Feature
From Lifespan to Healthspan :
How a Tech Entrepreneur Reframes the Longevity Challenge
With Peng Ong
“ If you accept that there ’ s no way one person can figure out what ’ s going on , then you can imagine healthcare — or sick care — evolving into a system where AI collaborates with a doctor . That ’ s almost guaranteed , because no doctor can keep up with everything .”
Living longer and healthier is no longer confined to scientific journals — it ’ s now an everyday discussion among entrepreneurs , investors , and families worldwide . One notable voice in this space is tech entrepreneur and investor Peng T . Ong , renowned for spotting market disruptions early . These days , he ’ s personally focused on “ healthspan ”— the number of years we can live free of serious disease — rather than simply tacking extra years onto our lifespan .
Drawing on personal experiences , Ong adopts a balanced yet forward-looking view of longevity :
“ My goal isn ’ t just to add more years , but to live each year more fully — staying healthy so I can truly enjoy life with balance and vitality .”
“ We produce millions of scientific papers every year and spend billions on research — yet if you ask how to maximise your health , you still rely on Google . That ’ s ridiculous .”
Personal Spark : Real Lives , Real Lessons Peng T . Ong ’ s journey towards health and longevity was spurred by two pivotal events . The first was witnessing his father struggle with neurodegeneration — exposing the fragmented , reactive nature of much modern healthcare . Next , a close friend ’ s passing from pancreatic cancer , potentially preventable through an earlier liquid biopsy , highlighted the chasm between medical research and daily reality .
Bridging this gap , Ong argues , requires more than exceptional labs or costly hospital care . It calls for fresh perspectives — rooted in computer science , artificial intelligence , and an entrepreneurial discipline aimed at preventive health rather than mere treatment .
Booming Opportunities : Global Wellness and Longevity Across the globe , the pursuit of an extended healthspan is reshaping healthcare : 1 . Surging Wellness Economy
• The Global Wellness Institute projects that the wellness economy could exceed USD 7 trillion by 2025 , spanning nutrition , fitness , preventive care , and mental well-being .
2 . Longevity Ventures in the US
• Deep-pocketed players like Calico Labs ( backed by Alphabet ) and Altos Labs ( supported by Jeff Bezos ) are delving into anti-ageing research at the cellular level .
• Consumer-facing startups such as InsideTracker , Levels , and WHOOP use biometric and metabolic data to help individuals optimise daily habits .
3 . Asian HealthTech Hubs
• Asia is fast emerging as a hotspot in healthtech innovation . Companies like Biofourmis ( Singapore ) and Insilico Medicine ( originally Hong Kong-based ) utilise AI and data analytics to personalise therapies .
• Governments in Singapore , Japan , and China increasingly funding preventive healthcare as a way to reduce spiralling costs . For example , Singapore ’ s “ Healthier SG ” encourages digitised healthcare pathways , enabling citizens to monitor and improve their well-being proactively .
Regardless of region , there is a shared realisation : remaining healthy for longer is both economically wise and personally appealing .
Why Healthcare Is a Computer Science Problem Ong contends that healthcare ’ s greatest challenge is an overabundance of knowledge — what he describes as “ too much knowledge .” He explains :
“ Every year , as a species , we spend about 300 billion dollars on health , medicine , and pharmaceutical research . That yields around 3 to 4 million new papers annually .”
50 ISSUE 6 | 2024 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com