Gladden Longevity Podcast -- formerly Living Beyond 120

We welcome back Dr. Bill Andrews of Sierra Sciences to further expand on research into telomeres and telomerase for extending lifespan. Dr. Andrews explains how the existing research shows that there are potential telomere lengtheners, but they are still losing the tug-of-war with telomere shortening. He talks about how lack of funding may be the primary obstacle for telomere breakthroughs. Dr. Andrews also explains the actual link between telomerase and cancer, which is often misunderstood. They also consider the implications of gene therapy and gene editing in terms of producing telomerase. The main cause of telomere shortening is a lack of telomerase, though some things accelerate the process, like oxidative stress and inflammation. The doctors list a number of things people can do to reduce oxidative stress, including lifestyle changes and supplements that can help. Learn more about products by defytime® here. For information on IsaGenesis®/Product B, visit here. Learn more about Life Length: https://lifelength.com/ Learn more about RAADfest. On This Week on Longevity Science, Robb Taylor talks about the potential of Vitamin C to help in cancer therapy. Read more on the blog. Ask yourself: How serious am I about altering my lifestyle to protect my telomere lengths, and how much of my life, thought process and financial resources should I devote to this? Special Guest: Dr. Bill Andrews is the President and CEO of Sierra Sciences. As a scientist, athlete and executive, he continually pushes the envelope and challenges convention. He has been featured in Popular Science, The Today Show and numerous documentaries on the topic of life extension, including, most recently, the movie The Immortalists in which he co-stars with Aubrey de Grey. Since 1981, Bill Andrews has focused on finding ways to extend the human lifespan and healthspan through telomere maintenance. As one of the principal discoverers of both the RNA and protein components of human telomerase, Dr. Andrews was awarded 2nd place as "National Inventor of the Year" in 1997. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Population Genetics at the University of Georgia in 1981. He has served as Senior Scientist at Armos Corporation and Codon Corporation, Director of Molecular Biology at Berlex Biosciences and at Geron Corporation, and Director of Technology Development at EOS Biosciences. He is also a named inventor on over 50+ US issued patents on telomerase and author of numerous scientific research studies published in peer reviewed scientific journals. Bill is also an avid ultra-marathon runner. Born December 10, 1951, he regularly competes in 100k and 100+ mile runs often finishing at the top of his age group. These grueling races have taken him all over the world to race in some of the most extreme environments, from Death Valley to the Himalayas. His running is presently featured in the movie The High. You can order his books Bill Andrews on Telomere Basics: Curing Aging and Telomere Lengthening: Curing All Disease Including Aging and Cancer now. Follow Sierra Sciences on Facebook and Twitter: @SierraSciences.

On this episode, we're featuring a special RAAD Fest discussion from last year between Dr. Gladden and Dr. Bill Andrews, one of the leading scientists in telomere research. Dr. Andrews explains how telomeres work and how the length impacts your life expectancy. Put simply, longer telomeres are always good, and the shortening of them is always associated with disease and cell death. Dr. Andrews mentions the book, The Telomere Effect by Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel, regarding slowing the shortening of telomeres. They discuss the research into telomerase activators and the hope for working toward lengthening telomeres. He discusses TAM-818 and TA-65® as means to reduce the rate of telomere shortening and offers up his top three suggestions on what people can do to extend their lives. Special Guest: Dr. Bill Andrews is the President and CEO of Sierra Sciences. As a scientist, athlete and executive, he continually pushes the envelope and challenges convention. He has been featured in Popular Science, The Today Show and numerous documentaries on the topic of life extension, including, most recently, the movie The Immortalists in which he co-stars with Aubrey de Grey. Since 1981, Bill Andrews has focused on finding ways to extend the human lifespan and healthspan through telomere maintenance. As one of the principal discoverers of both the RNA and protein components of human telomerase, Dr. Andrews was awarded 2nd place as "National Inventor of the Year" in 1997. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Population Genetics at the University of Georgia in 1981. He has served as Senior Scientist at Armos Corporation and Codon Corporation, Director of Molecular Biology at Berlex Biosciences and at Geron Corporation, and Director of Technology Development at EOS Biosciences. He is also a named inventor on over 50+ US issued patents on telomerase and author of numerous scientific research studies published in peer reviewed scientific journals. Bill is also an avid ultra-marathon runner. Born December 10, 1951, he regularly competes in 100k and 100+ mile runs often finishing at the top of his age group. These grueling races have taken him all over the world to race in some of the most extreme environments, from Death Valley to the Himalayas. His running is presently featured in the movie The High. You can order his books Bill Andrews on Telomere Basics: Curing Aging and Telomere Lengthening: Curing All Disease Including Aging and Cancer now.

