Latest news with #biohacking
ABC News
a day ago
- Health
- ABC News
Quest for agelessness drives longevity boom — and $2.5 trillion global industry
It's a characteristically chilly Melbourne winter morning and tech boss Tristan Sternson is starting the day by plunging into an ice bath. Just how icy? A bone-chilling 3 degrees Celsius — for 4 minutes. Next follows a "strict routine" of exercise, supplements, IV infusions and various treatments like saunas, cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy … all in his quest to feel better and live longer. "Things like cryotherapy, which is minus 165C in a cryotherapy chamber for three and a half minutes, which is quite extreme," he tells The Business from the longevity clinic he co-founded and where he partakes in many of the treatments. "I do red light in a full body machine where you lie down. Kind of like a cocoon. "Red light [is also good] for your hair to make sure your hair doesn't thin as you get older." Mr Sternson admits his wellness club, Super Young, is more of a passion project than anything. "My wife will call it an obsession," he said. Mr Sternson is 45 but says he has a "biological age" of 34 — a metric used by those in the longevity space based on a series of tests. He tracks 65 different markers via blood tests and completes a range of what he calls more "extreme" treatments every few months, some of which he flies to the US for as they are not available in Australia: Super Young is one of many health and wellness businesses vying for a slice of what consulting firm McKinsey says is a $2.5 trillion global consumer wellness industry. It's driven by a growing demand from (often wealthy) individuals to measure and optimise personal health — and a willingness to pay big bucks to do so. The "preventative wellness" or longevity movement's signature alternative health practices have been popularised by US figures including biohackers Bryan Johnson, Peter Attia and even socialite Paris Hilton. It grew in the wellness heartland of Los Angeles and has since spread to Australia. The growing popularity of ice baths and infrared saunas Down Under has made them a more common sight in gyms and spas in the wealthier enclaves of many cities. The explosion of an industry full of alternative health practices has been met with scepticism by some in mainstream medical fields. "I think the evidence base for a lot of them is minimal and, where there is evidence, it's often for particular parts of the population and not for the general population," the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Michael Wright, tells The Business. For those who want to dip their toes in the longevity pool, Dr Wright advises a healthy dose of scepticism and careful thought before doing extra tests or investigations clinics might offer. "I often talk to patients when they are talking about these tests and ask them, 'What's the cost of this?' and, 'Who is most likely to benefit? Is it you or is it the person who is selling the test?'" He notes the principle in medicine of "first, do no harm" and questions whether the extensive blood work and diagnostic tests often associated with longevity screening and measurement fit that bill. "Potentially, if you're investigating unnecessarily, you're putting people through stress and also economic impacts if the tests are unnecessary and that's something we should try and avoid," he said. But Mr Sternson says the treatments at his wellness hub are backed by evidence and there is strong demand from consumers willing to pay for detailed analysis of their health and personalised programs. "Each machine or each protocol that we have, every supplement that we offer, will have some research back behind it," he argues. But he does acknowledge the difficulty of establishing evidence given "you haven't had anyone live to 150 that's gone through these sorts of protocols". Another Australian company riding the trillion-dollar wellness wave is high-profile startup Eucalyptus, which launched a longevity app for men last year. They pulled the pin soon after, with the pricey subscription fee a major factor, but are hoping to relaunch in Australia next year at a lower cost with more automation. "What we learnt was that patients really had a curiosity about their own diagnostics, were really keen to make behavioural change," Eucalyptus chief executive and co-founder Tim Doyle explains in an interview with ABC News. The company, which is backed by Woolworths and Blackbird, runs a suite of health platforms and has grown rapidly — largely thanks to the rise of its weight-loss service, which enables users to access drugs like Ozempic via a telehealth app. Mr Doyle says Eucalyptus's digital platform made the experience of prescribing the drugs to patients seamless. "People are seeking convenience, quality of care, in a way that suits their lifestyle and so I think what we've been able