Longevity is often framed as a scientific challenge, but according to Dr. Damien Ng, the real question is far more human: how we experience the extra years we gain. As Senior Thematic Research Analyst at Bank Julius Baer, Dr. Ng examines the forces shaping demographics, longevity, and the future of healthcare, bringing together insights from economics, public policy, and population trends. In this conversation, he argues that the future of longevity will not be determined by breakthrough technologies alone, but by whether they become part of everyday life. From healthy aging and digital health to the reinvention of careers and the growing importance of purpose, Dr. Ng offers a global perspective on what it will take to turn longer lives into better lives.
Your career has crossed several industries. How did longevity become the common thread?
It started from looking at demographics, but also from my own experience moving between very different places. Growing up in Singapore and later living in cities like Paris and Zurich, I became more aware of how differently societies think about ageing, and what it actually means to live well over time. Some prioritise pace and efficiency, others care more about balance and quality of life. Over time, and through the data, I realised longevity is not just about healthcare. It is also about how people experience time as they get older. Whether they can stay independent, whether they feel connected to others, and whether they can age with a sense of dignity all matter. Much of this depends on how societies deal with things like loneliness, and whether people feel supported or increasingly on their own as they age.
Dr. Damien Ng
As populations age, which demographic changes do you see as most consequential?
What stands out is how quickly societies are aging, especially in developed markets, combined with shrinking workforces. At the same time, people are living longer but not always in good health. That gap will become more visible. The real issue is not aging itself, but whether those extra years are lived with independence and purpose, or increasingly shaped by chronic conditions. The real constraint is not aging; it is unhealthy aging.
What advances do you believe will have the biggest impact on healthspan?
The most promising developments are not a single breakthrough, but how different things come together. Progress in early detection and a better understanding of individual risk are clearly moving things forward. At the same time, innovation is increasingly judged by how it works in practice. Does it actually improve outcomes, and does it make systems more effective? You can see this in places like Singapore, where wearable devices have been distributed more widely to encourage people to stay active. It is a simple idea, but it only matters if it becomes part of everyday life. That is really the bottleneck. It is not discovery, but whether something fits into people’s lives in a way that lasts.
Which emerging technologies or breakthroughs excite you most today, and why?
What interests me most are tools that allow us to intervene earlier, before problems fully develop. For example, being able to measure biological age or spot risks sooner can shift the system toward prevention. But technology alone does not change outcomes. The real question is whether it meaningfully changes how people live over time. The breakthroughs that matter are the ones people actually use consistently in their daily lives. In other words, most breakthroughs fail not in the lab, but in daily life.
As digital health advances, how do you see the balance between technology and personal responsibility evolving?
I do not think technology can and should replace responsibility. When you can see more clearly what is happening with your own health, it becomes difficult to stay passive. But insight on its own does not automatically lead to change. The real challenge is reducing the friction between knowing and doing. This matters because in the end, most of what shapes our health happens in ordinary moments, not in clinical settings. What matters is whether these tools fit into everyday life in a way that makes better choices feel almost natural, rather than something you constantly have to push yourself to do.
If living healthily to 100 became common, what would need to change first: education, careers, or retirement?
Careers would likely shift first, because they shape how most people organise their lives. The idea of studying, working for a few decades, and then stopping feels increasingly outdated if people stay healthy for much longer. What is more realistic is a life that unfolds in stages, with periods of work, learning, and change. Over time, work may become less about a fixed path and more about evolving purpose.
What are we getting wrong about the future of longevity?
One common assumption is that scientific progress will automatically translate into better lives. I am not convinced it works that way. We might develop powerful tools, but still struggle to use them consistently or at scale. There is also a tendency to assume that living longer is inherently positive. Without thinking carefully about health, inequality, and how people find purpose over time, longer lives could just make existing problems more visible rather than resolve them. In the end, the deeper fear is not ageing itself, but losing a sense of relevance or purpose.
Hungary is building a science-driven longevity ecosystem under the leadership of Dr. Katalin Baucsek, LL.M. From your global perspective, what does it take for an emerging ecosystem to become internationally relevant?
It often comes down to whether ideas actually travel beyond a small circle. Strong science matters, but on its own it is not enough. What really makes the difference is how well it connects to healthcare, companies and policy, and whether people can actually use it in practice. Relevance comes from execution, not ambition. The ecosystems that stand out make this part of everyday reality. Hungary is taking solid first steps, and that is usually how it begins to build momentum. With more than one in five people already aged 65 and over in the country, the real opportunity is to translate this early progress into practical solutions that can scale.
If you could leave one message for the readers of Longevity Magazine, what would it be?
It is easy to think of longevity as something abstract or far away, but most of it is shaped in very ordinary ways. Small, consistent choices tend to matter more than big changes. At the same time, we are all influenced by the environments we live in. The real opportunity is when the two come together, so that living a longer, healthier life feels less like an effort and more like a natural way of living. Longevity ultimately compounds in the same way as anything else, through what we do consistently over time.
Dr. Damien Ng
Révész Boglárka – Longevity Magazin
