Longevity has become one of the biggest words in wellness, and the longevity clinic has become its most talked-about destination. Spend a few days in Switzerland, Bavaria or on the Spanish coast, the idea goes, and you come home knowing more about your body than ever before, with a plan to keep it working for longer.
But what happens once you arrive? The details are often vague, so here is a plain guide.
Before you go. Most clinics start with a questionnaire about your health, history, lifestyle and goals, and many arrange a call with a doctor before you arrive. This shapes the programme.
The first day or two: tests. This is the part that makes a longevity clinic different from a spa. Expect a medical consultation and a lot of measuring. Blood tests are standard, and at some clinics they cover hundreds of markers, from cholesterol and blood sugar to hormones and vitamins. Many also measure body composition, meaning how much of you is muscle, fat and bone, often with a DXA scan. Heart checks are common, such as an ECG or a stress test on a treadmill or bike. Some clinics offer imaging too, such as scans of the heart’s arteries or, where a doctor thinks it is appropriate, an MRI.
The days after: the programme. Once the results are in, the stay usually follows a routine. Food is part of the treatment. At Lanserhof, meals follow Mayr medicine, which focuses on digestion and can include fasting, lighter meals and eating slowly. At Chenot, a light diet is paired with treatments. Most days include movement matched to your fitness, treatments such as massage, hydrotherapy or cryotherapy, and plenty of rest. Evenings are quiet. These are not party destinations.
Going home: the plan. You leave with your results and recommendations, usually on food, exercise, sleep and stress, and sometimes supplements or follow-up tests.
So is it worth it? For many guests, the real value is simple. Time away, good food, sleep, movement and a doctor’s full attention for several days. That is a powerful mix, and few of us get it at home.
The tests are where it pays to be more careful. Some are well established, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Others are still being researched. Biological age tests, for example, are popular, but scientists are still working out how reliable they are and what to do with the results. Whole-body scans can find small things that turn out to be harmless but lead to more tests and worry. The American College of Radiology has said there is not enough evidence to recommend whole-body screening for people without symptoms.
A few questions are worth asking before you book. Who are the doctors, and what are they qualified in? What will each test tell me, and what would I do differently because of it? Is the clinic selling the supplements or treatments it recommends? And how will the results be shared with my own doctor at home?
The best longevity clinics are open about what they know and what they don’t. The most useful thing many people bring home is not a number, but a few habits they actually keep.
Four names to know
Clinique La Prairie, Montreux, Switzerland. Founded in 1931 on the shore of Lake Geneva, and one of the original longevity clinics. cliniquelaprairie.com
Lanserhof Tegernsee, Bavaria, Germany. A medical health resort above Lake Tegernsee, with programmes built on F.X. Mayr medicine. lanserhof.com
Chenot Palace Weggis, Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. A lakeside retreat run on the Chenot Method, which pairs diagnostics and treatments with a light diet. chenot.com
SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain. Combines medical care with natural therapies and a largely plant-based kitchen. shawellness.com