to tap into is the evolving trends there," he said. Ozempic and similar prescription weight-loss drugs shot to prominence over the past few years and Eucalyptus has become a major player in the weight-loss market thanks to its provision of those drugs. "I think we're an evolution of where health care will definitely go," Mr Doyle said. Mr Doyle said more than 100,000 customers globally had accessed the weight-loss drugs through the company. "I think ultimately these medications are going to change the world for the better," he asserts. "We provide a set of services that give you the best chance of hitting your weight-loss goal and maintaining weight loss and I think the reality is that for most patients that are suffering with obesity, there are serious health considerations for that." However, medical bodies have been critical of the app's online prescription model for pharmaceuticals. "We do have to be really careful of other providers who are potentially fragmenting care, because it's important that whoever else you see in the health system that they confirm and share information with your usual GP," the RACGP's Dr Wright said. "There's no substitute for the quality of care that you get from a GP who knows you and your history. So although these other services are available, they don't replace what you should get and what you can get from your GP. "I think that's a fair criticism," Mr Doyle acknowledges, though he notes that "a lot of patients don't have a regular relationship with a standard GP that they live their whole lives with. Like Eucalyptus, Super Young's co-founder said they were not trying to compete with established medicine but offer something different, without adding an extra burden or cost to publicly funded healthcare. "We're kind of an adjunct. We help out and we can kind of take the strain off it a little bit, because you can help people prevent certain illnesses," Mr Sternson says. "I don't think we're disrupting the current healthcare system … the current healthcare system is really, really good when you're sick. He says the industry can cater for well individuals willing to pay money for testing privately to optimise their health, rather than go through Medicare. "Our medical system can't support every single person that comes through and says, 'Hey, I'm feeling 100 per cent well, can you test all my blood markers so I make sure I don't drop off to 90 per cent next week?" he says. "Doctors just don't have the capacity and time for that locally in Australia and fair enough — that's probably an area where longevity has really come into it."
WIRED
a day ago
- Health
- WIRED
Breathwork, Biohacking, and Cryotherapy: New Buzzwords for Modern Business Travelers
Aug 6, 2025 11:02 AM A new wave of luxury wellness facilities are catering to travelers looking to maintaining their health goals alongside high-powered schedules. Peptide cocktails, plasma exchange therapy, infrared sauna sessions, and methylene blue drips. These are just a few of the biohacks that keep Peter Phillips feeling invincible. For the past three years, the 53-year-old tech executive has worked with doctors at Extension Health, a longevity clinic in New York City, to craft a blueprint to help him combat the declines that come with age. 'I'm on the cusp of immortality,' he says. Every six weeks, he pops into the clinic for a full body reboot that typically includes a nervous system reset and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Even when on the road, Phillips fastidiously seeks out biohacking lounges and hotels that offer recovery modalities like IV drips and red-light therapy. Recovery and performance used to be reserved for retreats, but high-performing business executives can't always afford to catch up later. Today, it's not unusual for CEOs to fly from NYC to Dubai or Bangkok for 48 or even 24 hours. Looking for an extra edge, frequent business travelers are turning to therapies used by professional athletes to maintain peak mental and physical health while balancing demanding work schedules. This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel , a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip. When you're constantly on the go—changing time zones, eating inconsistently, navigating long workdays, and adapting to new environments—your body is in a near-constant state of stress, says Dr. Jonathan Leary, founder of Remedy Place, a social wellness club with locations in New York, Boston, and Hollywood. Today's executives aren't interested in traditional spa therapies. They gravitate toward evidence-based interventions, such as circadian rhythm realignment, heart rate variability-guided recovery protocols, and metabolic optimization programs that deliver measurable performance outcomes. These aren't just long-term investments in your health, they're powerful tools for restoring balance, reducing inflammation, supporting immunity, and improving sleep and recovery in real time, says Dr. Leary. A new wave of luxury wellness facilities and bleisure trips now cater to business travelers who are obsessed with maintaining their health goals alongside high-powered schedules that take them all over the globe. 