7 new breakthroughs that help us live longer

Gene therapy

The CDC estimates that at least 23,000 Americans die each year from hospital-acquired superbug infections.

These superbugs have become resistant to many antibiotics, but now scientists think they can treat drug-resistant strains by recoding the bacteria's DNA, a breakthrough that could help doctors quickly identify pneumonia caused by MRSA, C-diff and Streptococcus pneumonia.

Gamma Knife

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a major breakthrough in the treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors, which are difficult (and sometimes impossible) to reach with traditional surgery.

Instead of cutting through skin and bone, doctors treat brain and spinal cord tumors with a GammaKnife, Perfexion, CyberKnife, or any of several 3-D radiosurgery tools that deliver radiation to the target without damaging surrounding tissue. Recovery is faster, and radiosurgery is often performed as an outpatient procedure.

Cancer vaccines

Vaccines, an old and effective way to prevent disease, have been updated in recent times. There are now several widely available and proven effective cancer vaccines, and health experts recommend that all girls get vaccinated against HPV (human papillomavirus), which is sexually transmitted and can lead to cervical cancer.

Less successful are cancer vaccines. Medicine is still waiting for a breakthrough, but the evidence is promising.

Better medicine

Half of people with diabetes will die from heart disease. As they get older, the risk increases. But two new drugs may help reverse this risk. Empagliflozin works with the kidneys to slow or reverse the progression of heart disease.

Liraglutide works with other organs to slow the deterioration of the cardiovascular system. Although type 2 diabetes is still on the rise, these new drug breakthroughs can extend the lives of diabetics and help them live longer.

Tiny robot

Robots large and small have changed the way drugs are delivered and medical treatments are administered, in ways that are making science fiction closer to reality.

In addition to robots performing surgery, remotely controlled by trained doctors, machines with artificial intelligence, automation and high precision allow surgery with smaller incisions, reducing infection rates, recovery time and damage to surrounding tissues.

Still other robots—tiny robots—are released into the body, from which they can deliver drugs to very specific, targeted locations.

Scan food information

As people move away from processed foods and toward healthier options, we often hear that “food is medicine.” In fact, good nutrition not only prevents certain diseases, it also makes you feel better and healthier.

But it's not always easy to know the nutritional profiles of different fruits and vegetables, or whether a particular food contains gluten or lactose, which can be harmful to the gut.

That is why food scanners have become a real breakthrough to live better and treat your own diseases. Currently, companies like Scio, Tellspec and Target have apps that scan and provide nutritional information about different foods.

As this technology develops, we will soon be able to scan a steak or cake and see what ingredients it contains, in what amounts, and whether it is safe to eat.

Wearable fitness tracker

Gym technology is also a major medical breakthrough. Trackers and smartwatches track our daily activity, giving us real-time feedback on whether we are moving too little, how many more steps or stairs we need to walk to reach our goals, how many calories we have burned and what our heart rate is like while doing it.

These wearables have changed the way we think about fitness, and given us the encouragement and awareness to get off the couch and get fit.