YEARS vs. Neko Health: A Longevity Clinic Comparison

A comprehensive health check-up is expensive, time-consuming, and the differences between providers are greater than their glossy brochures suggest. In Berlin, a market for longevity and preventive medicine has emerged that goes far beyond standard health screenings. Providers like YEARS and Neko Health advertise technology-driven diagnostics, but they differ fundamentally in their medical depth, philosophy, and cost.

This article compares the biomarker panels, imaging technologies, and scientific approaches of these two models. By the end, it will be clearer which provider is suitable for whom.

1. At a Glance: A Head-to-Head Comparison

2. YEARS: In-Depth Medical Diagnostics

YEARS is a physician-led prevention clinic in Berlin with a systems medicine approach. The goal is not a one-time snapshot, but a comprehensive medical baseline that serves as a reference for years to come.

Program Overview: Three Tiers of Prevention

YEARS offers three clearly defined, cumulative programs:

• YEARS Core® (€1,900): The foundation. Over a 6-hour diagnostic day, 87 biomarkers are collected and extensive functional diagnostics are performed. This includes ultrasound of the heart, abdominal organs, and blood vessels. It's designed for anyone seeking a baseline that goes far beyond standard check-ups.
• YEARS Evolve® (€7,600): Building on Core®, this adds a Whole-Body MRI, a Liquid Biopsy (screening for over 70 types of tumors), and the storage of 70 samples in the YEARS Biobank. It includes over 120 biomarkers, including biological clocks. Recommended for those with an elevated risk profile or a deep scientific interest.
• YEARS Ultimate® (€16,900): Expands Evolve® with medical genetics (Whole-Exome/-Genome Sequencing), microbiome analysis, and a panel of over 230 biomarkers. Monthly coaching and continuous digital monitoring are included.

What YEARS Truly Offers: Synthesis Over Data Collection

Instead of just delivering individual test results, YEARS provides a physician-led synthesis of all data in context.

• Condensed Process: In 6 to 9 hours, clients undergo examinations that would otherwise require months and dozens of appointments in the regular healthcare system.
• Clinical Depth: Instead of simple spirometry, body plethysmography is used for a more detailed lung function analysis. Instead of just total cholesterol, a differentiated lipid panel with ApoB and Lp(a) is created.
• AI-Enhanced Precision: An AI skin screening (ATBM Master) with a 96.7% detection rate and AI fundoscopy to analyze retinal vessels complement traditional diagnostics.

Research Integration: A Unique Model in Berlin

YEARS operates as a "Clinic-as-a-Study." Every client becomes part of a prospective clinical registry designed to make the aging process measurable. Medical Director Dr. Jan K. Hennigs, a former Stanford Research Fellow, combines individual prevention with ongoing scientific evaluation. The integrated biobank is not a marketing gimmick but a core part of the model: samples are cryopreserved so that future analytical methods can be applied to existing material.

3. Other Providers (e.g., Neko Health): Profile & Services

Providers like Neko Health focus on technology and speed. Their approach is to offer an accessible full-body scan that captures many data points in a short amount of time.

Typical Services and Positioning

As offerings can change quickly, it's essential to check directly with the respective provider. Common features of such programs include:

• Focus on Imaging: A 3D body scan or MRI is often the centerpiece.
• Standardized Blood Analysis: The number of biomarkers is typically lower than that of specialized longevity clinics.
• Short Appointments: The scan itself often takes less than an hour.

Price Point and Target Audience

These providers are often priced below specialized, physician-led programs. They appeal to tech-savvy customers who want a quick overview without an extensive medical interpretation. Those who want a medical professional to interpret the generated data often have to arrange this separately.

4. A Detailed Biomarker Comparison: What Really Matters

A longevity check-up lives or dies by its lab panel. The sheer number of markers is less important than their clinical relevance.

Which Biomarkers Are Crucial?

