Today, people are increasingly concerned about their health and want to live longer. Longevity medicine plays a key role in meeting the demand driven by this global megatrend. Statistics show that people worldwide are living longer and want to stay healthy throughout old age.
Artirat Charukitpipat, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Bumrungrad International Hospital and Executive Director of VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center, discussed current trends in the global health and wellness industry. According to the New Global Wellness Institute, the total value of the health and wellness market is 5.6 trillion US dollars and is expected to grow to 8.5 trillion US dollars by 2027—a 40% increase over 2023 figures. This significant growth reflects the rising demand for health solutions and services. In an aging society, people are becoming more aware of the importance of healthcare and disease prevention. This awareness is driven by both young people seeking preventive care and older individuals looking to improve their healthspan while maintaining a good quality of life. Advanced technology, essential for providing health and wellness solutions to both groups, supports the industry’s high growth rate.
VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center, a subsidiary of Bumrungrad International Hospital, has been a pioneer in longevity medicine for over 24 years. At the recent press event, ‘Unlocking the Secrets to a Longer, Healthier Life by VitalLife,’ the center announced its commitment to further advancing proactive healthcare. The event emphasized the prevention and promotion of good health at every stage of life, not merely treating illnesses as they arise, but focusing on longevity and quality of life. VitalLife also showcased its cutting-edge medical technology and expertise in providing individualized care. This not only improves quality of life but also propels Thailand’s medical industry to the next level.
2024 has been a challenging year for VitalLife as it strives to achieve next-level success. Under the leadership of Polakit Teekakirikul, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief Executive Officer of VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center and Esperance, and Chief Science Officer of Bumrungrad International Hospital and VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center, a transformation has begun across multiple dimensions to revolutionize healthcare. This includes leveraging cutting-edge AI innovation and technology to help people live longer and more sustainably through personalized healthcare. Additionally, the center has been redesigned to be more luxurious and modern, now located in Building D of Bumrungrad International Hospital, along with its health and wellness team specializing in comprehensive, integrated healthcare. Furthermore, the executive and medical teams have undergone changes to align with the anticipated growth of the longevity medicine megatrend.
Polakit Teekakirikul, MD, Assistant Professor, stated during the Longevity Talk that this year marks VitalLife’s 24th year of operation, and the center remains committed to continuous improvement in innovation, modernization, and research to provide individualized healthcare. Our goal is to help everyone who comes to VitalLife achieve resilience and youthful longevity.
VitalLife focuses on innovating in three key areas: 1) Lab Innovation leverages internationally recognized certifications to ensure quick and accurate analysis by employing advanced technologies certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). This supports doctors in making precise diagnoses and creating individualized treatment plans. 2) AI Integration enables increasingly accurate and faster treatments by using AI to analyze large volumes of genetic and biological data, helping to comprehensively diagnose and treat complex diseases, such as cancer or neurological conditions. 3) Collaborative Innovation facilitates a seamless diagnosis and healthcare planning process, connecting insights with clinical practice by combining our laboratory innovation with Bumrungrad’s clinical excellence.
Additionally, VitalLife has received support from world-class experts to create new innovations in response to the rapid advancements in medical science. This plays a significant role in keeping it at the forefront of scientific and medical progress.
Suthee Siriwechdaruk, MD, Chief Administrative Officer of VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center and Esperance, remarked that longevity is not just about living longer, but about maintaining good health and quality of life at every stage of life. VitalLife places great importance on researching the causes of aging to develop healthcare guidelines that slow the aging process and help our clients live long, healthy lives. Scientific research has identified 12 hallmarks of aging, including DNA mutations that increase the risk of tumors or cancers with age; a loss of balance in controlling the production and destruction of cellular proteins, which leads to age-related neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease; and abnormal nutrient uptake, which leads to metabolic disorders that contribute to chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Each individual’s health is different, so VitalLife offers personalized, long-term holistic healthcare plans to help everyone achieve their health goals. The healthcare journey consists of four steps: comprehensive assessment, personalized longevity plan, holistic interventions and therapies, and regular monitoring and adjustments. We utilize advanced technology and cutting-edge longevity research, along with consumer health monitoring devices such as watches and rings, to help manage clients’ health, allowing them to stay youthful and enjoy a better quality of life throughout their lifetime.
Suwanna Suwannaphong, MD, Program Director of VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center, emphasized that VitalLife has leveraged its years of program development and design experience to create the ‘VitalLife Longevity Health Program.’ This program utilizes advanced technologies and scientific insights to help clients live longer, healthier lives. It begins with an in-depth assessment, personalized aging intervention, and the integration of wearable data and infrastructure, including the analysis of genetic and biological data to create a tailored healthcare plan.
Moreover, VitalLife uses innovative treatments to help slow the aging process at the cellular level, while closely monitoring health through wearable devices that track important health indicators daily, providing an accurate and up-to-date picture of client health. Advanced artificial intelligence technology is also employed to analyze client health data and predict individual risks for various diseases, allowing doctors to plan more targeted and personalized treatments. By integrating data and technology, VitalLife provides comprehensive, holistic healthcare that includes physical, mental, and emotional care, supporting our clients’ health and longevity.
Wanviput Sanphasitvong, MD, Business Development Director of VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center, stated that VitalLife uses science to develop innovations and healthcare programs tailored to the needs of each individual, focusing on diagnostic accuracy, personalized care, and lifestyle changes to help everyone live a long and healthy life. Additionally, the updated VitalLife recognizes the importance of client experience design and has developed its ‘Ecosystem of Care’ service concept, using the Golden Ratio as a principle of proportion and harmony. This creates a healthcare ecosystem that provides a positive, client-centric experience and conveniently addresses individual pain points at every step of the client journey.
By combining the science of longevity with cutting-edge technology, VitalLife, along with our team of specialist doctors who create unique wellness programs for our clients, is poised to lead the wellness revolution, enabling our clients to live long, healthy lives and build long-term healthy futures.
