Anti-aging research and its various approaches
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All right. So today we're going to get into some anti-aging research. Ooh, very exciting. Yeah, right. Like who doesn't want to live longer? Well, and not just live longer, right? Like healthier for longer. Exactly. Like rewind that aging clock. Yeah. So we've got a ton of stuff to get through today. Research articles and even some of Brian Johns' blog posts. Oh, very cool. Are you ready to unpack all this? Absolutely.

I think what's so interesting about this topic is there are so many different approaches. Right. There are people like Brian Johnson who are taking like a super personalized route. Yeah. And then there are other folks who are like, let's get down to the fundamental science of aging. Yeah. And let's start with that Brian Johnson guy. Okay. This is a tech millionaire who sold his company. Yeah. It was actually Venmo's parent company. Wow. And he just decided, hey, I'm going to dedicate myself to not dying.

Literally. Pretty much right. At least delaying it as long as possible. Yeah. So his project is called Project Blueprint. And

It's basically just a giant experiment on himself with like a whole team of scientists. Oh, wow. It really captures the imagination. Like imagine having a team of scientists that's just monitoring your every move and every like signal your body is giving on. And tweaking everything. Yeah. To make you like the most youthful version of you. Yeah, exactly. Like optimizing everything. Okay. Hold on back up a second. Yeah. You said something about biomarkers. Yes. Yes.

So for those of us who haven't been keeping up with like all the biohacking stuff. Right. What are biomarkers? That's a great question. Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves. Yeah. So biomarkers are measurable indicators of what's happening in your body. Okay. So things like your blood pressure, your cholesterol levels. Right. Even like how quickly your DNA is getting damaged. Interesting. They can give us like a snapshot of your biological age. Oh, so that's not necessarily how old you are?

No, not always. No. It can be very different. So Johnson is trying to turn back the clock on those biomarkers. Okay, well, how's he doing that? Well, you know from the research we've done, he has a very intense daily routine. Okay. Very intense. Lay it on me. All right, so we're talking strict daily

vegan diet right no sugar no processed foods wow 1950 calories a day initially okay although it sounds like he's upped that recently to 2250 okay and gets over a hundred pills daily 100 pills a day that's more than my grandma takes and she's got like a whole list of things right

That's a lot of pills. What are they all for? Well, it's like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants. Okay. Even some experimental compounds based on the latest research. So the idea is to support

Cellular health. Okay. Reduce inflammation, boost energy levels, all that jazz. That makes sense. But are they safe? Like 100 pills a day? Well, that's a good point. It's worth noting that a lot of these supplements haven't been rigorously tested for long-term safety. I was going to say. Yeah, especially in those combinations. Right. Okay. He's definitely pushing the boundaries. Yeah. Okay. So beyond the pills and the crazy diet,

What else is this guy doing? Well, he's got a very structured routine. I'm at. Like very structured. So an hour of exercise every single day. Every day. Seven days a week. Wow. He mixes it up, you know, cardio strength training flexibility. Oh, okay. And he even has a whole sleep protocol. Like what? Oh, yeah. So like blue light blocking glasses at night at

temperature-controlled mattress. Really? Oh, yeah. And he sleeps alone to minimize disturbances. This guy is serious. Oh, yeah. Sleep is a cornerstone of his anti-aging strategy. Wow. So this is like 247 science experiment. Pretty much. But is it working? Well, according to him, yes. Okay. He's seen significant improvement in his biomarkers. What kind of improvement? So he's claiming that he shaved off more than five years from his biological age. Whoa. Based on various measurements. Like what? For example, um...

His heart rate variability, which is a good indicator of cardiovascular health, is now equivalent to someone decades younger. So you're saying he basically has the heart of a teenager. Pretty much. Yeah. Okay. I can see why this is getting so much attention. Right. But I got to imagine there are some people who are a little skeptical. Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

It's impressive that he's tracking all of this and seeing some changes. Yeah. But it's crucial to remember this is just one person. Right. What works for him might not be applicable to others. Yeah, true. Plus, a lot of his data is self-reported. This isn't peer-reviewed scientific studies. Right. And he's got the resources to do all this. Exactly. Most people don't have a team of scientists and doctors just like waiting around to help them. Exactly. Okay. So...

Maybe most of us aren't going to adopt Johnson's blueprint. Right. But is there anything we can learn from his approach? Like even if we can't replicate it exactly. Absolutely.

One of the big takeaways here is the potential for personalizing health. Okay. Even if we can't monitor hundreds of biomarkers. Right. Paying attention to how our bodies respond to things like diet and exercise. That can be super insightful. So being more mindful and data-driven about our own health choices. Exactly. Even if we don't have a science team following us around. Exactly. And that actually leads us nicely to our next point. Okay.

