From epigenetics to reverse ageing, Switzerland’s exclusive Clinique La Prairie gives a taste of the future of wellness. Jenny Southan reports
According to a survey of 500 high-net-worth British people (commissioned by Clinique La Prairie (CLP) and conducted by Censuswide in March 2021), 92 per cent of respondents are vowing to take better care of their health and wellbeing post-pandemic.
At the same time, 68 per cent of wealthy Brits believe that a large proporition of people born in the 2010s will live to be over 100 years old.
As a consequence, CLP says it is seeing an increased demand for highly personalised, preventative healthcare, that places a “laser focus” on the link between the body’s health and the mind’s wellbeing.
Simone Gibertoni, CEO Clinique La Prairie, says: “It is clear that the pandemic has well and truly made us prioritise our health, which is driving the industry to innovate and push the boundaries of medicine and science this year more than ever before.
“Consumers are looking for highly personalised, meaningful and preventative healthcare, that take a holistic approach and bring together the body’s health and mind’s wellbeing.
“Clinique La Prairie is the first clinic to base its philosophy of wellness and longevity on a holistic approach and has always been committed to leading the way in scientific research and innovation to benefit our health and help us to live longer and better lives.
“With 90 years of expertise behind us, our world-renowned experts are leading the way in understanding how the health and wellness industry will take shape in the years and decades to come.”
Here are Clinique La Prairie’s eight trends defining the future of wellness… (you can download the full report here.)
1. The epigenetics and personalised medicine
The medical world is increasingly able to offer uniquely personalised medical care thanks to the new science of epigenetics.
- While we are all born with an unalterable genetic code, epigenetic factors such as lifestyle and environment affect how our genes express themselves.
- Health programmes designed to influence genetic expression and reduce biological age will become a key innovation over the next decade, and in the future experts are likely to be able to adjust genetic profiles to help prevent diseases borne from a genetic predisposition.
2. Pushing the limits of cognitive potential
Innovations in science and medicine are set to push treatments for the human brain to new heights, with treatments for dementia and increased neuroplasticity becoming commonplace.
- Brain training can help manage stress and promotes stronger synapses and is opening new opportunities to improve cognitive potential. With 152 million predicted to live with Alzheimer’s by 2050, cognitive evaluation could help predict and steer people away from Dementia.
- The future of neuroscience lies in cognitive assessment tools and advanced neurofeedback technology to drive advanced understanding of our neurobiology, and a growing field is exploring new solutions including brain mapping, neurofeedback-based exercises, nootropics supplements and lifestyle choices, said to promote neuroplasticity and faster learning.
3. Technology that empowers human connection
Digital monitoring of our bodies is set to accelerate.
- 76 per cent of Brits say they would consider technology implants into their bodies to share vital health data with doctors to track illness and provide immediate diagnosis and treatment.
- Tech nutrition is also set to grow with high-tech wearables that monitor the body’s nutritional needs and lead to treatments such as nutraceuticals.
- Although it is not expected that robotics or AI will ever replace doctors, there is no doubt that the medical and wellness industry will increasingly use technology.
4. Ultra-personalised nutrition
Ultra-personalised nutrition for optimal diet is set to emerge.
- Diet and gut health are one of the most influential factors on the immune system and ultra-personalised nutrition that considers an individual’s genomes – and understanding how certain nutrients or dietary strategies affect gene expression – is set to become a growing trend.
- The benefits of a plant-based diet are already proving popular with over half (51 per cent) of those surveyed already eating a plant-based diet at least some of the time, while 38 per cent are open to the idea of moving to a partially plant-based diet in the future.
- The idea of food as medicine is also taking hold and next-generation supplements that combine science and natural methods will also play a crucial role.
5. Reverse ageing
As people regularly live to be over 100 years old, reversing the aging process for younger people will be the goal of medicine.
- 68 per cent of Brits believe that those born in the 2010’s or earlier will regularly live to be over 100 years old.
- Experts at CLP predict that in the future preventative treatment to reverse aging will be possible to stay younger and will act at early adulthood.
- Genetic analysis to catch and treat disease before they become symptomatic will be key to preventing disease, and treatments that reverse the ageing process will take centre stage, such as cellular optimisation and regeneration.
6. Stem cell treatments
Stem cell treatments are moving towards the forefront of medical science.
- It is now possible to beautify, restore and protect the skin using adipose stem cells derived from our own fat. Clinique La Prairie recently introduced an exclusive face skin boosting programme, which uses the client’s own stem cells to replace degenerating cells and reduce the signs of visible aging.
- In the future, stem cell science may be used to reproduce tissue – even organs – with the ambition to create and replace vital organs such as kidneys, livers and lungs to reduce the effects of aging.
7. Immunity and harnessing the power of the circadian rhythm
Living and acting according to our chronobiology will regulate health.
- Our circadian rhythm regulates many aspects of health, including digestion, hormones and immunity.
- Our research shows that one in five Brits want to restore sleep disorders. There is increasing awareness of living in harmony with one’s chronotype – genetically determined internal clock that governs optimum sleep times – to unlock health.
- Recent research and evidence show that aligning medical interventions according to chronobiology contribute to its benefits.
8. Holistic treatments for optimum health
Taking a rounded approach to wellness by combining cutting-edge science with proven holistic treatments for optimum health.
- An emerging trend is holistic stress management, and research is exploring whether hormetic stressors like ice baths, fasting or intense breathing could build stress resilience, and even render stress beneficial for our wellbeing.
- Approaches traditionally thought as Eastern and Western are increasingly being brought together and holistic approaches to wellbeing are set to incorporate medicine, nutrition, movement and wellbeing.