Just back from the tour of the longevity world! In this episode, we discuss my recent travels to two major conferences: the high-end Longevity Investors Conference in Gstaad, Switzerland, and the academic GJAM Conference in Jena, Germany.
We unpack the stark contrasts between these two worlds, from the venues and treatment of attendees to the fundamental divides in how people perceive and practice "longevity." I share my key takeaways on the growing chasm between real science and snake oil, the "apologist" perspective, and why I believe the term "Longevity Medicine" is already developing a bad reputation.
We also cover:
The ethical problem with using biological age clocks in clinical practice today.
My experience going through the comprehensive health assessment at the Years Clinic in Berlin.
Surprising VO2 Max results and a hilarious (and slightly alarming) story about getting a full-body MRI in Germany.
The disconnect between academic geroscience and the biohacking community.
My thoughts on the future of validated biomarkers.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Introduction & Travel Regrets
00:02:11 - Rapid-Fire Health Check: Diet, Exercise, Sleep
00:04:37 - Trip Overview: Longevity Investors Conference, Gstaad
00:07:08 - The "Dark Side" of Longevity & Snake Oil
00:09:08 - The Three Camps in Longevity
00:13:39 - Upcoming Episodes: Jamie Justice & Brad Stanfield
00:14:05 - The Problem with Biological Age Clocks
00:17:55 - The Most Promising "Biological Age" Test (LINH2)
00:19:26 - Key Takeaways from the Investors Conference
00:20:53 - Longevity vs. Gym Bro Experimentation
00:27:45 - Arrival at the Academic GJAM Conference, Jena
00:31:07 - Stark Contrast: Academia vs. Investors
00:33:15 - The Slow Pace of Academic Science
00:34:03 - The Academic & Biohacker Disconnect
00:36:23 - The "Longevity Celebrity" Phenomenon
00:42:55 - Berlin & The Years Clinic
00:44:54 - "Scientific Healthspan" vs. "Longevity Medicine"
00:45:38 - The MRI Story in Berlin
00:47:53 - VO2 Max & Health Data Results
00:50:05 - Germany's Ban on Preventative DEXA Scans
00:53:16 - Preview of Upcoming Travel
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The Optispan Podcast with Matt Kaeberlein 