Modern preventive medicine has moved beyond simple blood lipid and glucose values. Today, the focus is on markers that indicate risks years before symptoms appear:

• ApoB (Apolipoprotein B): While a standard check-up measures LDL cholesterol, ApoB directly counts the number of atherogenic particles. The INTERHEART study, with over 26,000 participants, showed that the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio is the strongest lipid predictor of heart attacks (Yusuf et al., The Lancet 2004).
• HOMA-IR Index: Measures insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. It is significantly more sensitive than fasting blood glucose, which often only becomes elevated after metabolic function has already deteriorated.
• hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein): A marker for chronic, low-grade inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer.
• NT-proBNP: A sensitive marker for cardiac muscle strain that can indicate heart failure at an early stage.

YEARS Core® vs. Standard Health Check-ups

A standard health check-up is a basic screening. The YEARS Core® program is a systems medicine analysis with 87 markers, functional diagnostics, and a comprehensive physician review.

5. Imaging Technologies: MRI, Ultrasound, and AI Screening Compared

Imaging is a central pillar of early detection. However, not every technology is suitable for every purpose.

A Comparison of Technologies

• Ultrasound: Safe, radiation-free, and ideal for assessing organ structures (liver, kidneys, thyroid), heart function (echocardiography), and blood vessels. This is the standard in the YEARS Core® program.
• Whole-Body MRI: Provides high-resolution cross-sectional images without radiation exposure, making it particularly suitable for soft tissues, the brain, and searching for masses. The Whole-Body MRI is included from the Evolve® program onwards and uses a proprietary sequence.
• AI Screening: In the YEARS skin screening, the ATBM Master system analyzes suspicious skin lesions with a 96.7% detection rate. AI fundoscopy detects early signs of systemic diseases like diabetes or hypertension in the back of the eye.

The Power of Imaging for Early Detection

A whole-body MRI can reveal structural abnormalities such as tumors or aneurysms. In one study of asymptomatic individuals, clinically relevant findings were discovered in 46% of cases (Tariq et al., Cureus 2024). The medical interpretation of these findings is crucial: not every incidental finding requires treatment. The utility of an MRI increases significantly when combined with lab diagnostics and functional tests.

6. Research & Innovation: The Future of Prevention

Clinic-as-a-Study: More Than Just a Check-up

The YEARS model means that anonymized data, with client consent, helps create normative aging curves. Clients not only receive a personal diagnosis but also contribute to research.

Biobank & Cryopreservation: A Vault for Your Health

Starting with the YEARS Evolve® program, 70 biological samples (blood, plasma, cells, urine, stool) are cryopreserved. The practical benefit: if new biomarkers for Alzheimer's or specific cancers are discovered in five years, the stored samples can be analyzed using these new methods without requiring a new collection.

Biological Clocks & Epigenetics

Chronological age says little about the body's condition. Epigenetic clocks analyze methylation patterns on DNA to estimate biological age. YEARS analyzes up to seven different clocks to cross-validate the results. While the field is an active area of research, it already provides concrete indications of how significantly lifestyle choices impact us at a cellular level.

7. Costs & Insurance Reimbursement: A Decisive Factor

2026 Price Comparison

• YEARS Core®: €1,900
• YEARS Evolve®: €7,600
• YEARS Ultimate®: €16,900
• Other Providers: Often between €1,000 and €5,000, with less lab depth and no physician-led synthesis.

A pure price comparison can be misleading. More relevant is the price per clinically actionable data point and per hour of physician review.

Reimbursement for Private Health Insurance

YEARS bills all medically indicated services according to the German Fee Schedule for Physicians (GOÄ). Clients with private health insurance receive a detailed invoice that they can submit to their insurer. Since medically relevant findings—such as vitamin deficiencies, insulin resistance, or elevated inflammation levels—are identified during almost every diagnostic day, partial reimbursement by private insurance is likely. The exact amount depends on the individual's insurance plan. Providers without physician leadership typically cannot offer this service.

What About Public Health Insurance?

