Ask the Integrative GP:
What is Longevity Medicine, and where does Integrative General Practice fit in?
By Dr Hazel Batten, Integrative GP at Remede Wellness Medicine
I keep hearing about longevity clinics and biological age tests. Is this something my GP can help with, or is it just a trend?”
It’s a great question, and one I’m hearing more often in clinic.
Longevity medicine is a growing field focused on healthspan: the number of years we live in good health, with energy, independence and a clear mind. It isn’t about chasing an extra decade at any cost. It’s about reducing the risk of the chronic conditions that tend to take those good years away: heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, frailty and cognitive decline.
It’s worth knowing that longevity medicine is not a recognised medical specialty in Australia. Some overseas organisations offer longevity certifications, but no doctor here can be registered as a “longevity specialist.” What you can look for is a doctor who takes a thorough, preventive, evidence informed approach to your long term health.
Why This Way of Working Matters to Me
Before integrative medicine, I spent time in palliative care. Sitting with people at the end of life, I often heard the same reflection: they wished they had understood their health sooner, while there was still room to change its course. That stayed with me.
When I began training in integrative medicine in 2021, I found a way of practising that asks different questions. Not only “what is wrong?” but “why is this happening, and what might happen next?” For many of the women I see, perimenopause is where those questions become urgent. It’s often the first time sleep, mood, weight, joints and energy all shift at once, and it’s also when long term risks to the heart, bones and brain begin to change.
My clinical interests have taught me that people rarely fit neatly into one box. Someone with hypermobility, mast cell issues or an autoimmune condition may experience midlife very differently, and their plan needs to reflect that.
Longevity, to me, is simply this work extended over time: understanding your individual picture, acting early where it counts, and staying alongside you as things change. It’s less about adding years and more about protecting the ones that matter most to you.
Where Integrative General Practice and Longevity Overlap
Much of what gets called longevity medicine is what good preventive general practice has always aimed to do, with more time and more depth. In my own practice, that looks like:
Looking more carefully at cardiovascular risk. Standard cholesterol results don’t always tell the full story. Where clinically appropriate, markers such as ApoB and lipoprotein(a) can give a clearer picture. Lp(a) is largely inherited and only needs measuring once in most people, yet many have never had it checked.
Catching metabolic change before it becomes disease. Insulin resistance can develop quietly for years. Picking it up early gives us time to act with nutrition, movement, sleep and, where needed, medical treatment.
Treating menopause as a turning point for long term health. The hormonal transition affects bone density, cardiovascular risk, muscle mass, sleep and brain health. For suitable women, MHT can be part of a broader plan, alongside strength training, adequate protein and attention to bone health. This is a big part of my work and, I think, one of the most overlooked pieces of women’s longevity.
Protecting muscle and bone. Muscle is one of our most important assets as we age. Strength, fitness and bone density are all worth assessing and building, at any age.
Considering nutrition and environment. I’m currently undertaking a Fellowship with the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM), which looks at how nutrient status, gut health, inflammation and environmental exposures influence chronic disease. These factors sit at the heart of healthy ageing.
Using genomic insights carefully. Genetic testing can sometimes help personalise advice, for example around nutrient metabolism. It’s one piece of information, not a crystal ball, and is best interpreted alongside your history and other results.
A Note of Caution
The longevity space attracts a lot of marketing. Be wary of anything promising to “reverse” your age, very large supplement regimes, or expensive treatments with limited evidence behind them. Many products promoted online are not approved in Australia. Biological age tests are an interesting area of research, but results can vary between tests and their clinical usefulness is still being established.
The foundations remain the most powerful tools we have: regular movement including strength work, good sleep, a whole food diet, meaningful connection, not smoking, moderating alcohol and managing stress. The role of a thoughtful doctor is to help you understand your individual risks, prioritise what matters most for you, and use testing and treatment where it genuinely adds value.
Is it For You?
If you’d like to take a more proactive look at your long term health, particularly through perimenopause, menopause and beyond, book a longer consultation with your GP. Bring your questions, your family history and any previous results, and ask what a preventive plan might look like for you.
*This article is general information only and not a substitute for individual medical advice.*