96. Dr. Eric Verdin: Why Most Longevity Claims Are Wrong and What Science Actually Shows About Aging

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Sep 18, 2025

Dr. Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, joins to debunk myths around longevity supplements and highlight the reality of aging. He discusses the pivotal role of the immune system in aging and how lifestyle changes can significantly enhance healthspan. Topics include epigenetic reprogramming, the limitations of self-experimentation, and the potential of digital twins in precision medicine. Dr. Verdin emphasizes that while no anti-aging supplements are proven effective, adopting healthy habits could add 30 years of vitality.

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INSIGHT

Epigenetic Reprogramming Rewrites Aging

Epigenetic regulation controls cell identity and becomes more plastic than previously thought.
Partial epigenetic reprogramming can rejuvenate cells without erasing their identity.

INSIGHT

Immune System As A Master Controller

The immune system acts as a distributed organ that patrols every tissue and influences whole-body aging.
Accelerating immune-specific aging in mice speeds organismal aging across tissues.

INSIGHT

Organ Clocks Predict Risk

Organ-specific proteomic clocks measured in blood can predict organ health and longevity.
The brain and immune system were the strongest predictors of life expectancy in large cohort data.

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What if everything you've been told about longevity supplements is based on hype rather than science? Dr. Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, joins me on the Extend podcast to separate fact from fiction in the longevity field.

We explore epigenetic reprogramming, why the immune system controls aging, and the reality that no supplements are proven to extend human lifespan. We also discuss how most people could live to 95 in good health using lifestyle interventions we already know work.

Dr. Eric Verdin is the CEO and President of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, the world's first independent research institute focused solely on aging. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and is internationally recognized for his research on immune system aging and epigenetic regulation.

We Also Discuss:

Why There Are No Proven Anti-Aging Supplements or Drugs for Humans Yet
How Yamanaka Factors Can Reverse Aging by Reprogramming Cells Back to Youth
The Discovery That Immune System Aging Controls Whole-Body Aging
Why Your Blood Contains 600 Different Cell Types (Not the 12 You Learned About)
How Lifestyle Factors Could Add 30 Years of Healthy Life for Most People
The Problem With "Instagram Medicine" and Unproven NAD Infusions
Why Brian Johnson's Self-Experimentation Matters Despite the Controversy
The Coming Revolution in Precision Medicine and Digital Twins
How Organ-Specific Aging Clocks Predict Your Individual Disease Risk
Why the Brain and Immune System Are the Two Most Important Aging Targets

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Website: https://www.buckinstitute.org/