Regina Maria Private Health Network is a leading player in Romania’s private healthcare industry, committed to delivering high-quality medical services and promoting a culture of preventive care. Through its network of clinics and specialized centers, Regina Maria not only provides cutting-edge health solutions but also plays a key role in educating the Romanian population on longevity, wellness, and optimal health strategies. By combining medical excellence with continuous public engagement, Regina Maria empowers individuals to take control of their health and live longer, healthier lives.
Answering our questions on longevity and health optimization is Regina Maria’s Dr Andreea Cătană. Dr Cătană is one of Romania’s most renowned geneticists with extensive clinical experience and sustained activity in research and academia.
Dr Andreea Cătană: an interview on longevity and its relationship with genetics
How is Regina Maria evolving its strategy to meet the demands of a tech-enabled healthcare era?
We’re fundamentally transforming our approach to healthcare delivery by embracing digital innovation while maintaining our commitment to personalized patient care.
Our strategy focuses on three core pillars:
- Digital Integration: The patient has 100% digital access to the genetic test report directly in their account.
- AI-Powered Diagnostics: We’re leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance our genetic analysis capabilities, enabling us to identify patterns and risk factors that might be missed through traditional methods.
- Telemedicine Expansion: Post-pandemic, we’ve maintained and expanded our telehealth services, particularly for genetic counseling and follow-up consultations, making specialized care more accessible to patients regardless of location.
What solutions does Regina Maria provide its patients to optimize their lifestyle and slow aging?
Our approach to longevity is evidence-based and highly personalized. We offer precision nutrition programs based on genetic testing. We create customized dietary plans that work with each patient’s unique genetic makeup – for instance, identifying how they metabolize caffeine, process certain nutrients, or respond to different types of exercise.
Also, our team includes lifestyle medicine specialists who work alongside geneticists to address sleep optimization, stress management, and exercise protocols tailored to genetic predispositions.
What role do DNA tests currently play in Regina Maria’s mission to extend healthspan — not just lifespan?
DNA testing is absolutely central to our healthspan extension mission. We’ve moved beyond basic ancestry testing to comprehensive genomic analysis that informs every aspect of patient care. We identify genetic predispositions to age-related diseases decades before symptoms appear, allowing for early interventions that can prevent or delay onset.
Understanding how patients metabolize medications allows us to optimize drug effectiveness and minimize side effects, particularly important as patients age and medication loads increase.
We analyze genes related to muscle fiber type, injury risk, and recovery patterns to design exercise programs that maximize benefits while minimizing risks.
What is one longevity myth that patients should stop believing in?
The biggest myth I encounter is that ‘genetics is destiny’ – that if your parents had heart disease or Alzheimer’s, you’re doomed to the same fate. This is fundamentally wrong and dangerously defeatist.
Yes, genetics loads the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger. Even with genetic predispositions, we can often prevent or significantly delay disease onset through targeted interventions. For example, having the APOE4 gene variant increases Alzheimer’s risk, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop it.
The flip side of this myth is equally harmful – people thinking they can ignore their genetics entirely. A truly personalized approach to longevity requires understanding both your genetic predispositions AND taking appropriate action based on that knowledge.
What are the top 2 strategic priorities for the company in the next 12–18 months?
In the coming months, we aim to expand our portfolio of genetic tests and offer patients more integrated solutions within our clinics.
Tell us about Regina Maria Longevity Center.
Our longevity center is a place where the patient receives the most attentive and personalized care.
After completing their genetic tests, the patient meets with specialists in nutrition and other fields to jointly discuss a long-term plan for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
