Longevity insights: Discover how epigenetics, sleep, and purpose can add vitality and extend healthy years of life.
Longevity today is less about adding years and more about adding vitality. In this exclusive interview, the leading longevity expert and Head of Medical Spa at the 5-Star-Hotel Villa Eden in Meran Dr. Emanuele De Nobili shares insights on epigenetics, underestimated factors like sleep, stress resilience, and purpose, and how cutting-edge technology can work hand in hand with lifestyle interventions to slow aging and enhance quality of life.
Exclusive interview with longevity expert Dr. Emanuele De Nobili: Longevity & Healthy Aging
Annett Conrad: You’ve been engaged with the topic of longevity for many years — how has your scientific understanding of healthy aging evolved over time?
Dr. Emanuele De Nobili: When I began my career, longevity was often framed in terms of genetics and chronological lifespan. Over time, my perspective has shifted toward healthspan — the years lived in good health — and the powerful role of modifiable factors. Advances in epigenetics, metabolic science, and systems biology have shown us that aging is not merely an inevitable decline but a dynamic process we can influence. We now understand that targeted nutrition, stress management, sleep optimization, and specific medical interventions can recalibrate biological systems, slow cellular aging, and even reverse certain markers. Healthy aging has become less about adding years, and more about adding vitality to those years.
Annett Conrad: What role does epigenetics play in your approach to promoting longevity, and how can we concretely influence this process through lifestyle interventions?
Dr. Emanuele De Nobili: Epigenetics is central to my work because it explains how our environment and behaviors can “switch on” or “switch off” genes related to aging, inflammation, and disease. While we inherit our DNA sequence, the expression of those genes is highly modifiable. Through comprehensive testing, we can identify biological age, organ-specific aging, and key pathways driving decline. Then, targeted interventions — such as anti-inflammatory nutrition, intermittent fasting, microbiome restoration, stress-reduction techniques, physical activity, and specific nutraceuticals — can positively reprogram gene expression. In essence, epigenetics empowers us to become active participants in our health destiny, rather than passive observers of genetic fate.
Annett Conrad: Public discourse often reduces longevity to diet and exercise. In your view, what are the most underrated factors contributing to a long and healthy life?
Dr. Emanuele De Nobili: Diet and exercise are fundamental, but they’re only part of the equation. Three highly underrated pillars are:
- Sleep quality — Deep, restorative sleep drives cellular repair, hormonal balance, and brain detoxification.
- Stress resilience — Chronic stress accelerates inflammation and aging; learning to modulate the autonomic nervous system is critical.
- Social connection and purpose — Strong relationships and a sense of meaning protect mental health, lower disease risk, and improve survival.
In my clinical experience, people who integrate these elements alongside nutrition and movement often see the greatest improvements in both healthspan and quality of life.
Annett Conrad: How do you assess current technological developments in the field of longevity medicine — such as blood tests to determine biological age or personalized supplementation?
Dr. Emanuele De Nobili: I see them as game-changing tools, provided they’re used responsibly. Biological age tests — especially those based on DNA methylation patterns — offer valuable insight into the effectiveness of lifestyle and therapeutic interventions. They allow us to measure progress beyond what traditional medical tests reveal. Personalized supplementation, guided by advanced diagnostics, moves us away from generic advice and toward precision health. However, these tools must be interpreted within a clinical framework. Without expert guidance, data can be misused, leading to unnecessary supplementation or unrealistic expectations. When applied judiciously, they accelerate our ability to intervene early and meaningfully.
Annett Conrad: There’s growing interest in „longevity as a lifestyle.“ How do you navigate the tension between evidence-based medicine and the hype surrounding biohacking, anti-aging trends, and commercial wellness products?
Dr. Emanuele De Nobili: My approach is to embrace innovation while maintaining scientific rigor. Many trends in biohacking or anti-aging start with an interesting hypothesis but lack robust evidence. At Eden’s Health, we test and integrate only those methods that show measurable benefits in clinical practice and align with peer-reviewed research. Longevity as a lifestyle should not be about chasing the latest fad, but about implementing sustainable, personalized strategies that can be tracked and adjusted over time. In this way, we bridge the excitement of new possibilities with the responsibility to protect our patients from ineffective — or even harmful — interventions.
Annett Conrad: Many people desire a long life but fear the idea of aging with limitations. What is your vision of a “well-aged life,” and how realistic is that perspective today?
Dr. Emanuele De Nobili: A well-aged life is one in which an individual remains physically independent, mentally sharp, and emotionally fulfilled well into advanced age. It’s about compressing morbidity — postponing the onset of age-related decline so that the final years are fewer in illness and more in vitality. Today, this vision is increasingly realistic, thanks to advances in preventive medicine, early detection of risks, and targeted interventions. However, it requires proactive engagement long before problems arise. Those who embrace lifestyle optimization and regular health monitoring early in life are far more likely to experience this type of healthy longevity.
Annett Conrad: If you could only give three specific recommendations for gaining more healthy years of life — regardless of age or genetics — what would they be, and why?
Dr. Emanuele De Nobili:
- Prioritize metabolic health — Maintain stable blood sugar, healthy weight, and insulin sensitivity through balanced nutrition and activity. This prevents most chronic diseases.
- Invest in recovery — Sleep, stress management, and restorative practices are as important as exercise in slowing aging.
- Cultivate relationships and purpose — These are powerful predictors of longevity, influencing both physical and mental health.
These three pillars are accessible to everyone, highly impactful across ages, and supported by strong scientific evidence. Combined, they can extend not only life but quality of life.
Many thanks to Dr. Emanuele De Nobili for the insightful answers.
FrontRowSociety editor Annett Conrad conducted the interview with Dr. Emanuele De Nobili in August 2025. These are the original, unedited answers.
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Villa Eden
Via Winkel 68
39012 Meran / Italy
