Longevity Medicine

Longevity programs are elective and not covered by insurance at this time. We are actively working to change that and one of our goals is to demonstrate the clinical value of this approach so that longevity-focused care is eventually recognized and reimbursed by insurers, expanding access over time.

The Weill Cornell Medicine Primary Care Longevity Program was designed for adults of all ages who are looking to take a more proactive approach to their health. There is no one right age to start but the earlier you begin, the more opportunity you have to take control of your long-term health. We help you establish a baseline for long-term health, identify early warning signs of potential risk factors, take action before issues become harder to manage, and maintain a high quality of life at any age. Our program incorporates the most up-to-date and evidence-based diagnostic and treatment options. Your team will ensure that you understand the rationale behind each test we perform for you, how the results impact our recommendations, and how to maximize your well-being.

Our program focuses on evidence-based medicine and advancements, taking your data and insights and turning them into a health, wellness, and fitness plan customized specifically to you. You will receive all of the testing and information you need to have a comprehensive view of your health — including a clear interpretation and understanding of your results with a team of experts who will be there with you every step of the way.

Our longevity medicine program is situated within Weill Cornell Medicine's vast network of expert specialists. As a result of your participation in our program, if we uncover a need for you to see a specialist, referrals will be provided. Your team will help to ensure that you get the care you need in a timely manner. Our approach goes above and beyond what is conventionally offered. Your longevity medicine team will collaborate with your other doctors to ensure that care coordination and alignment occur periodically during your participation in our program. Our exercise physiologists have worked with everyone from professional athletes to individuals of advanced age with complicated medical histories who had no prior exercise experience. We have all of the exercise equipment you need on site and you will receive personalized guidance and support. Our registered dietitians have years of experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds and dietary preferences. From your dietary habits to your medical history, your medication regimen to your prior imaging studies, everything will be under one roof. We develop a complete picture of who you are as a patient and as a person to inform our shared goals and strategy.

Your longevity membership includes quarterly physician led clinical evaluations as well as the following assessments: Whole Body MRI, Coronary CT Angiogram, comprehensive laboratory testing, genetic testing and analysis, full-spectrum performance exam to assess strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, creation and modification of personalized fitness routine, body composition analysis, continuous glucose monitoring including guidance from a registered dietitian, and multi cancer detection screening.

One of the many benefits of our program is your access to Weill Cornell Medicine's network of specialists and if your results show something concerning that needs to be looked into, we connect you with the specialists and care you need.

Each visit will include time with your longevity medicine physician followed by your exercise physiologist for your cardiorespiratory fitness and strength assessment. Your VO2max will be measured directly during your first visit. You will receive feedback on your VO2max result, including where it ranks relative to your age and gender, and how to improve it. Your VO2max will be tracked with your quarterly visits to provide information on the effectiveness of your endurance training routine.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) provides information about much more than your heart and lungs. It represents a measure of the body's ability to sustain physiologic stress. Numerous studies across millions of patients consistently find that CRF correlates with length of life to a much greater extent than any other health metric. CRF is measured most precisely and objectively by a VO2max assessment, which is why this is included and a significant area of focus of the program.

Your longevity physician does not replace your primary care provider. This program compliments the care you receive from your primary care physician with a focus on advanced diagnostics and prevention. If you do not yet have a PCP or wish to transition care to a new one, recommendations will be provided. If establishing care with a specialist is recommended by your longevity medicine physician, a referral will be provided; you will receive support from our staff to set up an appointment with one of Weill Cornell Medicine's world-class specialists in a timely manner.

While the use of certain medications or supplements may be recommended by your longevity medicine physician, prescribing medications and managing your existing medication regimen remain outside of the scope of your providers within the program. Your physician is the director of care as it pertains to your participation in the program. As a result of your participation in the program, your longevity medicine provider may provide recommendations that pertain to your care from your other providers. Each of these recommendations will be shared with you and, provided you grant permission, communicated to your other providers.

Executive health physicals generally involve a single round of extensive testing and do not assess for cardiorespiratory fitness and strength. Our longevity medicine program includes quarterly visits and this structure is better designed to support progressive health improvements.

A Whole Body MRI is a safe, radiation-free way to screen your body's tissues and organs and can detect cancer and other health conditions early, when they are often easier to treat.

Yes. As part of the program, we offer access to a multi-cancer detection test. This blood-based test analyzes cell-free DNA fragments to assess for signals associated with multiple cancer types.

As with other emerging screening technologies, the potential benefits and limitations of this test are important to consider. While it may identify signals associated with certain cancers, it does not detect all cancers, and positive results may require additional diagnostic evaluation that does not always confirm the presence of cancer.

We will review the potential advantages, limitations, and uncertainties of this test with you to help determine whether it aligns with your preferences and overall screening strategy. When performed, results are shared with your care team and used to guide appropriate next steps, including referral to specialists when indicated.

You will have quarterly meetings with a Registered Dietitian as well as a Lumen metabolic test and 30 days of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM). The Lumen metabolic test provides information about your metabolism, such as the percentage of energy that your body achieves from burning fat and carbohydrates. This fraction is influenced by both dietary and activity habits. Blood glucose levels fluctuate significantly according to dietary habits and other factors. The CGM data provides insight into these fluctuations and will be used to better inform optimal dietary recommendations for you. Another piece of information used by your RD will be a Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), which is obtained as part of cardiorespiratory fitness assessment. The RMR can be understood as the number of calories required to maintain your weight. If weight loss is part of your goal for health improvements, knowing your RMR can add detail to your daily calorie consumption target.

Genetic testing ranges from Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to more targeted testing for certain inheritable conditions. Targeted testing for the risk of select conditions (breast cancer, Alzheimer's and others) is included in the longevity medicine program. The results of these tests will inform whether additional cancer-specific testing is indicated for you, and referrals will be provided as appropriate/necessary. For individuals interested in performing more extensive genetic testing, Weill Cornell Medicine has a separate program specialized for this purpose.