How To Reduce Your Pace Of Aging: Understanding Longevity and Biological Aging with Ryan Smith
Sep 22, 2023
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Ryan Smith, co-founder of Tru Diagnostic, discusses longevity and biological aging tests. He highlights the most accurate tests and gives tips to reduce your pace of aging. They also talk about the immune system age, the MTHFR gene, and supplements for healthy aging.
Epigenetic testing, specifically the examination of gene expression, is a valuable tool for quantifying the aging process and predicting the risk of chronic diseases.
Compared to other aging biomarkers, epigenetic testing, specifically DNA methylation clocks like the Dunedin pace, is more predictive and informative, providing a more comprehensive understanding of aging biology.
Individual responses to interventions can vary based on genetic factors, highlighting the importance of understanding individual differences and tailoring interventions for optimal results.
Epigenetic testing offers practical applications for individuals interested in optimizing their health and aging processes, providing insights into biological aging, disease risks, and the effectiveness of interventions.
Deep dives
Epigenetic testing and the importance of gene expression
Epigenetic testing, specifically the examination of gene expression, is a valuable tool for quantifying the aging process and predicting the risk of chronic diseases. By analyzing epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, it is possible to determine an individual's biological age and rate of aging. This information is crucial because aging is the primary risk factor for developing various health conditions. Predicting biological age can provide insights into overall health and help identify potential interventions to slow down the aging process and reduce disease risks.
Epigenetic testing as a superior aging biomarker
Compared to other aging biomarkers, such as chronological age or specific blood-based markers, epigenetic testing, specifically DNA methylation clocks like the Dunedin pace, is more predictive and informative. DNA methylation clocks are able to capture a wide range of biological changes associated with aging and predict negative aging-related outcomes with high accuracy. These clocks outperform other biomarkers and provide a more comprehensive understanding of aging biology. Incorporating various data points, including blood-based biomarkers, organ system aging, and lifestyle factors, contributes to more accurate and detailed predictions of the aging process.
Individual responses to interventions and genetic factors
Individual responses to interventions, such as lifestyle changes or supplementation, can vary based on genetic factors and other underlying genomic influences. While some people may respond well to specific interventions, others may have different outcomes due to genetic variations. For example, the MTHFR gene variant can impact the methylation processes in the body, potentially influencing the pace of aging. Understanding these individual differences and genetic factors can help tailor interventions for optimal results.
Practical applications and future possibilities
Epigenetic testing, particularly the Dunedin pace and other DNA methylation clocks, offers practical applications for individuals interested in optimizing their health and aging processes. These tests provide insights into biological aging, disease risks, and the effectiveness of interventions. By regularly assessing one's epigenetic age and rate of aging, individuals can make informed decisions about preventive measures and lifestyle modifications. Ongoing research in epigenetics holds promising future possibilities for disease prediction, personalized treatment plans, and the development of targeted anti-aging interventions.
Maintaining a Rejuvenated Biological Age
One of the main ideas discussed in this podcast is the concept of rejuvenating one's biological age. The hosts introduce a website called the Rejuvenation Olympics, which provides a leaderboard for individuals to track their progress in reversing their biological age. The idea is to compare one's predicted age with their actual age and strive to be as close to the predicted age as possible. This approach highlights the importance of taking steps to maintain a healthier and more youthful biological age.
Factors Affecting Pace of Aging
The podcast delves into the factors that impact the pace of aging. It emphasizes the significance of lifestyle choices such as avoiding smoking, engaging in regular exercise, maintaining proper nutrition, and managing stress levels. These factors have a direct influence on an individual's biological age. The podcast also mentions the potential benefits of certain supplements, such as vitamin D, vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, and lithium, in slowing down the aging process. It highlights the importance of individualized approaches and considering factors like hormone levels to personalize interventions.
Exploring Metformin and Rapamycin
The podcast briefly touches upon the potential benefits of metformin and rapamycin in slowing down the pace of aging. While studies on metformin are yet to be published, the hosts mention that metformin has shown promise in reversing certain age-related markers in non-diabetic individuals. As for rapamycin, although no studies have been published, the podcast suggests that it may have positive effects on biological aging based on cross-sectional analysis. The discussion acknowledges that further research is needed to fully understand and confirm the potential of these pharmaceutical interventions in slowing down the aging process.
Chronologically, you get 1 year older every year. But how old are you getting biologically?
In order to optimize longevity, you need to understand biological aging.
With all the different longevity and biological aging tests, it can be difficult to understand where to start.
Fortunately, we got Ryan Smith from Tru Diagnostic on todays episode to guide you on all things longevity and biological aging.
In this episode, Ryan highlights the different biological aging tests and which one is the most accurate.
He also gives helpful tips on how to reduce your pace of aging, and how that’s important for your overall lifespan.
Ryan Smith is founder of TruDiagnostic, which has created the largest private epigenetic database in the world with over 25,000 patients tested. From this dataset, they have created many new algorithms to interpret methylation data including algorithms to predict inflammatory markers, disease diagnosis, telomere length, aging pace, immune cell subsets, cellular replication, and more.