Because while Johnson's focused on himself, there are entire organizations that are dedicated to cracking the aging code for everyone. Okay, so who are these organizations? Well, one that I find really interesting is the SCNS Research Foundation.

S-E-N-S. Yeah, have you heard of them? I think I saw that name in the research. Yeah. What makes them so different? Well, while Johnson's focused on maximizing his existing health. Okay. S-E-N-S is all about repairing the damage that accumulates in our bodies as we age. Okay. They've identified seven major types of damage. Seven. Yeah, and they're developing...

targeted therapies to address each one. It's starting to sound like a car repair manual for humans. That's a great analogy. Right. Because over time, our cells accumulate all sorts of junk, like waste products they can't get rid of efficiently. Yeah. This can disrupt how our cells function and contribute to age-related diseases. So SCNS is like developing ways to clean up the cellular garbage. Exactly like a cellular detox. I like it. And

Another type of damage they're focused on is the loss of stem cell function. Oh, right. Stem cells. Yeah. Those are important. Yes, they are. They're like the body's repair crew, right? Exactly. They can regenerate tissues. Yeah. But their ability to do so declines as we age. So what's SCNS doing about that? Well, they're working on ways to rejuvenate stem cells.

Or even create new ones. That's incredible. It is. Okay. So to recap. Yes. Johnson is trying to like meticulously maintain his existing biological machine. Yeah. And SCNS is working on tools to fix the wear and tear. Exactly. That happens over time. Yeah. They believe that by addressing these like fundamental causes of aging. Yeah. We can potentially prevent or even reverse many age related diseases. Right. And.

This would lead to a dramatic increase in both lifespan and health span. Now that's what I'm talking about. Right. That seems way more scalable than Johnson's personalized stuff. Yeah, it does. Are these therapies available now? Not yet, unfortunately. A lot of this research is still in the

early stages. But they have made some promising progress. And there's a lot of excitement around their potential. So this is like the future of anti-aging. Not something we can necessarily implement today, but it's something to keep an eye on. Absolutely. It really highlights the diversity of approaches. You've got the individual biohackers like Johnson and then organizations like SCNS tackling these underlying mechanisms of aging.

It seems like both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. Definitely. Like Johnson's approach is highly personalized. Yes. But not very scalable. Right. And then SCNS is aiming for broader solutions. Yeah. But those are still years away. Which brings us to an important point for you, the listener. Yes. With all this buzz around anti-aging, it's easy to get caught up in the hype. Oh, absolutely.

My social media feed is just filled with ads for miracle supplements and age-defying creams. Same here. It's so hard to know what to believe. Yeah. It's crucial to remember that aging is complex. Yeah. And there's no quick fix. It would be nice, though. Right. It would be nice. But, you know, there is promising research happening. Yeah. But it's important to approach these claims with a healthy dose of skepticism. Okay. So what's your advice for someone who wants to, like,

stay informed about anti-aging research. Okay. But without falling for all the marketing gimmicks. Yeah, well first focus on the fundamentals. Like what? A healthy lifestyle diet,

Exercise, sleep. Oh, okay. Stress management. Yeah, the basics. Those are still the most proven ways to support healthy aging. All right, so not the sexy stuff. Not the sexy stuff, but the stuff that works. And when it comes to new research or therapies, look for evidence-based information from reputable sources. Okay, so not just taking someone's word for it.

Right. Especially if they're trying to sell you something. Yeah, exactly. Consult with your health care provider. Yeah. Read scientific studies. Okay. And don't be afraid to ask questions. Okay, so be informed and make smart choices. Exactly. Not just jumping on every new trend. Right. That pops up. Yeah, but I mean, let's be honest. Yeah. The idea of extending our lifespan is pretty enticing. Oh, yeah. What are some of the potential implications of that? Yeah, what if we could all live to 150? Right.

Imagine a world where people routinely live to be 120 or even 150 years old. What would that do to society? Exactly. Think about the impact on health care systems, on the economy. Right. It's not just about individuals living longer. Right. It's about how society adapts to this new reality. Exactly. And it raises all sorts of ethical questions, too. Well, how do we ensure that the population

potential benefits of anti-aging are accessible to everyone. That's a great question. Regardless of their income or their social status. Yeah, we're already seeing disparities in health care access. Right.

Imagine if those were magnified by differences in lifespan. Exactly. And then there are questions about intergenerational dynamics. Oh, interesting. How would relationships between younger and older generations evolve if lifespans were significantly extended? It's like a whole new social order. It really is. And that leads me to another question. Okay, hit me.

If we could potentially live much longer, how would that change our perspectives on life itself? Ooh, that's a good one. Would we be more likely to take risks?

