What’s the difference between #Healthspan and #Lifespan? A few weeks ago I had no idea - that was before the Global Healthspan Summit #GHS2025 in Riyadh where I spent an exhilarating couple of days moderating panel discussions, MC-ing and learning all manner of cool stuff about the science of preventive ageing.

So what is the difference then? Lifespan, as we know, is about life expectancy – which has shot up over the last century. Healthspan, on the other hand, is about how long we can live in good health – strong and  flourishing. Sadly, Healthspan is on the decline, making our extra lifespan years potentially fraught with fear and jeopardy. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

So question 1: how to make the fledgling Healthspan sector investable so that new products and services are developed and deliverable? In a wide-ranging discussion with VC investors and health entrepreneurs it became clear that some - like William Greene, Jim Scopa and Dr Greg Bailey - are already taking the plunge, investing in long-shot, early stage life science research. Others like HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed and Werner Lanthaler are taking a more nuanced view, waiting on further regulatory and scientific developments. Watch this space, as they say.

Question 2: how to ensure that Healthspan doesn't become the preserve of the rich? The surprising consensus of a lively discussion about Access to Healthspan was to invest not in drugs but in healthcare infrastructure and to pivot to prevention, prevention, prevention in both rich and developing economies. Thanks to Ann Kurth, PhD, Michael Oberreiter, Mike Devoy and Todd Park – for a stimulating discussion and being willing to entertain some questions out of left field.

Question 3: where do the moonshot ideas come from? The Hevolution Foundation and Foresight Institute believe grants and prizes can spark out of the box thinking. Niamh Peren mentioned a grant winner of just 13 years old and Bhanu Priya Ganesh said her research on the gut/brain axis would not have been possible without a Hevolution Foundation grant, overseen by Khaldoun Alromaih, Ph.D. - a firm believer in diversity of thinking, whatever your age or experience.

I left #GHS2025 having had a lot of fun, in no small part due to my merry band of fellow moderators, Oli Barrett, Declan Curry and Edie Lush. A big shout out too to the mighty Elvira Asare-Hunte and her ace production team for devising a rich and surprising programme. Viola Scheffel Chloe Bemrose

And finally a quick word of thanks to my friends, Mikael Zoghbi and Zaher Al Munajjed, for an evening of repartee and relaxation – the perfect way to wind down after two days of cut and thrust debate at #GHS2025.