Our lifespans may be growing, but our healthspans - the years we spend in good health - are not necessarily keeping pace.
We now spend roughly a fifth of our lives in poor health, widening the gap between the quantity and quality of years lived.
To close this gap, 'longevity literacy' is now essential - providing people with credible information, as well as access to science-backed nutritional products and support, to help them age well.
The midlife inflection point
While genetics influence our lifespan, four key lifestyle factors also shape how well we age: nutrition, physical activity, quality of sleep and social connection. Although life expectancy is rising, so is the prevalence of age-related health challenges. These often originate in midlife, when metabolism slows, and the body's nutritional requirements fundamentally shift.
Emerging evidence shows that nutrition can impact the pace of biological aging. In their 40s, people need more high-quality protein and micronutrients to maintain muscle and function, even as calorie needs decline. When these nutritional gaps go unaddressed, they compound over time, accelerating the aging process.
Helping consumers find what's right for their health
Targeted nutrition can have profound impacts: improving what we eat day to day can directly enhance sleep, physical performance and mental wellbeing. Despite this, many people feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice on how to age well and what their bodies really need.
The challenge goes beyond simply providing clarity on what to eat - it requires a big-picture approach that addresses the full spectrum of consumer needs: trusted products, practical routines and expert-backed information across nutrition, movement and mental health.
Research commissioned by Nestlé in 2025 among adults over 40 in the U.S., China, Brazil, UK, Spain and Thailand shows that sleep, restoration, energy, cognitive health and strength are among their most pressing needs, underlining the demand for practical ways to support healthy longevity.
While more people are turning to digital channels and social media for health information, they are looking for science-backed solutions they can trust.
This is why we have made healthy longevity one of our core areas of focus, investing deeply in innovation to define a new category in nutrition. We are focusing our global R&D capabilities on creating accessible, evidence-based solutions and products. We also want to empower people with the knowledge and tools to help address some of the variables from midlife onwards.
Introducing Smart Aging and Nestlé Vital
We are using our deep expertise and the latest data to provide clarity through our new 'Smart Aging' platform, which will offer tips on nutrition, movement and mental health. It takes a holistic approach to healthy aging, providing both food and beverage products and expert advice to make aging well a simple choice.
The cornerstone of this program is Nestlé Vital, our first global brand dedicated to healthy longevity, translating science into tangible daily benefits. Launching in Latin America this year, followed by a later expansion to Europe and Asia, this science-backed nutritional drink is designed to help adults from midlife onwards feel their best every day. The morning and evening routines support energy and strength by day, and recovery and skin health by night. With protein for muscle repair and fiber for digestion, for example, Nestlé Vital simplifies staying active and balanced.
Alongside this, our Smart Aging platform will serve as a digital hub offering simple, science‑backed micro‑habits for nutrition, body and mind, helping participants feel better through small, manageable actions each day.
Closing the lifespan-healthspan gap
Closing the lifespan-healthspan gap requires a combination of scientifically backed nutritional products, paired with practical guidance, accessible solutions and trusted expertise.
Aging well should not be a guessing game; it is something adults can actively shape with the right knowledge and tools. Nestlé Vital and the Smart Aging platform exist to prove - and enable - exactly that, translating the latest science into simple everyday choices that help people stay stronger, smarter and healthier for longer.
Key takeaways
- Healthy aging is about extending healthspan, not just lifespan, by helping people stay healthier for longer.
- Nutrition plays a critical role in how well we age, alongside physical activity, sleep, and social connection.
- To help close the gap between lifespan and healthspan, Nestlé has launched Nestlé Vital, a science backed nutritional drink, alongside its Smart Aging platform to support healthy aging from midlife onward.
