In a monumental step, Singapore’s National University Health System (NUHS), NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and Alexandra Hospital (AH) have launched the world’s first Healthy Longevity Clinic under public healthcare.Â
Situated at Alexandra Hospital, the clinic utilises cutting-edge science to extend health span and improve resilience.
Clinical Assistant Professor Laureen Wang, Director of AH’s Healthy Longevity Clinic, leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to this innovative approach. The clinic aims to extend the health span of Singaporeans by three years within the next decade. Professor Andrea Maier, an authority in internal medicine and ageing, provides expert counsel from the Centre for Healthy Longevity (CHL).
Transformative Approach to Healthcare
The clinic melds scientific research with real-world applications. It offers personalised health assessments employing various novel techniques, including arterial stiffness measurements and epigenetic analyses. The clinic’s healthcare team, comprising physicians, nurses, allied health experts, and health coaches, designs tailored health plans that include lifestyle changes, medical interventions, and targeted therapies.
Moreover, this clinic provides individuals with rare chances to contribute to groundbreaking research via clinical trials on supplements and repurposed drugs. On August 31, 2023, 100 special guests, including Dr Shyam Bishen from the World Economic Forum and Professor Kenneth Mak, Singapore’s Director-General of Health, endorsed the clinic’s transformative potential.
Comprehensive Assessments for Lifelong Well-being
Upon your first visit, a thorough evaluation of your current health and lifestyle is undertaken. Your personal care plan is devised, with follow-up assessments scheduled between 6 to 12 months to gauge progress.
Cutting-edge Diagnostic Tests
The Healthy Longevity Clinic offers a range of innovative tests:
- Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA): Measures body composition to assess body fat and muscle mass.
- Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET): Evaluates physiological performance in real-time during exercise.
- Carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity: Gauges arterial stiffness and, thus, the biological age of your blood vessels.
- Skin Autofluorescence Test: Estimates biological age by measuring the level of Advanced Glycation End products in the skin.
- Cardioscan Service: Provides continuous multi-day recording of heart rhythm.
- BMD Full Body Scan: Utilises Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for comprehensive body composition analysis.
Who Can Benefit?
The clinic welcomes individuals who are:
- Over 35 years old with no chronic disease
- Between 35 to 70 years old with one stable chronic disease
A Step Towards Cost-Effectiveness
The clinic also aims to establish the cost-effectiveness of this innovative healthcare model. A multidisciplinary team will ensure that the individual stays on track with their health plans, thus optimising the service’s efficiency.
Concluding Thoughts
Finally, this pioneering clinic in Singapore opens new vistas in the public healthcare domain. By targeting biological ageing, it not only aims to extend life but to enhance its quality. Consequently, this is a significant stride towards revolutionising healthcare in Asia.
Photo: Clinical Assistant Professor Laureen Wang (second from right), Director of AH’s Healthy Longevity Clinic, world’s first in a public hospital. She is joined by members of her multidisciplinary team from the new clinic.
Photo credit: Alexandra Hospital