'Business travel isn't just about surviving jet lag anymore,' says Dave Asprey, founder of Upgrade Labs, a chain of biohacking facilities in North America. 'It's not about bouncing back; it's about staying ahead. Recovery is no longer a luxury, it's a strategy.' Chip Conley, the 64-year-old founder of the Modern Elder Academy in New Mexico seeks out cryotherapy whenever he's on the road. As little as five minutes in these chambers with temperatures as low as -220 degrees Fahrenheit can provide an endorphin boost and help reduce inflammation, according to studies. 'It restores me to a place of revitalization in a matter of minutes,' he says. Rustan Panday, a 56-year-old chairman of a publishing company in Stockholm says he finds cryotherapy and infrared sauna sessions more restorative than a workout. He belongs to V Social Club, a members-only longevity center in Stockholm, and visits three times a week. Cellgym, a device that purportedly facilitates anti-aging by enhancing the function of mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, is his go-to therapy. 'I feel so happy and alive after a session,' he says. When he's on business in New York, he books ahead at Remedy Place so he can replicate his routine. Hotels are also attracting business executives with longevity-focused programs and amenities. 'More people are looking for places they can work, relax, and get a dose of wellness, whether that's a workout or a restorative spa treatment,' says Tammy Pahel, Vice President of Spa and Wellness Operations at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. Busy professionals now expect to recharge between meetings at the resort's 70,000 square-foot-spa for a 30-minute quantum harmonic sound therapy session, which helps reduce stress and sharpens mental focus, and sleep through the night on. And the resort's AI-powered Bryte Smart beds, which have been shown to support sleep efficiency and combat jet lag. Equinox Hotel in New York is the epitome of bleisure. The flagship property from the uber exclusive fitness club seamlessly integrates health, sleep, work, indulgence, and relaxation into the guest experience. Around 35% percent of guests are business travelers, who book not just for the 60,000 square-foot gym, but also the proprietary in-room sleep systems that create the optimal environment for solid Zzzzs and biohacking spa therapies. The Estate, a new longevity-driven hospitality brand from hotelier Sam Nazarian and life coach Tony Robbins, takes things one-step further, providing access to extensive diagnostic testing, including full-body MRIs and telehealth consultations. The first outpost is slated to open in Los Angeles by the end of 2025. Kenneth Ryan, the Estate's chief longevity officer, anticipates more than 20% of guests and members will be high-frequency business travelers. 'We're reinventing the way they live on the road,' he says. 'Wellness isn't just an amenity; it's embedded in the infrastructure. You'll have direct access to physiotherapists, professional trainers, and lead massage therapists.' Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, a pioneer in the wellness space, is also evolving to accommodate the new bleisure traveler. In 2022, Six Senses opened an outpost of London-based longevity clinic RoseBar within its boho-chic Ibiza property. The partnership was such a success that the brand is expanding its regenerative wellness clinic partnerships across its portfolio, including its forthcoming properties in Tel Aviv and Dubai. 'Business travel has become a strategic component of executive wellness routines rather than a disruption to them,' says Anna Bjurstam, the brand's head of wellness. This demographic is pursuing '360- degree wellness escapes' that integrate performance optimization into their professional obligations, she says. The brand's most-requested services from business travelers now include comprehensive biometric tracking and optimization consultations, sleep enhancement programs, and stress-resilience training incorporating sound baths, breathwork, and mediation, says Bjurstam. Six Senses Place London embodies this evolution. When it opens later this year, it will house a medical longevity clinic and offer AI-driven health analytics, performance nutrition counseling, and every imaginable biohack. Experts are still undecided whether these cutting-edge therapies will actually extend lifespan. But for travelers like Conley, the point is more about feeling good when he's on the go. 'Travel wears you out,' he says. 'Now, there are so many options for replenishment no matter what city or timezone you're in.'
