592: Dr. Bill Adrews - Can We Slow — or Reverse — Aging? Telomeres, Telomerase & Longevity
Over 40 Fitness Hacks
Discovery of telomerase at Geron
Dr. Andrews recounts joining Geron and discovering human telomerase to explain how reproductive cells avoid aging.
Can We Slow — or Reverse — Aging? Telomeres, Telomerase & Longevity
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Dr. Bill Andrews - Telomere Health & Longevity
www.thegoodinside.com - Touchstone Essentials supplements.
Email: BAndrews@SierraSci.com
Guest snapshot: Dr. Bill Andrews—biotech veteran and founder of Sierra Sciences—has spent his career chasing a practical way to slow (and ultimately reverse) human aging. Inspired by a childhood mission from his dad to “find a cure for aging,” he helped lead the discovery of human telomerase at Geron in the 1990s.
Why we age: Aging isn’t great for the individual, but it benefits the species (greater diversity and adaptability). Mechanistically, “wear and tear” accumulates—and our ability to replace damaged cells is capped by the Hayflick limit.
Ride tickets analogy: Every time a cell divides it “uses a ticket.” Those tickets are telomeres (the DNA caps on chromosomes). When tickets run out, cells enter senescence and die.
Telomerase: In reproductive cells, the enzyme telomerase adds tickets back, keeping telomeres long—why children aren’t born “older” than their parents. In most other cells, the telomerase gene is repressed.
His team screens plant extracts to dislodge repressor proteins on the telomerase gene “dimmer switch,” aiming to partially turn it back on.
Partial activation ≠ reversal, but it can slow telomere shortening (slowing aging). He believes stronger activators that can win the “tug-of-war” and lengthen telomeres meaningfully could arrive in ~1–3 years if progress continues.
Andrews licensed several top nutraceutical fractions that, in his assays, induce telomerase expression modestly and include antioxidants/anti-inflammatories to reduce accelerated shortening.
Notable: a turmeric fraction without curcumin (their strongest inducer), plus pomegranate, skullcap root, “gal nut,” and others. No “proprietary blend” label—ingredients are listed individually.
He stresses Telo-Vital slows aging; occasional anecdotal reversals (hair/vision/sleep) may occur when tissues have critically short telomeres that are easier to re-lengthen.
Do something daily. Consistent, enjoyable endurance-style movement can lower inflammation/oxidative stress; stop before it stops being fun.
What can accelerate shortening: frequent senolytics (create gaps → more cell division), high alcohol (liver turnover), growth-hormone/“immune boosters” that drive cell division, and chronic inflammation/oxidative stress.
What helps slow acceleration: anti-inflammatory/antioxidant strategies, better glucose control (he mentions a product that “converts sugar to fiber”), mitochondrial support like urolithin A and NAD/Niagen (NR).
Product: Telo-Vital (Touchstone Essentials) — site: thegoodinside.com
Dr. Andrews (science questions): BAndrews@SierraSci.com
He can share recommended YouTube talks on telomeres/telomerase and aging.
Bottom line: Telomere shortening is a central, measurable driver of aging. Today’s tools may slow that process; Andrews is racing to make meaningful lengthening practical next.
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