Dietary Bacteria Trigger Autophagy

Upgrade your biology in 10 minutes with this week’s rundown from Dave Asprey. This episode breaks down the five biggest stories in biohacking and health-tech — from genetic rejuvenation to your future digital twin — giving you the tools to live longer, perform better, and stay ahead of the curve.

This episode covers:

• Vitamin D as the Surprising “Anti-Aging Pill”

A new five-year randomized study shows that daily 2,000 IU vitamin D supplementation slowed telomere shortening by 140 base pairs compared to placebo, translating to measurable gains in biological youth. Vitamin D isn’t just for bones anymore — it’s a foundational longevity molecule.

Source: Science Daily — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251022023132.htm

• The Supercentenarian Gene That Rejuvenates Old Hearts

Researchers at the University of Bristol identified a gene variant, LAV-BPIFB4, common among people living past 100, that reversed cardiac aging in animal studies — restoring blood flow, heart strength, and tissue repair with a single treatment. It’s a glimpse into how gene therapy could soon democratize superhuman longevity.

Source: University of Bristol News — https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/october/progeria.html

• FDA Closes the “GRAS” Loophole — Supplements Enter a New Era

The FDA just ended decades of self-certification for new dietary ingredients, requiring full agency review for anything entering the market. It’s the biggest shakeup in supplement regulation in years — raising quality, accountability, and trust across the entire industry.

Source: Mintz FDA Flux Newsletter — https://www.mintz.com/insights-center/viewpoints/2791/2025-10-16-fda-flux-october-2025-newsletter

• Microbes That Trigger Autophagy — Your Gut as an Anti-Aging Switch

Scientists at the University of Basel discovered that certain dietary bacteria containing double-stranded RNA can directly trigger autophagy, the body’s built-in cell-recycling system. Fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, and sauerkraut may now be proven longevity tools for activating repair from the inside out.

Source: University of Basel — https://www.unibas.ch/en/News-Events/News/Uni-Research/Longevity-research—Dietary-stress-supports-healthy-aging.html

Further reading: Neuroscience News — https://neurosciencenews.com/dietary-rna-cellular-aging-29757/

• Your Medical Avatar Is Coming — The Digital Twin of You

Forbes reports on the rise of personalized “medical avatars” — AI-powered digital twins built from your wearables and biometrics that can predict health risks, recommend interventions, and evolve alongside your biology. Doctors like Daniel Kraft call it generative health — a revolution in predictive medicine where your data literally becomes your doctor.

Source: Forbes Innovation — https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwerner/2025/10/21/wearables-ai-and-your-personal-medical-avatar/

This is essential listening for fans of biohacking, human performance, functional medicine, and longevity sciencewho want real, actionable tools from Dave Asprey — the father of biohacking and founder of Bulletproof Coffee.

With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your lifespan, and upgrade every system in your body and mind.

New episodes drop every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Dave asks the questions no one else will — and gives you the science-backed tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient.

Keywords: vitamin D longevity, telomeres, BPIFB4 gene, cardiac rejuvenation, supplement regulation, GRAS FDA, autophagy, microbiome, fermented foods, biohacking news, medical avatar, digital twin, predictive medicine, Daniel Kraft, quantum health, wearable AI, Dave Asprey, The Human Upgrade

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Timestamps:

0:00 — Introduction

0:18 — Story 1: Vitamin D & Telomeres

1:02 — Story 2: Longevity Gene Therapy

1:49 — Story 3: FDA Supplement Reform

2:38 — Story 4: Gut Bacteria & Autophagy

3:46 — Story 5: Medical Avatars

4:53 — Weekly Protocol

5:42 — Outro

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