How we age takes shape much earlier than we think

The way people age begins taking shape long before they notice a serious change in their health. Researchers at Slovenia’s Science and Research Centre Koper say prevention, diagnosis and timely action can help people preserve physical and mental abilities, independence and everyday quality of life.

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Healthcare systems generally start dealing with our health only after a problem has already arisen. But we need to start thinking about health and taking action much earlier, before we begin to lose it.

“Healthcare systems generally start dealing with our health only after a problem has already arisen. But we need to start thinking about health and taking action much earlier, before we begin to lose it,” said Rado Pišot, the center’s director.

Science can now detect many changes in the body before they become visible as disease or major limitation. Researchers are studying how muscles, movement, balance, cardiovascular capacity and the brain change over a lifetime, including changes that may begin long before people recognize them themselves.

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We devote only a few percent of all health spending to preventive healthcare, while most funds are spent only after health problems have already arisen.

The center brings those findings into practice through its Mediterranean Health Centre. Functional diagnostics can show a person’s current condition, allowing specialists to recommend steps based on the results. The approach rejects the idea of a single prevention plan for everyone. Regular movement, proper nutrition, quality sleep and stress management remain basic principles, but age, health, physical ability, habits and genetics all differ.

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Awareness is necessary, but it is not enough by itself. Prevention must become a systemically supported part of healthcare.

Pišot also argues that personal responsibility cannot carry prevention alone. People need access to professional expertise, suitable measurements and programs adapted to their actual condition. “Awareness is necessary, but it is not enough by itself. Prevention must become a systemically supported part of healthcare,” he said. He added that only a few percent of health spending goes to prevention, while most resources are used after health problems have already emerged.

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But people differ in age, health status, physical abilities, habits and genetics. Therefore, there is no universal recipe; effective prevention must start with the individual and their actual condition.