The 5 Longevity Markers Most Doctors Ignore After 40
Your annual physical tells you if you're "fine." It doesn't tell you if you're aging well.
After working with clients 40+, I've found the most important longevity markers are the ones most doctors never order:
1. VO2 Max — The single strongest predictor of all-cause mortality. A 50-year-old in the top 25% has roughly half the mortality risk of someone in the bottom 25%.
2. Grip Strength — Low grip strength is associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk, cognitive decline, and all-cause mortality. It's a proxy for total-body muscle quality.
3. HOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance) — Fasting glucose alone misses the picture. HOMA-IR catches metabolic dysfunction years before it shows up as diabetes.
4. ApoB — Forget total cholesterol. ApoB measures the actual number of atherogenic particles in your blood — the most accurate cardiovascular risk predictor we have.
5. Zone 2 Heart Rate Threshold — How efficiently your body uses fat for fuel. This declines with age and directly impacts energy, body composition, and mitochondrial health.
Every single one of these is trainable. The right protocol improves all five — and the returns compound over decades.
If you're 40+ and serious about not just living longer but living better, this is the work that moves the needle.