How can we make our furry best friends live longer, healthier lives?

A true pioneer in this field, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, is here to unpack this important subject while highlighting the crossover between human and canine longevity. You read that right; this episode isn't just for dog lovers—it's a deep dive into longevity for humans, too.

Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, who's the CEO of Optispan and a key figure in the Dog Aging Project, brings a wealth of knowledge from his distinguished career in aging and healthspan research. He's an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington and a notable figure in gerontology, recognized by organizations like the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Gerontological Society of America.

Matt's work is groundbreaking, demonstrated in over 250 scientific papers on aging, numerous prestigious awards, and he's even a Fellow of several aging associations. He's on a mission to unlock the secrets of aging, not just in humans, but in our four-legged companions as well.

We explore the accuracy of measuring age with telomeres versus epigenetics and get into the nitty-gritty of diet's impact on longevity for both dogs and humans, reminding us it's not just about living longer, but living well.

Matt explains the impressive trial results on rapamycin for reducing age-related inflammation, a breakthrough that's not just exciting for us but also for our pets. Finally, we touch on how AI is revolutionizing our approach to understanding and extending our healthspan.

For those who want to get more involved, check out dogagingproject.org. It's not every day you meet someone who's made such significant strides in understanding aging across species. So whether you're a pet parent or just passionate about extending your own health span, this episode is for you.