Business Insider’s Rising Stars of Longevity 2026 keep it simple when it comes to staying healthy.
They stick to the basics like eating and sleeping well.
One said exercise is more powerful than any supplement stack.
We asked some of the top doctors, scientists, and investors in longevity for their approach to living a long and healthy life — and there wasn’t an expensive supplement or unregulated peptide in sight.
Instead, they stick to evidence-backed basics like eating healthy, sleeping well, and exercising regularly.
The experts were all named Business Insider Rising Stars of Longevity on Monday, for their commitment to finding solutions to health problems linked to aging. (With one exception: Andrea Maier, who was part of the expert judging panel for her important work in this space).
Nathan LeBrasseur, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, the Mayo Clinic
BI
At 52, I fully recognize that I’m aging and I’m not where I used to be. Part of that is making me more mindful that, for example, I can’t outrun a bad diet. I try to be thoughtful about the foods I’m eating. Even though I eat pretty well, I’m always tempted by the stuff we’re all tempted by.
For me, physical and mental health and happiness are associated with how active I am. So it’s easy for me to exercise. If I can run, bike, and/or swim most days of the week, I’m a pretty happy guy.
I know I may differ from some of my colleagues, but I am much more about healthy aging than longevity.
Success, to me, would be living an average lifespan, but until the final weeks of my life, I hope I’m doing what I love.
More from Business Insider on this topic: How to be fit past 100 without going to the gym
Jamie Justice, executive director, XPRIZE Healthspan
BI
Start basic and pay attention to diagnostics. Think about deeper screening. I happen to be a data nerd, so I love seeing more data on myself and watching where I’m at on a daily basis. Then, layer things on with intention and humility. We’re all figuring this out together. It’s using things with some grace and a little bit of common sense.
If I have anything as a takeaway, it’s to pause long enough to enjoy it. We can get so caught up trying to perfect our health and do the next thing for our longevity that we forget to actually enjoy the day.
7 simple ways my diet and routines have changed since I started interviewing experts about longevity
Andrea Maier, professor of medicine at the National University of Singapore
BI
Reflecting every evening and asking myself: are you happy or not, and was it a good day? That’s so important because it contributes to your wellbeing and health — physical health, mental health, your social health. Your social environment is all contributing to that one question: Was it a good day?
That’s, for me, most important.
She tracked her moods for almost 5 years. 1 habit skyrocketed her happiness.
Garri Zmudze, longevity and biotech investor, cofounder of LongeVC and AniVC
BI
I follow the usual suspects when it comes to longevity habits. I cut out alcohol more than three years ago.
I’m also very strict with my sleep schedule. I go to bed at 11 p.m. and wake up at 6 a.m., so I’m very productive in the mornings.
I think there is some snake oil and buzz in the longevity industry. I’m really concerned about people promoting biohacking. I don’t believe in a magic pill or the concept of “making people younger.”
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Nicole Sirotin, CEO, Institute for Healthier Living, Abu Dhabi
BI
The number one thing I do for my own longevity is nurturing my positive relationships.
How loving relationships help you live longer
Morgan Levine, vice president of computation, Altos Labs
BI
The number one thing that I do — that I think people should do — is exercise. Obviously, you have to figure out how much exercise and what type of exercise, but I think right now, holistically, it’s what gives you more benefit than any drug, any supplement stack, basically anything you can buy.
Is 20 minutes of exercise the new longevity recipe? This high-powered lawyer thinks so.
Daniel Belsky, associate professor of epidemiology, Columbia University, Columbia Aging Center
BI
I try to exercise regularly and to eat decently. That’s as far as I go.
I wouldn’t say I’m doing as much as I should be doing to sleep enough.
How to sleep like a millionaire
Evelyne Bischof, concierge doctor in internal medicine and healthy longevity
BI
I do intermittent fasting, pretty much religiously. No cheat days. I’m a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. kind of person. It’s not a crazy short interval, because I’m not overweight, so I have to be careful not to lose muscle.
And then I do muscle exercise and all of that, and supplement my deficiencies if I have any after checking.
The allure of fasting diets for successful people — and where they fall short
Alex Zhavoronkov, founder and CEO, Insilico Medicine
BI
The most important biomarker you can change today is your psychological age. This age is the most plastic. This is something that you can change by strategically deceiving yourself that you are going to live a very long life and you are going to behave as a younger individual. It’s very important to be very optimistic about the future.
A 96-year-old doctor retired only 4 years ago. He credits his longevity to career passion, a low-fat diet, and his cat.
Peter Fedichev, co-founder and CEO, Gero
BI
Having a purpose. I’m not religious, in any sense, but there is a profound biology that people on a mission tend to have higher chances to live long to achieve it.
Longevity experts who have met over 1,000 centenarians share 3 key differences between world’s oldest people
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