SLEEP & LONGEVITY
SLEEP & LONGEVITY
specifically by looking at a number of markers present in their DNA. The results will tell us more about patients’ genetic heritage and their lifestyle. In some cases, there can be a difference of up to fifteen years between the resulting age and their age in real years. However, it’s important to note that this ‘age’ is not a life sentence; the fact is that behavioural changes can affect these markers. We provide patients with a review of the risks they face; they and their practitioner can then work on these together. Our approach actually offers plenty of hope. Yes, but not directly. Our solutions have been developed mainly for healthcare professionals, doctors’ surgeries and clinics specialising in preventive medicine and longevity that focus on improving physical health, diet and stress management. They prescribe tests for their patients and then work with them in the light of the results; the role of our laboratory is to analyse the data. Anyone interested in our tests can contact us to find out which practitioner or institution they should approach. Are your tests accessible to the general public ? It’s a rapidly-expanding field. We’ve had a lot more requests in recent months. Why is that ? There are many different reasons. Partly, there’s increased awareness in the wake of Covid; indeed, the pandemic revealed that some people’s lifestyles put them more at risk of mortality from the disease. Another factor is that in countries with quite a good health system, patients live longer but don’t necessarily enjoy the best possible health and wellbeing. Diet, exercise and alcohol intake all play a role in that, as does chronic stress, which can have an effect on longevity. Is there a lot of demand for these tests ?
To understand how the test developed by Genkowme SA works, food critic Knut Schwander (61), who is to be found four or five times a week in the best restaurants in French-speaking Switzerland after his working day, tried it out for himself. He visited MedIn Vita Clinic in central Geneva, where Dr Stefania Ubaldi agreed to subject him to two tests, one investigating epigenetic stress and one examining longevity and lifestyle – and then give him the results. To his surprise, the outcome was not exactly what he’d hoped for. “I suddenly discovered I was almost fourteen years older than I’d thought”
Sébastien Nusslé is an expert in biostatistics and evolutionary biology and the co-founder of Genknowme.
Are you saying that it’s possible to die from chronic stress ? When we’re stressed, our bodies release stress hormones. This neuroendocrine process releases substances that impact our organs, with physiological effects; that’s a natural defence mechanism. However, if things don’t go back to normal, this stress becomes chronic, leading to long-term physiological changes that in some cases may have significant effects on longevity and chronic diseases. The impact of these reactions can be measured, and the effects mitigated accordingly. Is sleep important in all this ? Of course; sleep management forms part of our health review; sleep is also one of the factors that can increase our biological age. Here too, lifestyle and of course bed systems can have an impact. Unfortunately, we don’t yet have enough data to study all the related causes and understand them more fully. That said, we do hope to develop an epigenetic test for sleep once we have more reliable research in this field. With that in mind, we’re very open to setting up partnerships to support the development of this innovative project.
genknowme.com Genknowme S.A. Bat. Alanine / Startlab Rte de la Corniche 5 1066 Epalinges Switzerland
I have a dream job. For over twenty-five years, I’ve been in charge of a prestigious good food guide covering French- speaking Switzerland. After a day’s work managing my team, writing, proof-reading, and answering readers’ correspondence, I travel the region between Delémont and Grimentz from one gourmet address to another several times a week. Of course I do other things at well, but most of my time really is spent at the dining table or in my own kitchen, and it really is a dream job. It does however require a certain discipline to avoid ending up looking like the Michelin man – not least because he’s the mascot of a competing good food guide, but also because it’s important to pay attention to one’s health. I do try to do that, but apparently not well enough.
Before I reveal the results of my tests (a real slap in the face for me) I need to tell you a little more about my everyday life. I’m 61, weigh 80kg and am 1.78m tall. I take medication for excess cholesterol (a hereditary condition) and when I’m not in a restaurant, my kitchen or my office, I do gardening, run, and walk an annual average of 12,380 steps a day (6.5km). Full disclosure: I always start my day at 6.15am with a quarter of an hour of floor exercises and every week, I have a one-hour Pilates session. In summer, I go down to Lake Geneva three times a week and swim for 20 minutes. And when I find the time, I play golf (albeit very badly). As to sleep, my Oura ring tells me that on average, I sleep 6 hours 14 minutes a night. When it comes to stress management, six months ago I handed over several of my responsibilities to decrease my workload
“As well as easing back on a lifestyle that’s rather too hectic, perhaps I need to get myself an Elite bed to make sure of getting restorative sleep...”
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