“Life expectancy has increased exponentially over the last 100 years. This is undoubtedly due to modern medicine, improved living conditions, the working environment and a balanced diet (the what and the how). In 1900, life expectancy stood at 33.8 years for men and 35.7 years for women; by the middle of the century (1950), these figures had almost doubled, reaching 59.8 and 64.3 years for men and women respectively. In Spain in 2023, life expectancy at birth stood at 86.34 years for women and 81.11 years for men, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). The difference is significant. But is it healthy? This is the question that slow medicine is beginning to answer.”
This increase in longevity has not always been accompanied by an improvement in quality of life. Medical specialisation, which has led to significant advances in the treatment of specific diseases, has paradoxically generated a fragmented view of the patient. The human body, in all its complexity, has been divided into organs and systems, each one under the care of a different specialist. We had forgotten that the parts make up the whole — and this is precisely where slow medicine offers a different path.
Quick answer
Slow medicine is a movement that began in Italy: cardiologist Alberto Dolara proposed the term in 2002, and the Slow Medicine association was founded in Turin in 2011 with the motto “sober, respectful and fair”. Its core idea is that doing more does not mean doing better: it prioritizes listening, shared decision-making and avoiding low-value tests and treatments (overdiagnosis).
What is slow medicine?
Historically, health was a community issue. Family doctors knew their patients intimately, treating not only their physical ailments, but also their emotions, social environment and lifestyle habits. Over time, this model has been replaced by a more fragmented one, in which the patient is reduced to a set of symptoms.
This approach, although effective for certain pathologies, has neglected the holistic view of the human being. The body and mind are closely connected, and the chronic diseases that characterise maturity and old age, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or cognitive or muscular deterioration, also have a significant emotional component.
Principles of slow medicine
Slow medicine proposes a return to this holistic view of health. It is a medical practice that prioritises the doctor-patient relationship, active listening, in-depth knowledge of people and the search for personalised solutions. Slow medicine is not an alternative to conventional medicine, but rather a complement that seeks to restore the balance between physical and emotional health.
Origins of the movement and its three principles
The term “slow medicine” is attributed to Italian cardiologist Alberto Dolara, who put it forward in 2002. In 2011 the Slow Medicine association was founded in Turin, and its manifesto sums up the proposal in three ideas. In the United States, geriatrician Dennis McCullough popularized a similar approach to the care of older people.
| Principle | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sober | Doing only what is necessary, with moderation and gradualness, avoiding excess tests and treatments. |
| Respectful | Respecting each person’s values, preferences and pace, with shared decisions. |
| Fair | Making sure appropriate care reaches those who need it, without inequalities. |
As one of its promoters, Marco Bobbio, put it, “doing more does not mean doing better”: the movement arose mainly as a response to excess medicalization and overdiagnosis. In Spain, initiatives such as the Compromiso por la Calidad de las Sociedades Científicas and the “No hacer” (“Do not do”) recommendations share this concern.
Slow medicine and longevity: how they fit together
Applied to longevity, slow medicine means prioritizing lifestyle habits and clinically sound follow-up over piling up tests or interventions with no proven benefit. It is a philosophy of clinical practice: there are no studies measuring health outcomes of “slow medicine” as such, so it should not be presented as a treatment that extends life.
Longevity: enjoying life
Living longer is a universal desire, but in reality what we seek is to live longer with a good quality of life, feeling alive, active and capable. Slow medicine aligns with this vision, focusing on disease prevention, knowledge of our bodies, the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits and comprehensive patient support throughout their lives. Knowing the tools that allow us to make this change helps us make better-informed decisions, without rushing. It is essential to understand that the body ages differently in each person. Genetic factors, lifestyle, environment, and personal experiences influence the ageing process. Slow medicine seeks to identify these individual factors in order todesign personalised prevention and treatment strategies to improve our quality of life and well-being.
Healthy longevity: beyond ageing
Slow medicine invites us to seek strategies to maintain an active and healthy life for as long as possible.
Therefore, among the most notable aspects of this new medical trend, we find a clear commitment to:
- Doctor-patient relationship: Based on trust, open communication, active listening and patient participation in decision-making.
- Disease prevention: Anticipating and preventing chronic diseases through the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, individualised care and preventive medicine.
- Promotion of well-being: Encourage a balanced lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular exercise, restful sleep, emotional wellbeing, and fulfilling social relationships.
- Personalised approach: Design treatments according to each patient's individual needs. Precision medicine is key.
- Comprehensive Care: The integration of mind and body. Considering health as a whole, including physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects.
A holistic approach to healthy ageing
Slow medicine advocates a multidisciplinary approach that integrates different areas of knowledge, such as the study of our metabolism and genetics, brain health, nutrition, physical activity, emotional well-being, and regenerative medicine, among other fields.
Slow medicine represents a return to the origins of medicine, placing the patient at the centre of attention and recognising the complexity of the human being. By adopting a more holistic and personalised approach, slow medicine can contribute to improving people’s quality of life and promoting healthy and active ageing.
Frequently asked questions about slow medicine
What is slow medicine?
A movement that advocates a sober, respectful and fair medicine, based on listening, shared decision-making and avoiding excess tests and treatments.
Who created slow medicine?
The term is attributed to Italian cardiologist Alberto Dolara (2002); the Slow Medicine association was founded in Turin in 2011.
Is it an alternative to conventional medicine?
No. It is a way of practising conventional medicine with more listening and fewer unnecessary interventions.
How is it related to overdiagnosis?
It is its original motivation: avoiding tests and treatments that bring no benefit to the patient.
Sources and references
- Dolara A. Invito ad una Slow Medicine. Italian Heart Journal Supplement, 2002.
- Interview with Marco Bobbio: «Fazer mais não significa fazer melhor». Brasil de Fato, 2026. Link
- Slow Medicine: a medicina sem pressa, sóbria, respeitosa e justa. Portal Hospitais Brasil
- Slow Medicine: introduction to the movement. Versatilis
- National Statistics Institute (INE). Life expectancy in Spain, 2023. ine.es
- World Health Organization. Ageing and health. who.int
Informational content updated on October 7, 2026 with the cited sources.
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