Condé Nast Traveler
a day ago
- Health
- Condé Nast Traveler
Breathwork, Biohacking, and Cryotherapy: New Buzzwords for Modern Business Travelers
This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip. Peptide cocktails, plasma exchange therapy, infrared sauna sessions, and methylene blue drips. These are just a few of the biohacks that keep Peter Phillips feeling invincible. For the past three years, the 53-year-old tech executive has worked with doctors at Extension Health, a longevity clinic in New York City, to craft a blueprint to help him combat the declines that come with age. 'I'm on the cusp of immortality,' he says. Every six weeks, he pops into the clinic for a full body reboot that typically includes a nervous system reset and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Even when on the road, Phillips fastidiously seeks out biohacking lounges and hotels that offer recovery modalities like IV drips and red-light therapy. Recovery and performance used to be reserved for retreats, but high-performing business executives can't always afford to catch up later. Today, it's not unusual for CEOs to fly from NYC to Dubai or Bangkok for 48 or even 24 hours. Looking for an extra edge, frequent business travelers are turning to therapies used by professional athletes to maintain peak mental and physical health while balancing demanding work schedules. When you're constantly on the go—changing time zones, eating inconsistently, navigating long workdays, and adapting to new environments—your body is in a near-constant state of stress, says Dr. Jonathan Leary, founder of Remedy Place, a social wellness club with locations in New York, Boston, and Hollywood. Today's executives aren't interested in traditional spa therapies. They gravitate toward evidence-based interventions, such as circadian rhythm realignment, heart rate variability-guided recovery protocols, and metabolic optimization programs that deliver measurable performance outcomes. These aren't just long-term investments in your health, they're powerful tools for restoring balance, reducing inflammation, supporting immunity, and improving sleep and recovery in real time, says Dr. Leary.
Zawya
a day ago
- Health
- Zawya
Three-Day Longevity & Wellness Summit set to transform health innovation landscape in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia /PRNewswire/ -- Zenos Health, the premium wellness and longevity company founded by brothers Mazen and Marwan Karnaby, today announced the first inaugural Zenos Wellness Summit, taking place October 23-25, 2025, at the iconic Bab Samhan Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The groundbreaking three-day summit represents the Middle East's first comprehensive gathering focused on longevity science, biohacking, and integrative medicine, bringing together global pioneers, researchers, and wellness experts under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 health innovation initiative. The summit will feature an impressive roster of international health and longevity experts, including: Dr. Mark Hyman – Functional Medicine Physician Gary Brecka – Human Biologist & Longevity Expert Dr. Amy Shah – Specializing in Gut-Brain Science Dr. Sara Al Madani – Award-Winning Serial Entrepreneur & Wellness Expert Tim Gray – Europe's Leading Biohacker Courtney Swan, MS – Integrative Nutritionist Cynthia Thurlow, NP – Hormonal Health Specialist Dr. Vonda Wright – Orthopedic Surgeon & Aging Expert Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy – Integrative Oncology Pioneer Dr. Angie Kassabie – Elite Nutritionist Dr. Shawana Vali – Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr. Carrie Jones – A Naturopathic Physician, Board-certified in Endocrinology Mary Christine – Longevity Nutritionist Additional speakers from the United States, United Kingdom, and Middle East will explore cutting-edge topics including biohacking and longevity, functional and precision medicine, nutritional science, AI-powered diagnostics, and emotional well-being optimization. In addition to traditional conference programming, each evening will transform into immersive cultural and entertainment experiences set against Saudi Arabia's stunning desert landscape, featuring themed nights that blend local Saudi culture, international artistry, and cutting-edge performances in a vibrant supper-club atmosphere. "The future belongs to those who lead their evolution – mind, body, and performance," said Mazen and Marwan Karnaby, founders of Zenos Health. "Longevity isn't a trend, it's a responsibility. Zenos Health Summit is where those who are serious about changing the game come to rise." Three access levels are available to accommodate different audiences: Diamond Pass ($5,997 USD) - Premier all-access VIP experience with full speaker sessions, premium hospitality, priority seating, wellness programming access, VIP hotel rates, and dedicated