< Previous40 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAY 2 0 21 Peak brain performance for life? IS REVERSING THE AGING PROCESS FINALLY A REALITY? DR. SHAI EFRATI OF AVIV CLINICS, OPENING IN THE UAE, CLAIMS A RESOUNDING ‘YES’ THAT’S BACKED BY SCIENCE. THE IMPLICATIONS FOR LEADERS AND EXECUTIVES WHO WANT TO STAY AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME FOR LONGER ARE NOTHING LESS THAN REVOLUTIONARY By JOLA CHUDY HEALTH | AVIV CLINICSMAY 2 0 21 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 41 hile most people do not notice it, the aging process begins as early as age 30. In our 40s and 50s we start noticing the initial signs, we react a little slower, we have less energy, we start forgetting small things such as people’s names or where we put our keys, and more. Men and women in senior po- sitions and leadership roles are used to feeling that they’re the ‘top dog’ in the boardroom; business owners and CEOs looking to enhance and lengthen their peak performance have long turned to fundamentals such as optimal nutrition, regular medical screenings and an active lifestyle. Now there is a new treatment that offers clients a means of reversing much of this decline, improving physi- cal and cognitive performance, renew- ing vitality, increasing energy, enhancing memory and restoring peak performance. Leaders need to process information quickly and accurately, solve complex problems, make decisions under pres- sure and exhibit mental resilience. This requires being at the top of your cogni- tive game, in the same way an elite ath- lete needs to be in peak fitness. However, the reality is that aging compromises our performance. The Aviv Medical pro- gramme works to address that, not only to slow down the decline of brain and body, but to reverse some aspects of it. At the start of the programme each client undergoes three days of medical assessments, to understand their indi- W “THE PROGRAMME IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL MEANS FOR BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO KEEP THEIR EDGE AND MAINTAIN PEAK PERFORMANCE IN THEIR ROLES LEADING TEAMS, ORGANISATIONS, MINISTRIES, AND COUNTRIES” Backed by science The Aviv Medical Programme, offered at Aviv Clinics, is a breakthrough treatment that has been scientifically proven to reverse the physical and cognitive decline that accompanies the aging process AVIV CLINICS42 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAY 2 0 21 HEALTH | AVIV CLINICS vidual health profile and tailor a person- alized programme. “We do not claim to increase lifes- pan. We focus on increasing health-span – the amount of active, productive and healthy years an individual has, as well as restoring some of the physical and cog- nitive decline caused by aging. We treat aging and the associated decline in men- tal and physical performance as a disease that can be treated,” explains Dr. Shai Efrati, whose specialism includes dec- ades of research into ageing and associ- ated medical treatments. He is the direc- tor of the world-leading Sagol Centre for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at the Shamir Medical Center in Israel. Dr. Efrati’s research focusses on hy- perbaric medicine and brain rehabili- tation. He is a professor at the Sackler School of Medicine and the Sagol School of Neuroscience in Tel Aviv University. Since 2008, he has served as chairman of the Israeli Society for Diving and Hyper- baric Medicine. “Most of our clients report substan- tial improvements in cognitive functions such as memory, processing speed, ana- lytical thinking, sharpness and decision making, as well as improved physical per- formance, energy levels, improved sleep quality and reduction in chronic pain. “A leading CEO told us ‘I’m an ana- lytical person, used to thinking fast. Sud- denly, I noticed I was having to dedicate more effort to solving problems. Af- ter the treatment, I see solutions more clearly, as my thoughts have simply be- come sharper. I play tennis, and I’ve no- ticed my performance is better. I have a renewed source of energy to do things.’” Dr. Efrati is adamant that the Aviv Medical Programme is not about anti- aging, but about regaining peak perfor- mance and reversing some biological aspects of aging, including at the cellular level. He says that nothing, at present, will stop the biological process of ag- ing but that it can be treated, much like other diseases. He explains the treatment thus: Medicine man Dr. Efrati’s research focusses on hyperbaric medicine and brain rehabilitation General Cognitive Score Control HBOT 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 MemoryExecutive Function AttentionInformation Processing Speed NEUROCOGNITIVE PERFORMANCE CHANGES FOLLOWING HBOTMAY 2 0 21 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 43 “As we age, our bodies become less efficient at channelling oxygen to the various organs, depriving our organs of an adequate supply. This is why, as we get older, we start to notice our mind and body slowing down. The power of the 12- week Aviv programme lies in the combina- tion of our proprietary hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol, our patented cognitive training and physical training, and a per- sonalised nutritional programme.” Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in- volves breathing 100 percent pure oxy- gen in a special room known as a HBOT suite. The air in the suite is pressurized to above atmospheric levels, which in- creases oxygen levels in the body to 10-15 times higher than normal. “First, we increase the oxygen level you breathe through a mask in the HBOT suite. As you breathe it in, your blood- stream sends this oxygen to tissue in your body that has been deprived of it. Oxy- gen-saturated blood can bypass blood vessels which have become clogged or narrowed with age. This gives the brain and body the energy it needs to turbo- charge the healing process. Second, we fluctuate the level of oxygen you breathe when inside the HBOT suite. This varia- tion in oxygen supply triggers your body’s own regenerative mechanisms. Stem cells begin to proliferate, and new blood ves- sels are created – the two basic processes required for rejuvenating existing tissue and regenerating new tissue.” Over 1,000 clients have already been treated with the Aviv Medical Protocol, with an overwhelming ma- jority demonstrating increased physi- cal performance, as well as improve- ment in cognitive functions. “Our latest clinical trial has earned global recognition in the scientific and medical world as one that has success- fully reversed human aging at the cellular level,” says Dr. Efrati. “Much like an ath- lete breaking a world record that seemed physically impossible to achieve, once it is done, other athletes now understand the possibility. This is much the same – it is proof that human aging can be reversed, so people could live better for longer.” Aviv Clinics Dubai is located in Jumeirah Lake Towers is Dubai, and is the first medical science clinic of its kind in the region, and the second to be established anywhere in the world. See Aviv-clinics.com for more ee “OUR LATEST CLINICAL TRIAL HAS EARNED GLOBAL RECOGNITION AS ONE THAT HAS SUCCESSFULLY REVERSED HUMAN AGING” Regenerative Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing 100 percent pure oxygen in a special room known as a HBOT suite 38% INCREASE IN LENGTH OF TELOMERES AVIV CLINICSCAN YOU HACK YOUR WAY TO OPTIMAL HEALTH? By JOLA CHUDY CEO Middle East tests Bioniq LIFE, the ultimate in bespoke and personalised supplements to fi nd out… 44 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAY 2 0 21 HEALTH | BIONIQ LIFEMAY 2 0 21 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 45 nurse sits down next to me on my sofa and sticks a needle into my vein. It’s a slightly surreal experience, this hospital procedure far from an emergency room, but the collec- tion of vials of my blood that she care- fully places into a medical travel box is destined for a lab beyond the four walls of my apartment. I am undergoing a personalised screening based on blood tests and life- style evaluation to programme a com- pletely bespoke vitamin supplement. This is bioniq LIFE, a ‘biohacking’ ap- proach to optimal wellness. Biohack- ing is one of the latest buzzword trends to emerge from the wellness industry. Aimed at busy individuals who need to perform at their best, but find that life often conspires to make them feel that way, the programme promises to improve your overall wellbeing thanks to directly targeting any deficiencies or require- ments that the comprehensive blood tests will reveal. A few days later, and I receive a Whatsapp with a link to register myself onto bioniq’s website, where I can log in securely and read a list that details around 50 different aspects of my health as indicated by my blood. The test re- sults are the most thorough I’ve ever seen, and reveal a host of information. My vitamin and mineral levels, insulin, platelets, cholesterol and thyroid all get either a green, amber or red result based on current medical and scientific param- eters for good health. Overall, I consider myself to be in pretty solid health. My Garmin watch, which I wear almost constantly strapped to my wrist, tells me that I regularly “IF YOU TAKE YOUR PERSONALISED BIONIQ FORMULA RELIGIOUSLY, YOU SHOULD SOON START EXPERIENCING CHANGES SUCH AS BETTER SLEEP, HIGHER ENERGY, AND BETTER COGNITIVE ABILITIES” Biohacking Bioniq is a subscription-based service which analyses and tracks your health and nutritional status A BIONIQ LIFE46 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAY 2 0 21 achieve my daily step count. My V02Max is, I am smug to report, in the higher range for women half my age. I recently competed in a 50km desert ultramara- thon. My endurance and fitness is the best it has ever been. I don’t smoke, and rarely drink alcohol. I work full time, I am a mother. Of course I am sometimes tired. Getting up at 4am to run followed by a day at the office and then some ex- hausted parenting will do that to a gal. But could a vitamin and minerals supplement tailored to my exact require- ments – as revealed by the assortment of