part of the story. There’s another, more important factor: biological age. This refers to how fast—or slow—our cells, skin, and organs are aging based on lifestyle, environment, and genetics.

Have you ever met someone in their 50s who looks like they’re still in their 30s? Or someone in their 40s who already feels like they’re 60? The difference isn’t just luck. It’s the result of choices they’ve made throughout their life—the food they eat, the amount of sun exposure they’ve had, their stress levels, and whether they’ve prioritized health screenings.

Your skin tells the story of your health

As a dermatologist, I often say that the skin is a window to overall health. The way it ages—whether it’s sagging, dry, or developing pigmentation—can reveal what’s happening inside the body. One of the biggest culprits of premature aging is the exposome—a term used to describe the sum of all the external factors that contribute to skin aging, including:

• UV exposure (which accounts for 90 percent of visible aging!)
• Pollution and toxins
• Chronic stress
• Inflammatory foods (like sugar and processed foods)
• Smoking

A fascinating study on identical twins showed that just 10 extra hours of sun exposure per week resulted in an 11-year difference in perceived age between them. In another case, a twin who smoked for 40 years looked eight years older than their non-smoking sibling. This is proof that small, everyday choices have a massive impact on how we age.

Beyond sunscreen: DNA repair and cellular protection

Most people know that wearing sunscreen helps prevent premature aging, but skincare science has evolved far beyond that. New innovations in DNA repair and cellular protection are changing how we approach aging, focusing not just on prevention but also on reversing damage at the cellular level:

• Photolyase enzymes repair UV-induced DNA damage.
• Antioxidants like Fernblock increase skin resilience by four times.
• Roxisomes help cells recover from oxidative stress.

These advances mean we no longer have to simply “accept” aging—we can actively slow it down and repair the damage.

Aging beyond the skin: The body’s internal clock

Skin aging is just one part of the bigger picture. As we grow older, the most common health complaints I hear from my patients include:

• Fatigue and loss of muscle strength
• Joint pain and inflammation
• Memory lapses and brain fog
• Digestive issues like bloating and constipation
• Poor sleep and mood swings

While we often treat these as separate issues, they all share one root cause: chronic inflammation. This type of low-grade, ongoing inflammation is now known to be a major driver of diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s.

Instead of waiting until we develop these conditions, why not intervene early?

Why preventive medicine is the future

For decades, healthcare has been reactive—we wait for symptoms before seeing a doctor. But what if we could detect early warning signs years before illness sets in?

A simple HbA1c test, for example, can reveal insulin resistance long before diabetes develops. Inflammation markers like oxidized LDL and hsCRP can predict heart disease risk even if cholesterol levels seem “normal.” Yet, many traditional doctors don’t request these tests until a problem has already surfaced.

Imagine a world where routine check-ups included metabolic, inflammatory, and micronutrient tests—giving us a roadmap for disease prevention rather than just treatment. This is the future of functional medicine, and it’s the key to longevity.

What you eat and how you move matters

We often think of diet and exercise in terms of weight loss, but their role in aging and disease prevention is much bigger than that.

Nutrition for longevity:

• Cut down on sugar—it’s one of the most inflammatory substances we consume.
• Replace white rice with whole grains to maintain stable blood sugar.
• Choose healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, nuts) over processed oils.
• Eat vegetables and fruits in moderation—not all are equal in nutrient density.
• Drink mineral-rich water, not just purified or reverse osmosis water.
• Take Vitamin D, omega-3s, and probiotics to support cellular health.

Movement for longevity:

• Prioritize strength training—muscle mass protects against aging.
• Incorporate back and leg exercises to maintain mobility and prevent falls.
• Keep an active lifestyle beyond the gym—walking, stretching, and movement matter.

Aging isn’t just about avoiding wrinkles—it’s about staying strong, active, and mentally sharp for as long as possible.

The future: Regenerative and anti-aging medicine

One of the most exciting frontiers in aging science is stem cell therapy and Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)—a regenerative treatment that uses stem cells from fat tissue to repair and restore damaged organs, joints, and skin.

Stem cell therapy has already shown promising results in:

• Skin rejuvenation and wound healing
• Hair restoration
• Joint and muscle recovery
• Immune system modulation

This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about true cellular regeneration.

Why healthcare needs to change

Despite all the advancements in longevity science, there are still roadblocks:

• Many insurance companies only cover treatment, not prevention.
• Medical schools lack proper education in nutrition and functional medicine.
• Traditional healthcare focuses on symptoms, not root causes.

If we truly want universal health, we need to redefine what healthcare means—moving from a disease-based model to a proactive, wellness-first approach.

Final thoughts: We have more control than we think

Aging doesn’t have to mean decline. The choices we make today—what we eat, how we move, how we manage stress, and how we protect our skin and body—will determine how well we age.

The best part? It’s never too late to start. Small changes, done consistently, can have a huge impact on our longevity and quality of life.

Aging is inevitable—but how we age? That’s in our hands.