“Aging is not the enemy, but an intrinsic program of life. Our goal is to understand it and adjust it wisely.” This forward-thinking view, presented at the recent “Technology Empowering the Future of Health” forum, sparked widespread discussion for challenging traditional concepts of anti-aging.
As health becomes a fundamental need, and as the idea of “not only living longer but living better” gains consensus, how should we approach aging scientifically? This forum—bringing together academicians, scholars, and industry leaders from around the world—offered cutting-edge answers from the perspective of integrating technology with industry.
“We often talk about ‘fighting aging,’ but the idea of ‘fighting’ may itself be a misconception.” A Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine pointed out in his remarks that aging is essentially a “genomic spatiotemporal developmental program” initiated at the beginning of life, much like a seed destined to break through the soil, grow, and eventually wither—an irreversible process.
But humans are not powerless. “What sets us apart from other species is that we possess a powerful regulator—our brain.” The academician explained that active cognitive engagement can interfere with the operation of “clock genes” that drive aging. “Exercising the brain is itself one of the most effective forms of maintenance.”
This perspective opens a new pathway for anti-aging: shifting from a forceful “fight” against aging to a thoughtful “dialogue” with the body’s internal programs.
So how do we “dialogue” with the body? The scientific community has long discovered that the human body contains powerful self-repair capabilities, and the keys to activating them lie in our daily habits.
High-intensity exercise: Short bursts of high-intensity activity strongly stimulate the release of internal factors related to repair.
Deep sleep: During deep sleep, the brain and body undergo an efficient “clean-up” and renewal process.
Moderate hunger: Feeling moderately hungry between meals can trigger cellular self-cleaning (autophagy) and send repair signals.
However, what we understand is often difficult to practice. Several experts at the forum noted that modern lifestyles contradict these three principles: little time to exercise, difficulty achieving deep sleep, and rarely experiencing hunger. This creates a significant market demand: is there a way for people to conveniently gain the benefits brought by these healthy states?
At the forum, the academician shared his team’s two-decade research journey. They found that “ghrelin,” the hormone secreted by the stomach during hunger, acts like a key that flows through the bloodstream to the pituitary gland and unlocks the “GH-N gene,” which governs our vitality.
But as we age, this “lock” begins to “rust” (gene promoter methylation), becoming less responsive to signals.
“Therefore, our research focus has shifted from ‘external supplementation’ to ‘internal activation.’” The academician explained that the team ultimately stopped focusing on directly supplying substances and instead devoted themselves to identifying components that can safely mimic natural signals (such as ghrelin) to remind the body: it is time to activate your innate maintenance mechanisms. He revealed that the sixth-generation product developed based on this principle can stimulate vitality to a level comparable to running five kilometers a day.
Anti-aging is not only a scientific challenge but also an industrial one. At this forum, the Qianqingyuan brand held its launch ceremony. Chen Yaozong, chairman of Qianqingyuan, stated that as a biotechnology company driven by genomic science, its core philosophy is to “decode the language of genes” and translate cutting-edge scientific findings into accessible health solutions for the public.
Aging is an inevitable part of life, yet humanity has never stopped exploring how to move through this journey more gracefully. The meaning of technology may not lie in reversing time, but in illuminating the path of life and enhancing the quality of every moment.