blood test results – turn me from an amateur endurance running working mother who needs to write everything down or it may as well not happen, into an actual superhuman? “Your test results are generally pretty good,” says Clarissa Lenherr, bioniq’s cer- tified nutritionist. “In the past, our tests, which are so comprehensive, have actually helped our clients identify more serious conditions. Yours seem fine.” She talks me through a few points that merit attention. Something called biliru- bin is in the red, and a little high. “Do you drink much coffee?” she asks me. “Around six or seven cups,” I reply. “A week?” “Um, a day.” To her credit, she remains coolly professional as she suggests that perhaps I may wish to reduce my intake, while stocking up on leafy green vegetables, peppers, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and high- fiber foods, including beans and lentils. A few months on the personalised supplement, which is delivered a week or so after my results, promises to make me feel like a new woman. “If you take your personalised bio- niq formula religiously, you should soon start experiencing positive changes such as better sleep, higher energy, and better cognitive abilities,” says Lenherr. The vitamins look a bit like birdfeed. Tiny, multi-coloured granules that taste a little citrusy, they arrive in a box con- taining a little silver ladle. I am to take one and a half ladles in the morning with food, and one at night. The granules are apparently more effective because they absorb better over a 12-hour period. Ad- ditionally, the vitamins have been spe- cifically tailored to me based on the test, ensuring that only the necessary ones are taken. They’re made on a base of Indian acacia and are suitable for vegans. But what is the company behind this supposed miracle solution to life’s most common modern-day ailment, namely feeling permanently exhausted by life itself? Bioniq LIFE, according to its bro- chure, is “an innovative, research- based health system which evolves with you on your journey to improved health. Brought to you by the health tech inno- vators bioniq, this subscription-based service cross-analyses and tracks your health and nutritional status, provid- ing in-depth information and recom- mendations based on your personal data, blood test results and the unique bioniq algorithm.” Its founder is serial entrepreneur and ex-athlete, Vadim Fedotov. Fitness Bioniq LIFE co-founder Vadim Fedotov is adamant that 70 percent of health depends on nutrition HEALTH | BIONIQ LIFEMAY 2 0 21 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 47 “As a former pro-athlete, I always had a keen interest in health, biohacking and wellness. At the age of 32, being a CEO at the largest media holding in Eastern and Central Europe, I stopped feeling at the top of my performance. I went to a doc- tor who made me do various extensive, expensive tests — only to conclude that “I was not ill”. I was looking for something to help me optimise my physical, men- tal and cognitive abilities. This is when I realised that the market did not have a company that provides personalised solu- tions. With my partner and co-founder of bioniq, Dr. Karuzin, we have built a start- up based on his multiple clinical trials and medical experience with top companies like Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline.” The bioniq database consists of more than 2 million biochemical parameters obtained repeatedly from 12,000 people over the past eight years. This base is one of the largest in the world. Fedotov is adamant that 70 percent of health depends on nutrition. “Bioniq is not “wonder pills” that will fix everything. Our health and bodies are complex and affected by a number of factors, including nutrition, quality of sleep, stress levels, activity levels, even climate and weather.” As part of the bioniq journey, clients have regular consultations with nutri- tionists, who advise on how to integrate a suitable meal plan into their lives based on an individual blood test and health status. The blood tests are repeated every two months with 50 parameters, allowing clients to track progress and status. So what of my superhuman status fol- lowing a few months on bioniq Life? Well, the jury is a little out in this regard. I do feel like my brain feels a bit more alert, and my tiredness levels, which weren’t too dramatically bad to begin with, feel relatively levelled out. Reducing my caf- feine intake was a solid call anyway, as it had spiralled a little out of control. I’d made a conscious effort at the beginning of the year to streamline my life anyway, in a bid to claw back precious time that had stopped feeling like my own. Could my newfound determination to have zero tolerance for timewasting activities and individuals be the reason I feel a little more Zen and in control, or could tweaking my nutrients and min- erals to optimally address my body’s requirements have given me that edge? It’s hard to say, but as someone who wholeheartedly agrees with Fedotov that good nutrition underpins so much of our health, I can’t see any harm in