With the intensification of population aging, increasing environmental risks, and evolving disease spectra, the incidence of major chronic diseases in China continues to rise. Addressing this challenge requires the adoption of advanced technologies to enable early screening and diagnosis, precision treatment, and effective intervention. As an essential multidisciplinary and integrative technology, particle accelerators have become deeply embedded in key life and health scenarios, such as radiation diagnostics, radiotherapy, radiopharmaceutical production, and irradiation sterilization, demonstrating significant potentials for functional expansion and system integration. This study reviews the technical characteristics of particle accelerators and classifies five representative application scenarios in the life and health field. It summarizes the current progress, frontier trends, and strategic directions of accelerator applications, and analyzes the major challenges from the technological, application, and policy dimensions. Based on this, the study proposes several key development priorities, including the autonomous and intelligent development of diagnostic accelerators, domestic substitution of therapeutic accelerators, integrated deployment of nuclear medicine accelerators, and construction of medical platforms centered on accelerator technologies. To accelerate the translation and diffusion of accelerator technologies, the study further suggests actions such as establishing a closed-loop policy coordination mechanism, promoting breakthroughs in core components and system integration, enhancing regulatory registration efficiency and medical insurance adaptability, and fostering a collaborative innovation ecosystem with improved public acceptance. These efforts will advance the technological innovation and application expansion of particle accelerators in the life and health sector, and enhance China’s independent innovation capacity in high-end medical equipment.