S'pore forges ahead in science and business of longevity

A team from NUS advances in a contest to reverse ageing, while a commercial hub with a focus on longevity health and wellness is in the works

- Akshita Nanda

Want to live longer, healthier and reverse the effects of ageing? Singapore could be the right place to be as the science and business of longevity medicine pick up here.

Earlier in May, a team from the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity reached the semi-finals of the US$101 million (S$131 million) XPrize Healthspan, a global competition for accessible therapeutic solutions to reverse the effects of ageing.

The researchers from the academy at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine have received US$250,000 to further their work on restoring muscle, cognition and immune function in 50- to 80-year-olds. Their study is titled Prometheus (for Precision gerOMedicine: Tailored Healthy Ageing with lifestyle, supplements and drugs).

They will soon embark on a feasibility study of 20 participants, who will get sleep and dietary recommendations; supervised exercise with cognitive training; and take supplements of soya protein, creatine and fucoidan (a chemical found in brown algae).

Creatine is used to increase muscle bulk, while some studies have shown that fucoidan has anti-inflammatory properties.

Team lead Andrea Maier tells The Straits Times that the results of the study will inform a larger, 12-month trial for the XPrize Healthspan finals.