investing in such a rigorously applied nutrient pro- gramme. Now, if only I could biohack my deadlines, I’d be all set. “BIONIQ LIFE IS AN INNOVATIVE, RESEARCH-BASED HEALTH SYSTEM WHICH EVOLVES WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY TO IMPROVED HEALTH” Nutrient supplement Bioniq is not “wonder pills” that will fix everything, according to Fedotov 2 MILLION THE NUMBER OF BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS BIONIQ OBTAINED FROM 12,000 PEOPLE OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS BIONIQ LIFE48 C EO M I D D L E E A S T MAY 2 0 21 TIME | ROLEX ith the roll out of the vaccine and people heading back to the physical workspace, it can be a jarring experience to navigate a very different world and readjust to so- cial interactions and everyday life after being indoors for over a year. It can trigger feelings of anxiety and concern for our well-being and those of our loved ones. Employers need to be cognizant of that and ensure consid- erations are in place for their team in order to make the transition back to the workplace smoother. If your team mem- ber isn’t feeling mentally great, it will have an impact on their productivity and eventually trickle down and impact the business. It’s imperative that steps are taken to better support team well-being. Think about the bottom line: An involved team is “more profitable” and “teams who score in the top 20 percent in engagement realise a 41 percent reduction in absenteeism, and 59 percent less turnover.” Read on as Aakanksha Tangri, Founder of online resource platform Re:Set provides a few easy steps to help boost productivity in the workplace whilst being mindful of employees’ mental health: Telecommuting Look into letting your team rotate schedules and work from home two days a week to ease them back into the workplace. Allowing them to do a grad- ual transition will help assuage their anxiety about reentering the world. It will also help in practising social distancing measures in the workplace and give you time to figure out what’s working and what doesn’t. Now is the time to embrace flexibility. Consideration for parents If you have parents working on your team, look at how you can better support them. This summer will be difficult for them as their children remain primarily indoors. Whether it’s letting them work remotely or being considerate of their family life with HOW MENTAL HEALTH CAN IMPACT WORKSPACE PRODUCTIVITY If your team member isn’t feeling mentally great, it will have an impact on their productivity and eventually trickle down and impact the business BY AAKANKSHA TANGRI, FOUNDER OF RE:SET W HEALTHMAY 2 0 21 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 49 HEALTH appointments, accommodating their needs will help improve their well-being and reduce stress levels. By reducing the challenges of juggling family with work during this time, it will boost their overall well-being and employees will be more productive as a result. Continue WFH If you can, look at whether your team has the option to continue working from home for the next few months. Al- low employees to decide for themselves if they prefer to come into the office or continue to self-isolate, especially for those who are immunocompromised or just feel more comfortable in a con- trolled environment. By giving employ- ees a choice in making a decision about their well-being, it will help curb any uneasy thoughts they may have about returning to work. Social distancing and hygiene measures One of the most effective ways to sup- port employee well-being is to have adequate social distancing and hygiene measures in place in accordance with government guidelines. Ask the employees what measures would make them feel more comfortable: whether it’s more hand sanitizers, making face masks and gloves available, regular testing, temperature checks or reshuf- fling the office layout to practice social distancing. Knowing their concerns are being taken into account and steps made to address them will contribute towards their workplace well-being. Employee wellness program Look at implementing a workplace wellness program to help in normal- ising conversations around mental health at work and aid employees in their well-being journey. The benefits of an employee wellness program are plenty including increased morale, bet- ter mental health, staff retention and company growth and culture. Mental health challenges have become ampli- fied under Covid-19 and now is the time to address them collectively. Of course, there are also many online resources, such as Re:Set, that are there to sup- port and offer solutions, education and words of encouragement via community conversations which you can direct your employees to for further support. ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES IF THEY PREFER TO COME INTO THE OFFICE OR CONTINUE TO SELF-ISOLATE.” “MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES HAVE BECOME AMPLIFIED UNDER COVID-19 AND NOW IS THE TIME TO ADDRESS THEM.” Does your team need distance? A flexible working approach can support employee happiness.Next >