Living a long and healthy life: here are the secrets to longevity

In a country such as Italy – one of the oldest in the world, where the average age exceeds 83 but where few people remain in good health beyond the age of 65 – the challenge is to promote a form of longevity that enhances the lives of individuals and society whilst ensuring the sustainability of the National Health Service. These were the key themes at the heart of the Health & Longevity Summit 2026, sponsored by the Il Sole24 Ore Group and held yesterday in Milan with the unrestricted support of Ibsa. The proceedings were opened by Fabio Tamburini, editor-in-chief of Il Sole 24 Ore – who, against a complex demographic backdrop, called for ‘supporting the journey towards longevity in the best possible way’ – and Federico Silvestri, chief executive of the Il Sole 24 Ore Group. “We need to invest in a cultural shift,” warned the CEO, “through collaboration between the scientific community and the media. “For this reason, our Group will focus closely on issues of longevity, and as early as 2027 we will launch a dedicated project across all our platforms,” he announced.

Prevention was the key theme running through the Summit, hosted by Nicoletta Carbone (Radio24), which attracted over a thousand participants both in person and online. Silvio Garattini, founder and president of the Mario Negri Institute, introduced the theme: ‘We must make good use of the National Health Service, which must be preserved because it is a great asset for us and for future generations. For it to survive, we need a revolution based on prevention,’ he emphasised. It starts with simple actions: ‘Getting active, whilst 60 per cent of the Italian population is sedentary; getting a sufficient number of hours’ sleep, which allows the brain to “clear itself”; eating in moderation,’ said the pharmacologist. Guido Bertolaso, Councillor for Welfare for the Lombardy Region, put the political issue into perspective: ‘You don’t win elections with prevention.’ Bertolaso cited the exemplary case of vaccinating 97 per cent of newborns with monoclonal antibodies against the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes bronchiolitis. But ‘we will not be able to carry out prevention effectively if we continue to be hampered by bureaucracy, the National Health Service’s primary problem’, he warned. Finally, there was a reference to technology as “a tool to be utilised to the full”. This includes the support of artificial intelligence, as emphasised by Victor Savevski, Director of the AI Centre at Humanitas: “The challenge is to integrate AI safely and sustainably into the healthcare system,” he said.

But a long and healthy life depends on everyday habits: according to Damiano Galimberti, a specialist in Food Science and founder of the International Longevity Science Association, ‘the Mediterranean lifestyle goes beyond the concept of the Mediterranean diet’ and ‘includes socialising as well as the ability to breathe, perhaps guided by apps’. Olympic champion Jury Chechi agrees: he recommends ‘at least 20 minutes of daily physical activity and stretching’. For neuropsychologist Giuseppe Iannoccari (Assomensana), the challenge is “to have a brain that, despite ageing, can function well, enriched by experience. But proactivity is needed for cognitive longevity”, he warned. Maria Vittoria Rava, president of the Francesca Rava Foundation, accompanied by patron Arisa, shares her experience: “We treat vulnerable children as if they were our own. We do this in schools, in foster homes and with young women. Looking after others is another recipe for good health.” Ageing well also means promoting bone and joint health: “An hour of physical activity a day for a child and ‘exercise breaks’ for adults throughout the day,” is the advice from physiatrist Fabrizio Gervasoni, head of Home Care at Fatebenefratelli Sacco in Milan. Pain, however, can hinder movement: according to Silvia Tonolo, president of ANMAR, “in 47 per cent of patients, kinesiophobia – that is, the fear of pain – must be addressed.”

Ageing also means coming to terms with changes in one’s appearance and sexuality. According to Maurizio Cavallini, president of Agorà, ‘aesthetic medicine should help people to “age well”’. Emanuele Bartoletti, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon, reports: ‘Today, more than 40 per cent of men are seeking treatments.’ Attention must also be paid to intimate life: ‘Sex is a crucial indicator of health,’ warns Emmanuele Jannini, professor of Endocrinology, Andrology and Medical Sexology at Rome Tor Vergata University. ‘Sexual silence’ within a couple should be avoided; the doctor’s role is essential, yet medical sexology is taught at only one university.” According to Marta Giuliani (AltraPsicologia), “we need specialists who do not ‘normalise’ difficulties, for example during the menopause.”

The Blue Zone case brings things full circle: ‘In a study carried out in that natural laboratory known as Ogliastra in Sardinia, the centenarians are described as paragons of moral virtue. The biopsychotype that characterises them is the ‘talent for life’: an existential attitude worth emulating’, concluded Roberto Pili, president of the World Longevity Community.