Interesting. To pursue different careers. Yeah. To invest in long term goals. Right. Would we feel less pressure. Yeah. To achieve everything by a certain age. If we knew we had more time. Yeah. Or would it lead to complacency. Ooh. And a lack of urgency. That's a good point. It's fascinating to think about how our perceptions of time. Yeah. And purpose and fulfillment. Yeah. Might shift in a world where aging is no longer seen as an inevitable decline.

Right. Like what if we could just keep going and going and going? Exactly. That's wild. It is. Okay. So I think you've given us a lot to ponder today. I think so too. From Brian Johnson's extreme self-experimentation. Right. To the cutting edge research at SENS. Yeah. And all the philosophical and societal implications. Exactly. It's been a truly fascinating deep dive. It certainly has.

And I think the biggest takeaway for our listeners today is that this field is rapidly evolving. It is. What seems like science fiction today could be reality tomorrow. That's a great point. Yeah. So stay curious, stay informed. Absolutely. And maybe, just maybe, we'll all get to experience the benefits of a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life. I hope so. Thanks for joining us on this deep dive. Thanks for having me.

So remember how we were talking about those different approaches to anti-aging research? Yeah. Like Brian Johnson versus everyone else. Exactly. Well, there's this organization. Okay. It's really caught my eye. Okay. They're called the SENS Research Foundation. S-E-N-S. Yeah. And they're taking a totally different approach than like Brian Johnson. Okay. So what are they doing? Well, just to give you an idea, they're doing a lot of research on anti-aging research.

Well, Johnson is all about maximizing his existing health rate. Right. Like squeezing every last bit out of what he's got. Exactly. But SES. Yeah. They're all about repairing the damage. Okay. That just builds up in our bodies as we age. Like fixing the wear and tear. Yeah. Like they've identified these seven major types of damage. Seven. What? Like the seven deadly sins of aging? Uh-huh.

pretty much. And they're working on developing therapies to address each one. Okay, so what kind of damage are we talking about? Okay, so think about it like this. Over time, our cells accumulate all sorts of junk. Okay. Like waste products that they can't get rid of. Our cells are messy. Well, they try their best, but yeah, sometimes things build up. Okay.

Okay. And this can like disrupt how our cells function. Makes sense. And that contributes to all these age-related diseases. Okay. So SENS is like developing a way to clean up that cellular garbage. Exactly. It's like a cellular detox. I like it. And then another type of damage they're focusing on is like the loss of stem cell function. Stem cells, right? Those are important. Super important. Yeah. Like they're the body's repair crew. Yeah. They

They can regenerate tissues. Yeah, but they get worse as we age, right? Unfortunately, yeah. Their ability to regenerate declines. So what are they doing about that? They're working on ways to rejuvenate those stem cells. Wow. Or even create new ones. That's incredible. It is. Okay, so let me get this straight. Yeah. Johnson is meticulously maintaining his biological machine. Yeah. And SENS is trying to build tools to fix that machine when it breaks down. Exactly. Okay, that makes sense.

And they believe that by addressing these fundamental causes of aging, we can potentially prevent or even reverse a lot of these age-related diseases. That would be huge. Right. It would lead to like a huge increase in lifespan and health span. Now that's what I'm talking about. That's way more scalable than Johnson's thing. Exactly. So are these therapies available now? No.

Unfortunately, not yet. Oh. A lot of this research is still early stage. Okay. But they've made some promising progress. Okay. And there's a ton of excitement. Well, yeah. I mean, if they can actually pull this off, it's game over. Right. So it sounds like this is really like...

The future of anti-aging. Yeah. It's definitely something to keep an eye on. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. But I mean, it also kind of highlights just how many different approaches there are. Definitely. You've got the individual biohackers. That's like our buddy Brian. Exactly. And then you've got these organizations tackling the underlying mechanisms. It seems like both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. For sure. Like Johnson's approach is super personalized. Yeah. Yeah.

But it doesn't really scale. And Seikines is going for that broader solution. Yeah. But it's still years away. Exactly. And this brings us to like a super important point for our listeners. Okay, hit me with it. With all this buzz about anti-aging, it is so easy to get caught up in the hype. Oh my gosh, tell me about it.

My social media feed is just a constant stream of miracle cures. Right. Like age-defying creams and supplements. It's so hard to know what to actually believe. It really is. And it's important to remember aging is a complex process. Yeah. There's no quick fix. I wish a magic pill would be nice. Yeah, it would be. But unfortunately, there's probably not going to be one anytime soon. Yeah. So what's your advice for someone...

who wants to like stay informed but not fall for all the scams. First, focus on the fundamentals. Okay, like what? Healthy lifestyle. Okay. Diet, exercise, sleep. The boring stuff. It's not boring. It's like the foundation. Okay, fair enough. Stress management is a big one. That's still like the most proving way to support healthy aging. Okay, so not the sexy biohacking stuff. Not the sexy stuff, but it works. All right, fair enough. Yeah. What else?