concierge service Platinum Pass ($3,500 USD) - Daytime-only access including keynote speakers, panels, breakout sessions, and exhibitor hall Golden Pass ($3,500 USD) - Evening-focused experience for cultural enthusiasts featuring signature programming, wellness workshops, and premium hospitality About Zenos Health Founded by brothers Mazen and Marwan Karnaby, Zenos Health stands at the forefront of the wellness industry, delivering premium, science-backed supplements meticulously formulated in advanced, registered facilities in the United States. The company's mission is to empower individuals to take control of their health and unlock their fullest potential through clean, innovative, and highly effective solutions for optimal living.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Hemsworth questions 'cost' of extreme biohacking as he opens up about Alzheimer's risk
The Thor star, 41, says there is a 'fine line' between trying to live forever and enjoying life for as long as possible. Chris Hemsworth has spoken out against turning to extreme methods to live longer, as he reflects on his own journey with ageing and wellness. The Thor star, 41, discovered in 2022 that he is at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, following a gene test that revealed he has two copies of the APOE4 gene. The result arrived while he was filming the first season of Limitless, a National Geographic series in which he explored ways to age well and improve longevity. Speaking to the BBC, Hemsworth said that while the discovery prompted him to take better care of his health, he has "no interest to explore" the world of biohacking. Biohacking refers to a range of experimental approaches to "hack" human biology in order to improve health and wellness. The practice can involve small changes like dietary adjustments or using wearable technology, to the more extreme interventions of using technology or drugs to alter bodily functions. In recent years, American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson shot to fame for his biohacking interventions, which include spending millions of dollars on treatments, tests and scans, and taking numerous supplements and pills every single day. The 47-year-old claims he is trying to reverse ageing and wants to extend his lifespan. He documented his attempts and his anti-ageing regimen in the 2020 Netflix documentary Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever. But Hemsworth questioned whether it was worth committing to a life of "isolation" in order to extend one's lifespan, adding that while he plans to "put energy into health and wellness", he also wants to enjoy everything life has to offer. "You want to live a longer and better life, but at what cost? You could have your exact routine, but there's no point doing all of that if you're isolated and lonely at home," he said. He added that his own approach to longevity was to keep an open mind to how "different pieces of science resonate at different times in your life". Hemsworth also commented on the idea of living forever, and he doubted that anyone would ever be able to figure out how to cheat death. "Suffering comes from denial of our inevitability of death – we all have an expiration [date]," he said. "If you were told you had 200 years guaranteed, you'd become more complacent and reckless. "The idea that life can be taken away at any second is a beautiful reminder to appreciate every moment." Hemsworth's increased Alzheimer's risk The Australian actor previously revealed what a "shock" it was to receive the "intense" news about his risk of developing Alzheimer's due to his genetic make-up. He told Men's Health of the changes he made to improve and protect his health after the discovery, including reducing the amount of exercise he does. The move came as a surprise to fans, as Hemsworth is known for his muscular stature particularly in his role as Thor, but he explained that he felt it was important to "make time for stillness". Instead of the intense body-building exercises he was accustomed to, Hemsworth said he was "lifting less frequently", opting instead for "more cardio and endurance workouts". He also told the outlet that he is sleeping more regularly and having ice baths. Hemsworth appears in the forthcoming second series of Limitless: Live Better Now, which will be available to stream on Disney+ from 15 August. He lives in Byron Bay, with his wife, actress Elsa Pataky, and their three children, daughter India Rose Hemsworth and twin boys Sasha and Tristan Hemsworth. Read more about ageing and longevity: 8 ways to boost longevity and reduce 'inflamm-ageing', according to a doctor (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) Four lifestyle habits that might just help you live to 100 (The Conversation, 5-min read) The healthiest agers followed this diet, according to a sweeping 30 year longevity study (Fortune, 3-min read)
