Bridging expectations and science: a roadmap for the future of longevity interventions

Abstract

The field of longevity interventions has witnessed rapid expansion, driven by scientific advancements alongside growing industry and consumer interest. However, no longevity intervention has yet been proven effective or ready for widespread clinical adoption. A substantial gap persists between public expectations and the current scientific realities. This article explores four key themes: (1) consumer priorities regarding longevity interventions, (2) the type and depth of scientific information they value, (3) psychological, financial, and practical barriers limiting adoption, and (4) potential strategies to overcome these challenges. Despite increasing enthusiasm, clinical translation of longevity research is constrained by the lack of validated interventions, regulatory frameworks, and standardized biomarkers. By distinguishing between scientifically supported and unproven approaches, this article proposes a roadmap outlining the critical milestones necessary to advance longevity interventions from research to clinical readiness. The goal is to realign public understanding with the current state of longevity science and guide future efforts toward safe and effective translation.

Keywords: Healthspan; Longevity intervention; Public perception; Roadmap; Translational science.

Fig. 1

Strategy Roadmap for Bridging the Gap Between Public Expectations and Scientific Realities in Longevity Interventions. The scheme of strategy roadmap for bridging gaps proposed in this work: promoting clinical application, regulation and policy development, reducing intervention costs, cross-sector collaboration, transparent scientific communication and global standardization of biomarkers