Curious about how long you’ll live? This doctor breaks down the five biggest factors you should keep an eye on

While you can't predict precisely when you'll die, Australian doctors say you can dramatically influence how well you'll live—and potentially add decades to your healthspan.

Dr Adam Brown, founder of Sydney's Longevity Medicine Institute, recently appeared on the In Your Skin podcast to explain why your biological age matters far more than the number on your driver's licence.

His message is particularly relevant for Australians over 60, as new government data shows we're making significant strides in preventing the health conditions that once claimed lives much earlier.

The encouraging news about Australian health

The latest figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare paint a surprisingly optimistic picture.

In 2023-24, over 199,000 Heart Health Checks were processed by Medicare, with the highest numbers among people aged 55-64 (61,000) and 65-74 (53,200). This suggests Australians are increasingly taking charge of their health before problems develop.

Even more encouraging: while cardiovascular disease remains significant, Australians lost an estimated 685,000 years of healthy life due to all forms of cardiovascular disease in 2024- a figure that, while substantial, represents decades of improvement in prevention and treatment.

The five health risks that age you fastest

Dr Brown identifies five primary conditions that can rapidly accelerate biological ageing—but emphasises that most are highly preventable with early intervention.

Cardiovascular disease: Australia's most significant health challenge

More than 590,000 Australians currently live with coronary heart disease, making it our most significant health concern. Coronary heart disease was the leading single cause of disease burden for males, and the seventh leading single cause for females in 2024.

The silent nature of heart disease makes it particularly dangerous. Many people feel perfectly well while arterial plaque builds up undetected. However, high blood pressure was the single most common condition recorded by GPs in a recent survey (six per cent of patients), indicating that many Australians are already managing cardiovascular risk factors.

Type 2 diabetes: The metabolic accelerator

Type 2 diabetes doesn't just affect blood sugar—it accelerates ageing throughout the body by damaging blood vessels and increasing inflammation. Dr Brown emphasises that this condition is lifestyle-driven and highly preventable through dietary changes and regular physical activity.

Neurodegenerative diseases: Protecting your brain

Dr Brown reveals that heart and brain health are intimately connected. 'The same vascular and inflammatory processes that affect the heart also impact the brain,' he explains. What protects your cardiovascular system—glucose control, healthy cholesterol levels, good sleep, and regular exercise—also preserves cognitive function and reduces the risk of dementia.

Checking vital organs and functions could also work as a wake-up call for Aussies who are looking after their health. Image Credit: Pexels/Antoni Shkraba Studio

Cancer: Early detection changes everything

While cancer risk increases with age, many forms are highly treatable when caught early. The key is maintaining regular screening schedules and being vigilant for any changes in your body.

Muscle and bone loss: The foundation of independence

Sarcopenia (muscle loss) and osteoporosis (bone thinning) might seem less dramatic than heart disease or cancer, but they're often what ultimately rob people of independence. Dr Brown notes these conditions are 'highly modifiable' through resistance training and proper nutrition.

Why biological age matters more than chronological age

Traditional medicine waits for symptoms to appear, but Dr Brown advocates for 'Medicine 3.0' - using advanced testing to measure biological age through thousands of biomarkers and imaging results. This approach can 'quite accurately estimate a person's biological age and the rate at which they're ageing internally,' he says.

At his Sydney clinic, patients undergo comprehensive assessments including full-body MRI scans, cognitive testing, gut microbiome analysis, and hormonal mapping. While this level of testing isn't yet widely available through the public system, the principles can be applied using standard pathology tests available through Medicare.

Data-driven prevention: What you can measure

Dr Brown's approach centres on three pillars: knowing your data, reducing inflammation, and maintaining metabolic fitness. For Australian seniors, this translates to making the most of available health services:

Essential measurements to track:

• Blood pressure (should be under 140/90, ideally under 130/80)

• Cholesterol levels (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides)

• Blood glucose and HbA1c levels—Body composition rather than just weight—Bone density (DEXA scans available on Medicare with referral)

Inflammation markers to discuss with your GP:

• C-reactive protein (CRP)

• Inflammatory markers in routine blood tests—Waist circumference (a key indicator of metabolic health)

The lifestyle medicine revolution

What makes Dr Brown's approach particularly relevant for seniors is the emphasis on lifestyle factors that remain modifiable at any age. Recent research shows that even people in their 70s and 80s can significantly reduce their biological age through targeted interventions.

While Dr Brown's comprehensive testing represents the cutting edge of preventive medicine, many principles can be applied using standard healthcare.

Despite the focus on health risks, the bigger picture is encouraging. Australians are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. The key is ensuring that those extra years are active and independent ones.

Dr Brown's message resonates particularly well with the Australian approach to ageing: practical, no-nonsense, and focused on maintaining quality of life. 'Prevention relies on three pillars: knowing your data, reducing inflammation, and maintaining metabolic fitness,' he explains.

For Australians over 60, this translates to taking advantage of our excellent preventive healthcare system while maintaining the lifestyle factors that keep us biologically younger than our years suggest.

The most empowering aspect of Dr Brown's research is that it's never too late to start. Whether you're 60 or 80, targeted lifestyle interventions can slow, stop, or even reverse aspects of biological ageing.

What's your biological age compared to your chronological one? Have you taken advantage of Medicare's Heart Health Check, or are you considering more comprehensive health testing? Share your thoughts and experiences with preventive health—your insights might inspire other members to take that crucial first step toward healthier ageing.