Longevity screening in China — the 6-pillar preventive assessment that tells you not just what is happening now, but what your body is building towards over the next 20 years. From £2,500. Combine with a Yangtze wellness cruise.
Longevity screening asks different questions than standard diagnostics. Not "what is broken?" but "what trajectory is this body on, and how do we alter it?" It is built on six interconnected assessment pillars that together give a picture of how fast you are ageing and where the leverage points are.
The leading driver of premature biological ageing. Full cardiac suite (ECG, echo, carotid duplex, CT calcium score) plus advanced metabolic panel including insulin resistance, Lp(a) and ApoB — the biomarkers your GP typically doesn't check.
How old is your body at a cellular level — and how does that differ from your chronological age? DNA methylation testing (epigenetic clock) and telomere length measurement give a quantified biological age and rate-of-ageing score.
Chronic low-grade inflammation is the root mechanism of most age-related disease. Advanced inflammatory panel: hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α, ferritin, ESR — plus full immune cell profiling to identify dysregulation before symptoms appear.
Brain MRI for structural assessment. Cognitive function testing (memory, processing speed, executive function). Neurotrophic markers (BDNF), homocysteine, and ApoE genotyping for Alzheimer's risk stratification.
NAD+ metabolite levels, CoQ10, oxidative stress markers and mitochondrial function assessment. This pillar addresses the energy production capacity at cellular level — a key driver of physical and cognitive decline with age.
Complete hormonal profiling across thyroid (TSH, T3, T4, antibodies), adrenal (cortisol, DHEA-S), growth axis (IGF-1, HGH) and sex hormones. Hormonal decline is a key mediator of physical ageing — and one of the most reversible.
From foundational metabolic and cardiovascular baseline to full 7-module longevity assessment with Yangtze cruise recovery. Every programme includes bilingual escort, English reports and specialist consultation.
Every validated longevity intervention involves the same mechanisms: stress reduction, movement, sleep quality, social connection, cognitive engagement and exposure to natural environments. The 7-night Yangtze River wellness cruise delivers all of these.
Most longevity patients find that receiving and processing their full results — understanding what the biomarkers mean, what to change, what to prioritise — is best done away from the pressures of daily life. The cruise provides exactly that: seven days of structured recovery and reflection aboard a premium river vessel, passing through one of China's most extraordinary landscapes.
The programme includes daily wellness activities (yoga, Tai Chi, guided meditation), nutritional consultation, shore excursions to ancient sites and natural parks, and a follow-up consultation with your physician before you return home.
Standard GP blood tests measure about 12 markers. Our Advanced Longevity Panel measures 80+. Here are the six categories that matter most for predicting and influencing long-term health trajectory.
DNA methylation clocks (Horvath, GrimAge) quantify biological age. Telomere length measurement tracks cellular ageing rate. Together they tell you how fast your body is ageing relative to your chronological age.
Markers: DNAm GrimAge, telomere length (T/S ratio)
Standard cholesterol panels miss most heart attack risk. Lp(a), ApoB, hsCRP, oxidised LDL, homocysteine and CT calcium score give a complete cardiovascular risk picture that your UK GP is unlikely to have.
Markers: Lp(a), ApoB, ApoA1, hsCRP, homocysteine, ox-LDL, CT calcium
NAD+ levels decline with age and predict mitochondrial dysfunction. CoQ10, oxidative stress markers, insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR), HbA1c and fasting insulin reveal metabolic health before diabetes develops.
Markers: NAD+ metabolites, CoQ10, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, fasting insulin, 8-OHdG
Chronic inflammation drives cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration. Full inflammatory panel plus immune cell profiling identifies "inflammaging" — chronic low-grade inflammation that accelerates biological ageing.
Markers: hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α, ferritin, ESR, NK cell activity, CD4/CD8 ratio
Complete endocrine profiling across thyroid, adrenal, growth and sex hormone axes. Includes DHEA-S (a validated longevity biomarker), IGF-1, cortisol diurnal rhythm and full sex hormone panel (testosterone, oestradiol, SHBG).
Markers: DHEA-S, IGF-1, TSH/T3/T4, cortisol, testosterone, oestradiol, SHBG, progesterone
Brain MRI for structural assessment. BDNF (neuroplasticity marker), ApoE4 genotype (Alzheimer's risk), homocysteine (brain health), vitamin B12/folate, and cognitive performance assessment across memory, processing speed and executive function.
Markers: BDNF, ApoE genotype, homocysteine, B12, folate, brain MRI volume
Everything UK patients ask about longevity screening abroad in China.
Standard health screening asks "what is wrong now?" Longevity screening asks "what is likely to go wrong over the next 20–30 years, and what can we do to prevent it?" It incorporates advanced biomarkers (telomere length, epigenetic age, NAD+ levels), cardiovascular risk modelling, metabolic health optimisation and cognitive function assessment — alongside standard diagnostics. See our private health screening guide for the full diagnostic breakdown.
The NHS does not offer longevity screening. UK private longevity clinics (Bupa, Bluecrest, Lanserhof) charge £5,000–£15,000 for equivalent assessments. Our China programme delivers comparable or superior diagnostic depth at £2,500–£5,200, with results in 24–48 hours. The cost difference on a like-for-like basis is 60–75%. See our NHS alternative screening page for cost comparisons.
Our advanced longevity panel includes: standard metabolic markers (60+ biomarkers), extended cardiovascular risk (Lp(a), ApoB, hsCRP, homocysteine), hormonal profile (IGF-1, DHEA-S, cortisol, sex hormones), inflammatory markers, methylation panel (epigenetic age), telomere length assessment, NAD+ metabolite levels, and cognitive performance screening. The full panel is detailed on our pricing page.
Yes — this is our most popular longevity option. The Ultimate Longevity package combines your full 7-module assessment with a 7-night Yangtze River wellness cruise. Many longevity patients find the physical and psychological benefits of the cruise complement the screening results — rest, movement, cultural engagement and reduced stress are all validated longevity interventions. See the full Yangtze Wellness Cruise programme for details.
Longevity screening is most actionable from age 35 onwards, when lifestyle-driven metabolic and cardiovascular changes begin to accumulate and are still highly reversible. The earlier you baseline your biomarkers, the more meaningful future comparisons become. We have patients ranging from 35 to 75 — the intervention strategies differ significantly by age group, and our MDT consultation will tailor recommendations accordingly.
A free consultation is all it takes to understand what longevity screening would tell you, which programme is right for your age and health priorities, and what a trip to China actually involves. No pressure. No commitment.
Also explore: NHS Alternative Screening · Private Screening in China Guide · Pricing
Guides on preventive health, longevity and medical tourism in China