Healthspan: A global imperative for humanityʼs future
Healthspan science has the potential to transform ageing from a burden into an opportunity for all
Around the world, people are living longer than ever before. However, too often those later years are marked by poor health and decline. Healthspan (the years lived in good health) offers a different future, one where quality of life keeps pace with length of life. Once little known, healthspan is now at the centre of global attention, uniting scientists, innovators, policymakers and the public in a shared ambition: to ensure that ageing well is possible for everyone, everywhere.
As populations around the world age at an unprecedented rate, the urgency of advancing healthspan science is undeniable. By 2050, the number of people over 60 is expected to more than double, surpassing 2 billion. Yet on average, humanity continues to lose nearly a decade of life to poor health in later years. This gap between lifespan and healthspan is exacting a staggering toll on individuals and families, healthcare systems and national economies.
From Concept to Movement
The Hevolution Foundation was established with a straightforward mission: to convene and catalyse the healthspan science field, extending healthy human lifespan for the benefit of all. In just three years, we have allocated over $400 million across research grants, partnerships and biotech investments to accelerate the fields of healthspan and ageing biology globally. This makes us the largest philanthropic funder of healthspan science globally.
This work is part of a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–led commitment to advancing healthspan as a global priority, reflecting the country’s growing role in shaping solutions to humanity’s most pressing health and economic challenges.
We have supported nearly 200 grants and 230 grantees, launched more than 25 partnerships, and made early investments in biotech companies with the potential to deliver transformative therapies. We fund New Investigator Awards to attract the brightest young scientists into the field. We are also proud to have funded Saudi Arabia’s first generation of ageing scientists.
Beyond funding, Hevolution has convened the global conversation. Through the world’s largest convening of its kind, the Global Healthspan Summit (held every other year since 2023, with participation from leaders in government, science, business and international non-profit organisations, as well as biotech and big pharma), we have opened new doors to global-scale collaboration.
Healthspan as Economic Policy
The case for healthspan is scientific and profoundly economic. Longer lives lived in poor health strain every aspect of society, from healthcare budgets to workforce productivity. Conversely, adding even a single year of good health to older populations would unlock trillions in economic value. Healthspan is not a niche concern, it is an economic imperative.
Our second Global Healthspan Report highlights that momentum is growing. Investments in the field more than doubled in 2024 to $7.3 billion, and average deal sizes have risen by 77% since 2020. Public demand is also surging, with two-thirds of medical professionals reporting regular patient inquiries about healthspan interventions. But despite these encouraging signals, the field remains severely under-invested compared to the scale of the challenge.
The Path Forward
Realising the potential of healthspan will not happen by chance. It requires systemic action across research, investment, policy and public engagement. Governments must create the fiscal and regulatory space to accelerate progress. Investors must step in to fund the transition from lab to market. Policymakers must integrate healthspan into public health strategies with an emphasis on prevention and equity.
And crucially, advocacy must remain grounded in evidence. Too often, the broader ʻlongevityʼ conversation is clouded by exaggerated claims that risk undermining credibility. To maintain trust, the healthspan movement must speak with clarity, humility and rigour.
At Hevolution, our goal is to catalyse, not dominate, this field. In fact, true success will be evident when, five years from now, our $400 million allocation appears small in comparison to a thriving global ecosystem of funders, innovators, and policymakers committed to advancing healthspan at scale.
Conclusion
Healthspan is about ensuring that the years people already live are healthier, more purposeful and more fulfilling. It is about creating societies where older adults can remain active and connected, while economies benefit from the contributions of healthier populations.
At Hevolution, our vision is to lead and help spark a global movement. True accomplishment will be when the collective investment, innovation and ambition of the world far surpass our own, making healthspan a universal priority embedded into science, health care, and policy.
The opportunity before us is extraordinary. Together, we can build a future where ageing well is not the privilege of a few but a shared reality for everyone, everywhere.
As a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–led global initiative, Hevolution is proud to lead this effort, ensuring that Saudi leadership contributes to a healthier and more prosperous future for all humanity.