When it comes to new research or new therapies, look for evidence-based information from reputable sources. So don't just take someone's word for it. Right, especially if they're trying to sell you something. Yeah, those are always the worst. Definitely talk to your doctor, read some actual studies. Okay. And don't be afraid to ask questions. Be an informed consumer. Exactly. Okay, that makes sense. Yeah.

But, you know, even though there are all these scams, the idea of extending our lifespan is still pretty enticing. It is. Like, what if we could all live to 150? What would that even look like? I know. It's crazy to think about. Imagine a world where people are routinely living to 120 or 150 years old. Wow.

That would have a huge impact on everything. Everything. Think about the impact on society. Yeah. On health care systems. Yeah. Health care would have to change dramatically. For sure. And the economy, too. Yeah. It's not just about individuals living longer. Right. It's about society as a whole adapting to this new reality. Yeah. Exactly. And it raises all sorts of ethical questions, too. Okay. Like what? Well, how do we ensure that everyone has access to these benefits? That's a big one. Right. Yeah.

Regardless of their income or social status? Yeah, because we already have disparities in health care access. Exactly. Imagine if people were living decades longer. And then there's like the question of intergenerational dynamics. Oh, yeah. Like how would relationships change? Exactly. How would relationships between younger and older generations evolve? Right. Because if lifespans were longer. Yeah. That would totally change things. Like what would the power dynamics be? Yeah. It's like a whole new social order. It really is. And that leads me to another question. Okay. If...

We could potentially live much longer. Yeah. How would that change our perspectives on life itself? Ooh, that's a good one. Right. Like, would we be more likely to take risks? If we had more time to recover if we failed. Exactly. Or like to pursue different careers. Yeah. Like, why not try five different things? Right. Or invest in long-term goals. Would we feel less pressure?

Yeah. To achieve everything by a certain age. Exactly. Because we'd have more time. Or would it lead to complacency? Ooh, that's a good point. And like a lack of urgency. Yeah, what if we all just got lazy knowing we had forever? It's fascinating to think about how our...

our perceptions of time and purpose and fulfillment might shift in a world where aging isn't seen as this inevitable decline. Right. What if we could just keep going and going and going? It's wild to think about. Yeah, it really makes you think like anti-aging research could totally reshape the world. It really could. We've gone from this guy...

meticulously tracking every calorie and pill to organizations like SCS trying to repair damage at the cellular level. It's amazing. And now we're like contemplating a future where people live for centuries. It's wild. Like science fiction is becoming reality. It really is. You know, it makes you realize that anti-aging research isn't just about biology. Oh, really? What else is it about? It's about philosophy, too. Philosophy. Okay.

I'm intrigued. Like if we could actually extend our lifespans dramatically. Yeah. It forces us to ask some pretty big questions. Like what? Like about what it even means to live a good life. Okay. Yeah. That's a big one. Right.

If we have decades or even centuries more time, how would our values change? Yeah. What would we prioritize? Exactly. Would we still care so much about career success? I don't know. Right. If we weren't so worried about retirement age? Yeah. That's a good point. And what about our relationships? Yeah. Imagine families with multiple generations spanning over a century. That would be crazy. Right. It

It challenges our whole idea of life stages. It totally does. And what about personal responsibility? That's a big one. Right. Like if we potentially live much longer, do we have an obligation to take care of ourselves? Yeah. So we don't become a burden on others. Exactly. The stakes are higher when we're talking about decades instead of years. Definitely. And it also brings up the issue of access. Oh, yeah, that's huge.

Will everyone benefit from these anti-aging breakthroughs? I hope so. Or will it just create more inequality? That's what I'm worried about. Right. Like we already see it with health care. Exactly. The wealthy have more options. Yeah. We need to make sure those disparities don't get even worse. Absolutely. It's not just about the science. Right. It's about making sure the benefits are shared fairly. So it's about creating a future.

where everyone has a chance to live longer and healthier lives. Exactly. That's pretty amazing when you think about it. It is. It's not just about extending life. It's about redefining what it means to live a fulfilling life. Wow.

I think you've given us a lot to think about today. Me too. We've covered so much ground. We have. From Brian Johnson's crazy self-experiment. Right. To the cutting edge research at SNS. Yeah. And all the philosophical and ethical questions in between. It's been a wild ride. It has. I think the biggest takeaway for our listeners is that this field is moving so fast. It is.

What seems impossible today could be reality tomorrow. That's the exciting part. So stay curious, stay informed, and who knows? Maybe we'll all get to experience a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life. I hope so. Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into anti-aging research. Thanks for having me.