Public health insurance systems, like Germany's GKV, do not cover these types of comprehensive check-ups. As the table above shows, the scope of a publicly funded check-up is not comparable to that of a longevity diagnostic program.

8. The Experience and Process: One Day for Your Health

The diagnostic day at YEARS is precisely scheduled but never rushed. Over 6 to 9 hours, clients move through various stations: blood draw, cardiopulmonary performance tests (VO₂max on a cycle ergometer), ultrasound, neurocognitive tests, 3D body scan, and bone density measurement. Medical staff guide every step.

About two weeks later comes the most crucial part: a comprehensive "YEARS Health Report" of over 60 pages and a personal strategy session with a physician. All data is integrated, risks are prioritized, and a concrete plan for the next 12 months is created. Many other providers deliver a PDF report after the scan but do not offer a medical consultation of this depth.

9. Who is the Right Choice For?

YEARS is a good fit for:

• Executives and Entrepreneurs (40-65 years): Who seek a medically sound overview, not just a dataset.
• Individuals with Private Health Insurance: Who can benefit from billing via the GOÄ fee schedule and likely partial reimbursement.
• The Scientifically Curious: Who see biobanking, epigenetics, and genomics as meaningful additions.
• People with a Family History of Disease: Who need diagnostics that can detect early risk signals.

Other providers may be a better fit for:

• Tech-savvy beginners: Who want a quick overview without a deep medical interpretation.
• Price-conscious self-payers: Who want to go beyond a standard check-up but stay below the cost of a full-scale clinical diagnostic program.

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is a longevity check-up medically sound? When applied correctly, yes. The early detection of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and certain cancers has been proven to improve prognosis. The key is an evidence-based approach that combines established markers with validated innovative diagnostics and translates them into a concrete action plan.

What does a whole-body MRI really provide? It delivers a structural assessment of the entire body and can potentially reveal life-saving early findings. However, its true value is realized only in the context of other data from lab work and functional tests. Without physician interpretation, clients risk misinterpreting incidental findings and triggering unnecessary follow-up procedures.

Is a liquid biopsy overhyped? The technology is valid, but expectations must be realistic. The truCheck test used at YEARS is not a replacement for established screening methods like colonoscopies or mammograms. In early cancer stages, its sensitivity is limited, but it increases significantly in more advanced stages. It is a useful supplement to the existing screening portfolio.

How often should I get a check-up like this? The first comprehensive check-up establishes your baseline. For healthy individuals without significant risk factors, an update every 2-3 years is sufficient. If risks are identified or you are monitoring the effects of a lifestyle change, annual intervals are advisable.

11. Conclusion & Recommendation

Neko Health and similar providers deliver a fast, technology-driven scan with a broad dataset. This is a good first step for anyone who wants to learn more about their body in a straightforward way.

YEARS pursues a different approach: physician-led, research-integrated, with 87 to 230+ biomarkers and a medical synthesis that provides concrete, actionable recommendations. The biobank cryopreserves 70 samples for future analysis. The genomics option in the Ultimate® program goes far beyond what other providers offer in this form.

Those looking for a quick scan will be well-served by other providers. Those seeking an in-depth medical analysis with a long-term strategy and research integration will find it at YEARS. The higher initial investment is put into perspective by the data depth, physician-led synthesis, and the potential for reimbursement for those with private health insurance.

Do you have more questions or want to discuss which program is right for you? Schedule a complimentary consultation with our team.

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Sources

• Tariq, R., et al. (2024). Unveiling the Unseen: A Contemporary Review of the Clinical Utility of Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Cureus, 16(1), e52825. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52825.
• Yusuf, S., et al. (2004). Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. The Lancet, 364(9438), 937–952. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17018-9.
• Ridker, P. M., et al. (2008). Rosuvastatin to Prevent Vascular Events in Men and Women with Elevated C-Reactive Protein. New England Journal of Medicine, 359(21), 2195–2207. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0807646.
• Blair, S. N. (2009). Physical inactivity: the biggest public health problem of the 21st century. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(1), 1–2. DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2009.068936.