Issue #424: What We Still Don't Know
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, January 28th.
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In today’s email:
Learn: (Un)Proven Science
Watch: Peter Attia - Longevity Roundtable
Laugh: Avocado Surplus
Cook: Avocado Boats
In the News: Sea Moss Hype Debunked
Stat of the Day
The percentage of National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for research on aging. (Lifespan.io)
“They don’t understand that to actually conquer or slow down or effect or protect against the disease they care about, the smart play is to do aging research.”
Learn
(Un)Proven Science
I just listened to the in-depth conversation of four bonafide longevity experts on Peter Attia’s podcast. It wasn’t for the faint of heart - it covered everything from the biological mechanisms of why something works or doesn’t work in the body, teasing out causation in a rigorous, peer-reviewed study, to the politics of what studies are funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).
The biggest takeaway though was this - even among the best of the best scientists, the ones who want so badly for aging research to get more money and to find ways to prevent and delay disease, there is so much we don’t know when it comes to how we age and what we can do about it.
The point isn’t to discount everything - or that all the headlines on the latest studies aren’t true. There’s some awesome stuff we now know to take control of our health and aging.
But I felt this was necessary to bring up because this is the content that doesn’t go viral on social media.
It’s a lot easier to sell - take this supplement, inject this drug, don’t eat for a week, etc.
But it’s important to know what is either unproven or even worse total BS so we can avoid these marketing ploys to get our money - promising that we’ll beat the odds and live longer and better.
Here are some of the things you should know:
1) Biological Age Clocks - no one single number will predict your future lifespan (or healthspan) - at least not yet from the available testing services.
There is more value in finding out the age of specific organs in your body (heart, liver, lungs, brain), as well as how you function - your eyesight, hearing, cognition, endurance (VO2 max), and mobility - basically what you can do - plus, vital signs (blood pressure, visceral fat) and blood biomarkers, like HbA1c and Apo B.
Matt Kaeberlein did 4 different consumer tests and duplicates of each - the standard deviation of his results showed the results were completely useless.
This isn’t to say these tests - whether epigenetic clocks or other biological ages - won’t be useful in the future, but don’t put too much stock in these right now.
2) Animal Studies Don’t Equal Human Results - we, or parts of us, are similar to mice and dogs and some worms, but not the same. Results often don’t materialize after realizing a big effect in other animals. Did you know the average translation from animal models to clinical cancer trials is 8%?
3) Do GLP-1 Drugs Slow Down Aging - they seem to make humans metabolically healthier, mostly through restricting hunger. Most people consume significantly fewer calories while taking the drugs (16-39%). Caloric restriction is thought to be a way to boost longevity. So are the drugs slowing down aging independent of the fact it makes the person eat less - or is it just because the person is in fact eating less?
4) Arguing Senescent Cells - when cells stop dividing they become senescent (zombie cells), which may cause aging. Drugs targeting these cells may become useful. Among this group of experts there is debate whether this is useful, proven science or not. It seems to be an oversimplification and the senolytic drug - fisetin - hasn’t been a proven option in the battle against aging. But maybe we just haven’t figured it out yet.
5) Metformin - long an effective drug for diabetics, evidence is scarce on whether it helps non-diabetics. There are more studies coming out, but as of right now this is NOT a drug that should be in your arsenal without a prescription. But that hasn’t stopped just about every B2C company from adding it to its product list.
6) Resveratrol Doesn’t Work - despite being the rage a few years ago, there is no science that this is useful for longevity. Yet, it was a $2B market in 2023 - aging myths die a slow death.
7) Blood Exchange - does it work when you get blood from someone younger? Maybe - most of these scientists think there might be something here. But we don’t know why it works - is it removing something bad, getting something good? Just know that even stuff that will end up being a future protocol might not yet be proven with human evidence.
It’s not all that fun to rain on the parade of what doesn’t work.
One of the reasons we started Thrive25 was to make sure we’re helping bring real science to our community in a way that makes sense, and not just follow the trends that are out there - in a world of social media it’s not the truth that wins, but whoever shouts the loudest.
One thing the roundtable did agree on - you’ll get a return on investment for all the time spent exercising.
Seems like a safe bet for now.
Watch
Peter Attia - Longevity Roundtable
Buckle up - it’s an almost 3-hour science class with four of the most respective aging scientists in the world.
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Laugh
Avocado Surplus
I actually think about this every time I pick out avocados.
Cook
Avocado Boats - 2 Ways
You’ve only got one move, right? Guacamole? Maybe, but here’s another recipe with two options to make avocados the star.
These Avocado Boats are nutrient-packed and fun! Option 1 features masala-spiced chickpeas with maple-lemon tahini, blending Indian and Mediterranean flavors. Option 2 offers spicy black beans, taco toppings, and salsa. Loaded with healthy fats and fiber, they’re a versatile, delicious meal! 🥑🔥
H&L in the News
Dirty Filter, Costly Problem: Keep your dishwasher running like new. Cleaning the filter every few months prevents odors, poor performance, and pricey repairs. Learn how in just 5 minutes. (NYTimes)
Sea Moss Hype Debunked: Sea moss smoothies are trendy, but are they worth $20? Packed with minor nutrients and big promises, the truth may leave you unimpressed. Discover the real deal behind the gooey superfood. (Outside)
Our DNA, A Mosaic Masterpiece: Our body’s 30 trillion cells are a mosaic of genetic mutations - some harmful, others beneficial. This genetic patchwork shapes aging, disease, and even resilience, unlocking new possibilities in science and medicine. (Knowable)
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We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.