Health Span vs. Lifespan: How DNA Testing Can Help You Thrive in Later Years

If you’re over 50, you’ve probably started thinking a bit differently about the years ahead. Maybe you’re picturing retirement, new hobbies, or travel. But what if the real question isn’t just how long you’ll live – it’s how well you’ll live? In the premiere episode of the Your Second Fifty podcast, Alan Ogden lays out the critical difference between health span and lifespan, and shares how personalized DNA testing offers a practical, empowering blueprint for making those later years truly vibrant.

Health Span vs. Lifespan: What’s the Real Goal?

Most of us have heard the word “lifespan” before – that’s simply how many years you’ll be around. But Alan points out that “health span is how well you live during your lifespan.” It’s about the quality of life, not just the quantity. The vision: to keep doing what you love until the very end, “almost like being a candle burning bright, bright, bright, and then at the end it just flickers out and dies.” That’s how Laurent, Alan’s co-host, frames it, and Alan emphasizes, “your DNA literally is your candle.”

Alan’s focus isn’t on squeezing out a few more years just for the sake of numbers. Instead, he’s passionate about helping people “increase our quality of life and being able to do what we love to do until the end.” The message is clear: the way to thrive as you age is to pay attention to your health span, making choices that keep your “candle” shining for as long – and as brightly – as possible.

DNA: Your Blueprint for Personalized Health (Not Just Ancestry!)

When people hear “DNA test,” they might immediately think of ancestry and family history. Alan warns not to confuse the two: “We’re not talking about your ancestry… We’re talking about your DNA and how it relates to something we would call health span.” While ancestry is interesting and might answer some trivia questions, Alan says, functional DNA testing is all about the here and now – “enjoying your life to the best that you can.”

He explains that your DNA isn’t going to change, which makes DNA testing profoundly useful. According to Alan, getting tested gives you a roadmap: “how you can best work through exercise, lifestyle, diet, supplements, all the things that people are confused about because we get so much information on the Internet. But this is your DNA. It’s not going to change. You have this test once. If you haven’t had it before 50, you definitely need it at 50 in order to enjoy your life to the max and know that you’re doing the right things for you.”

Why Personalized Over Generic Advice?

Think you can follow popular diets or generic workout regimens and get the same results as everyone else? Alan argues otherwise. Your DNA reflects “a culmination of all the people in your background and how it relates to you now and moving forward.” It’s the personal blueprint for optimal choices – and it’s yours alone.

He shares that the DNA tests he recommends go far beyond the usual “five to seven gene pairs” for methylation; they look at 220 different genetic pairs and can even help tailor medication choices. Alan describes it as “the most important and critical test that I personally have ever had done… to enable me to know what I can do to make my life, that health span as best as I can into the future.”

Epigenetics: Your Genes Aren’t a Fixed Sentence

One common question is how much your inherited genes actually impact your health and life. Alan touches on the study of epigenetics, which he describes as “how our genes are expressing and there are definite factors that can improve how our genes will express.” Even if you have a challenging gene, like the Alzheimer’s gene, Alan explains this isn’t deterministic: “This is not diagnostic. This is just a measure of risk. So let’s say it’s a hundred percent risk factor. Well, that doesn’t mean that you’re destined to get Alzheimer’s. It means you can now handle the risks that would push you in that direction. And that’s epigenetics, right? That’s getting the best out of those genes.”

“Without that information, you’re just guessing. And now you don’t have to guess. You go, oh, that’s where I’m at in this particular gene sequencing. And this is the things I can do about it that I know. And they’re kind of clinically proven to help me avoid as much as possible.” – Alan Ogden

This is why Alan sees DNA testing as such an empowering tool for anyone over 50. With the knowledge of your unique code, you can shift from uncertainty and one-size-fits-all advice to truly personalized strategies.

Practical Takeaways: What DNA-Based Wellness Looks Like After 50

Curious what you actually do with a DNA test? According to Alan, you get an actionable summary that guides your lifestyle choices. For example, Laurent’s own DNA test revealed a “25% risk of Alzheimer’s,” which Alan calls “very low,” and a “100% risk marker” for emotional eating. These aren’t just random numbers: they’re signals for what to focus on. Alan explains, “So if somebody wasn’t aware of [the Alzheimer’s risk], and they were doing certain things in their life, like not exercising, like not taking care of their vitamins, not just not taking care of themselves, well, then that risk factor becomes more in play, right?”

When it comes to emotional eating, Alan interprets the genetic marker as a tendency for the brain to drive cravings under stress – not necessarily genuine hunger. Laurent confirms that he’s experienced exactly that during athletic events. Alan’s explanation: “Generally, what we’re trying to satisfy then is not a physical body need. It’s a brain need. It’s your brain sending a signal, it’s your brain driving that ‘I need to eat.’ And generally, we eat something that will satisfy the brain need.”

But the data isn’t delivered as overwhelming jargon. Alan notes, “When it comes back, it’s data. It’s not like mumbo jumbo data that you have to…” Instead, it’s presented with clear summaries (such as risk percentages and color-coded highlights), making it “easy for… people to read.”

Follow-Up: Using Your DNA Report With Your Doctor

• Alan recommends using your DNA results to guide future medical care: “I will even go through what blood tests they should absolutely do for the rest of their life with their doctor. So you can go, you know, go for an annual physical. They do a blood panel… But now you can go to your doctor and say, no, no, really, I need, I had my genetics done. And here’s certain tests that I need to follow based on my genetics.”
• He emphasizes this is about moving into the realm of epigenetics and targeted action: “We can do that with our exercise genes, with our, our VO2 max, and all these things you hear people talking about. Well, now you have in your hand, the actual genetic summary that will allow you to utilize those.”
• For many, this can even help reduce the need for medication, by personalizing prevention.

Conclusion: Own Your Health Span With DNA Insights

Alan’s perspective throughout the podcast is clear: DNA testing after 50 isn’t about tracing your family tree – it’s about unlocking your own potential for vitality, energy, and meaningful engagement. Knowing your unique genetic roadmap empowers you to make decisions you can trust, from nutrition and exercise to supplement choices and medical checkups.

If you’re ready to approach your “Second Fifty” with clarity and confidence, consider following Alan’s recommendation: get your DNA tested and use your results as a living, functional guide. The goal isn’t a longer life, but a better one.

Curious to dive deeper and hear Alan’s practical advice first-hand? Check out the Your Second Fifty podcast, and take the first step towards maximizing your health span – not just your lifespan!