Woman spends £300k on anti-aging treatments to live to 130
A woman has reportedly spent £300,000 on anti-aging treatments in an effort to live to 130, highlighting the growing interest in longevity and biohacking.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
An 88-year-old woman has spent more than £300,000 on anti-aging treatments in a bid to live to 130, as the booming biohacking industry moves from the fringes into the mainstream. Helga Sands, a self-described biohacker, takes more than 50 supplements a day and has travelled abroad for experimental gene therapy and exosome treatments made from amniotic fluid. She says she feels decades younger and has no intention of slowing down.
Sands is part of a growing movement that uses data, technology and medical interventions to slow the aging process. Once the preserve of multimillionaires like tech entrepreneur Brian Johnson, who has spent millions on his own anti-aging protocol, the industry is now selling tests and gadgets to ordinary consumers. In the UK alone, the anti-aging market is estimated to be worth over £2.5 billion a year.
But scientists warn that the field is something of a 'wild west' and that many tests and treatments lack solid evidence. A biological age test taken by Sands and a reporter found Sands' biological age to be eight years younger than her actual age, while the reporter's was 18 years younger. However, experts say such results do not necessarily mean a longer life. 'That doesn't mean you've got an extra 20 years of life at the end,' one researcher said. The most reliable interventions remain diet and exercise, though even those may not extend lifespan, only improve health in later years.
Sands remains undeterred. She says she has seen positive effects, including better sleep, more energy and no jet lag. 'I would think probably I'm in my 50s or 60s, 20 years younger definitely,' she said. Whether she reaches 130 remains to be seen, but her story highlights the growing appetite for longevity and the questions around what science can really deliver.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| Helga Sands has spent more than £300,000 on anti-aging treatments. | |
| Helga Sands' biological age test showed she was eight years younger than her actual age. | |
| The UK anti-aging industry is worth over £2.5 billion a year. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the personal story of Helga Sands, her spending and her determination, while also questioning the scientific validity of biohacking. It includes a biological age test, expert commentary, and context on the size of the anti-aging industry. The tone is balanced but slightly sceptical, highlighting the gap between claims and evidence.
- “I don't think 100 is my limit, no. We're talking more like 130, maybe.”
- “Biohacking is a booming trend, focused on using data, tech and treatments to slow down aging.”
- “I think the problem here is it's a bit of a wild west of a market at the moment.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.