"We still carry the outdated belief that aging is a process of inevitable decline — physically, mentally, and emotionally. But science is telling us a different story."
Q. What drew you to specialize in aging and longevity, and how did your personal journey shape that path?
My journey into aging and longevity began when I started my Master’s in Medical Genetics. It was a turning point in my life — both professionally and personally.During this time, I had the privilege of collaborating with leading scientists in the field of aging here in Austria. Their work opened my eyes to a powerful truth: aging is not inherently a degenerative process. It’s a complex, dynamic journey — one that we can shape and influence.
Through lifestyle, mindset, and science-based strategies, we can nurture vitality, resilience, and even cellular renewal.
What deeply shaped this path for me was personal loss. I lost my brother at 19 and my mother at 24. For many years, I lived in survival mode — functioning, but not truly living.
Through lifestyle, mindset, and science-based strategies, we can nurture vitality, resilience, and even cellular renewal.
What deeply shaped this path for me was personal loss. I lost my brother at 19 and my mother at 24. For many years, I lived in survival mode — functioning, but not truly living.
Grief colored much of my early adulthood, and time felt like something to endure rather than embrace.
But during my studies, for the first time in years, I felt reconnected to purpose. I realized that while I had spent my career surrounded by the science of life, I hadn’t truly honored my own.
But during my studies, for the first time in years, I felt reconnected to purpose. I realized that while I had spent my career surrounded by the science of life, I hadn’t truly honored my own.
This realization became the foundation of my philosophy on aging — that it’s not just about adding years to life, but about returning to a life fully lived.
Q. Your visual style communicates calm, balance, and inner strength. How important is the environment and aesthetic in shaping overall well-being?
Our environment is one of the most critical factors in how we age — not just biologically, but emotionally and spiritually.
A toxic environment, whether it’s physical clutter, chronic stress, or surrounding ourselves with people who drain us, can accelerate inflammation, disrupt our nervous system, and quietly wear us down over time.
Creating a calm and intentional space — both externally and internally — is not about perfection, it’s about regulation. It’s about giving the body a signal that it is safe, supported, and held.
That’s why I’m drawn to aesthetics that reflect simplicity, nature, and grounding energy. These choices are not superficial; they’re functional. They support healing.
I believe that beauty — in our surroundings, our rituals, our relationships — is a form of nourishment. It’s how we invite softness, clarity, and strength into our daily lives. A well-designed space, a peaceful color palette, even the lighting in a room, can change the way we breathe, sleep, and age.
In the end, environment is not just where we live — it’s how we live. And that makes all the difference.
Q. Many people fear aging, associating it with decline. How do you help reframe that narrative through your coaching and philosophy?
We still carry the outdated belief that aging is a process of inevitable decline — physically, mentally, and emotionally. But science is telling us a different story. With advances in genetics, cellular biology, and AI-driven research, we now understand that many aspects of aging are not fixed. They’re modifiable.
Through my coaching, I help clients understand that aging is not a diagnosis — it’s a dynamic biological process that can be influenced.
We work with evidence-based tools to support mitochondrial health, reduce chronic inflammation, regulate stress, and optimize metabolic and cognitive function. Aging becomes something we can actively engage with — not fear.
My role is to shift the narrative from decline to design: using science, lifestyle, and mindset to create a healthier, more vibrant second half of life.
Q. What are three small daily practices you believe make a significant long-term difference in how we age—physically, mentally, or emotionally?
First: Surrounding yourself with people who make you feel emotionally safe — supportive relationships protect our health on a cellular level.
Second: Eating simple, nourishing meals based on the Mediterranean diet — rich in healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants.
Third: Daily movement with intention — especially muscle-building exercises. As we age, maintaining strength is key for metabolism, mobility, and longevity.
Small, consistent actions like these create the foundation for aging well — with strength, clarity, and resilience.
Q. You bring an understated elegance to your presence—minimalist, but never empty. Is simplicity a wellness tool in itself?
Absolutely. Simplicity creates space — for clarity, for calm, and for connection. In both life and health, less noise often means more presence. A simple, intentional lifestyle supports nervous system regulation, reduces stress, and helps us focus on what truly matters.
Q. What role do mindset and emotional health play in aging well, and how do you coach clients to nurture those areas?
Mindset and emotional health are foundational to aging well. Chronic stress, unresolved trauma, and negative self-talk all impact hormone balance, inflammation, and even how our genes express over time.
The body remembers what the mind repeats.
In my coaching, I help clients shift from survival mode to a state of safety and self-awareness. We focus on nervous system regulation, reframing limiting beliefs, and building emotional resilience.
Practices like breathwork, journaling, and cultivating gratitude are small tools with a big impact.
Aging well isn’t just about the body — it’s also about how we think, feel, and relate to ourselves and the world around us.
Q. What’s the biggest myth about aging you’d love to see disappear—and how do you counter it in your work?
The biggest myth is that aging equals inevitable decline — that after a certain age, it's “too late” to feel strong, beautiful, or vibrant. This mindset creates limitation before biology ever does.
In my work, I counter this by showing people that aging is not a fixed process — it’s adaptive. Our cells are constantly responding to our habits, our thoughts, and our environment.
Through lifestyle changes, emotional healing, and evidence-based tools, we can slow down — and even reverse — some aspects of biological aging.
Bio
Ilianna Nitsola is a research scientist in the biology of aging and longevity, holding Master's degrees in Genetics and Bioinformatics. After years in clinical genetics, she now collaborates with scientists leading the field of aging research to explore how we can age with strength, clarity, and intention.
She turns complex data into practical guidance, reminding us that aging isn’t a limitation — it’s a dynamic process we can influence with awareness, wisdom, and daily choices.
Interviewed By Irene Elina Eldhose
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