By Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In July of 1988, Rod Stewart released his U.S. hit called Forever Young.  The song was about missing his children growing up while he was on tour. The song was similar to Bob Dylan’s song by the same name.  Stewart released his version, sharing the royalties with Dylan. The song fared well in the United States and has become an anthem of sorts.

As each new year comes our way, we often think of things we want to improve in our lives, and about 30-40% of us do this by making New Year’s resolutions. The first mention of New Year’s resolutions in the United States is found in a Boston newspaper from the early 1800s. However, New Year’s resolutions may stem from a medieval practice by knights called the Peacock Vow. The knights would reaffirm their vows at the end of the year to continue to uphold the values and morals of the kingdom. The difference from today is that the knights were making a public commitment to uphold societal values, while our New Year’s resolutions are often about us as individuals. 

The top 3 New Year’s resolutions are about exercising more, losing weight and getting organized.  Two of the top three are directed at improving our health. Unfortunately, most of us fail our resolutions by February.

Research has helped us understand our biological age compared to our chronological age.  By sampling our DNA through a cheek swab, our bodies can provide a sense of how healthy we have been and if we are older or younger than our chronological age. 

Can we be forever young and turn back our biological age?

A new field of medicine is emerging that looks at the science of biological aging. This specialty is known as longevity medicine. The Healthy Longevity Medicine Society describes longevity medicine as “an advanced personalized preventive medicine powered by deep biomarkers of aging and longevity.”  The goal is to predict problems/conditions early with a plan to use diagnostic testing, known therapies and strategies to stay healthy and avoid diseases associated with aging. 

The two areas with the most evidence for longevity are diet and exercise.  However, longevity medicine practitioners consider a combination of a person’s genetics as well as their diet and exercise habits. They use methods to provide whole-body screenings and blood biomarkers to look for early evidence of disease. Most of these early screenings are often not covered under various health plans. Consult with your insurance provider to verify coverage.

Each year, we should do an assessment of the screenings recommended for our age and risk factors.  You can find a good list of recommended screenings from the United States Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF).  These guidelines are supported by science and research and give recommendations by gender and age. Early screening can help to save lives. 

The third annual Aflac Wellness Matters Survey published in April of 2025 found 9 out of 10 Americans are behind on their regular recommended screening.  The survey found the most common screenings that were avoided included pap smears, prostate exams, colonoscopies, mammograms and body skin checks.  The groups most likely to avoid screenings were millennials at 62% and Gen Zs at 61%.  

The survey found some significant barriers to early screenings included the fear of bad news, embarrassment about screenings, challenges in getting work release, distrust of healthcare professionals and wait times to get an appointment. Gen Zs were most likely to avoid screenings due to a distrust of healthcare professionals and the sense of embarrassment.  

Longevity medicine is moving us forward to improve our health and we now have good evidence for the importance of following guidance on screenings.  Consider making a New Year’s resolution to update your screenings and help to understand the fears and barriers to completing these tasks.  

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