On this episode, Mark and Dr. Gladden discuss the many ways your true biological age can be determined, your longevity possibly predicted – and what you can do to improve these factors. Mark talks about his experience with an ozone therapy machine and Vasper at Dr. Gladden's clinic. Gladden explains the benefits of ozone in the body and how the therapy works, including increasing a molecule called NAD, which allows the cells to make more ATP. Telomeres are the "timekeepers" for the cell, caps at the ends of your chromosomes. You can somewhat predict the span of your life by the length of your telomeres, but you can do things to improve telomere lengths. A telomere length can show you're physiologically younger or older than your chronological age. One company that does a thorough test on telomere length is Life Length. Cell mitochondria make ATP, or energy for cells. Cancer develops in cells that are abnormal and energy-starved. Cancer cells turn on telomerase to re-lengthen their telomeres, possibly making them immortal. Your lifestyle significantly impacts if you are shortening or lengthening your telomeres. Exercise, fish oil, meditation, Astragalus (via cycloastragenol, for instance) are tools to preserve the length of your telomeres. Molecular hydrogen can protect against radiation damage to telomeres. They consider other ways to judge a person's true age, like arterial age, bone age and brain age. They discuss the mindset that one should develop that places a high value on your health. Many people sacrifice their health in an effort to get more money, but then they spend much of that money trying to recover their health later in life. Mark talks about this in terms of how we experience the life we have, at different ages, and he stresses the importance of making novelty a priority, so our life feels fuller for longer. Robb Taylor and Dr. Gladden also discuss 5 alternative cancer therapies your doctor might not tell you about. To read a more in-depth article, visit the blog. Ask yourself, "What can you do to take care of your real asset, your telomeres?"

On this episode that focuses on men's sexual health, Dr. Gladden, Mark and Robb explore the importance of sexual health on body, mind and longevity. Statistically, people who have more sex live longer, and your ability to perform sexually is a great barometer of the health of your cardiovascular and nervous systems. They discuss some of chemical responses in the body that occur before, during and after sex, including the release of nitric oxide and oxytocin. There are many ways we can sabotage our own sex lives, including consuming poor diets, alcohol and other harmful substances. Dr. Gladden talks about how essential nitric oxide is for sexual health and recommends some nitrate-rich foods that can help improve it. Gladden references products, BeetElite® and Neo40®, from https://www.humann.com/, which can be good supplements to increase your dietary nitrates. They discuss how popular erectile dysfunction drugs like Cialis®, Levitra® and Viagra® work and explain that they'll still only be as good as the nitric oxide we already have in our bodies. Hormones balance is critical not only for sexual health, but for overall health. It's not just about hormones levels the blood but also the metabolites that show up in the urine you expel. Gladden references the DUTCH (dried urine test for comprehensive hormones) test that he uses in his practice to examine hormone levels for patients. When critical hormone levels go down, we lose our ability to handle our environment, perform sexually and end up at risk for cancers and other physiological problems. They consider the different ways testosterone can be delivered as a supplement to aid in libido and sexual health. Dr. Gladden and Mark briefly talk about peptides, short chains of amino acids that are being experimented with for their health benefits. Melanotan and PT-141 may help improve libido and erectile function; Epithalon may improve orgasmic quality for people. Sex begins in the mind, so if there are challenges, it's essential to heal the biology as well as the psychology. Mark describes how neuro-associations can lead to difficult-to-break post-traumatic stress responses, and he explains when hypnosis might be able to help you. They consider how pornography can affect a person's ability to perform sexually, on chemical and psychological levels. When it comes to improving your sex life with your partner, continuous communication and engagement is essential for long-term compatibility. Ask yourself, "What can I do today to move in a direction that optimizes my biology and my psychology for my sexual health?"

First and foremost, it's crucial to envision that you'll still be able to do athletic activities when you're into your 80s, 90s and beyond. Dr. Gladden explains that he's getting older chronologically, but he's getting younger physiologically – and he speaks on his mindset that sets him up for success. The Doctor recommends getting a cardio pulmonary stress test before starting a new exercise plan, to avoid injury or catastrophic health problems like a heart attack. Another test that helps identify potential physiological problems ahead of time is the MET-TEST. They discuss different kinds of physical training, including HIIT (high intensity interval training) and the need to develop a cardio baseline by exercising at a slower heartrate over an extended period of time. The recommend spreading out the kind of workouts that you do, to spare yourself from injury and build different muscle groups. Gladden provides some other tips on preventing injury, as well as how to cope and maintain strength if you do get injured. Gladden also talks about Fortetropin®, a myostatin inhibitor that helps people build muscle by decreasing the way muscle is broken down. They talk about the benefits of "loading your frame" to improve skeletal, tendon and ligament strength, then they discuss balance training and how to incorporate it into your life. Creating a habit of doing something every day is much better for your body and mind rather than only pushing your body to its limits once or twice a week. Play is also critical when you exercise, for keeping your mind and body youthful. In This week in Longevity Science, they discuss Klotho, what is being called "the longevity protein," as it could one day play a vital role in helping treat potentially deadly conditions. For more information on the subject, visit https://wisdomtolive.com/longevity-protein-could-save-lives-improve-health/. Key takeaways: Before you start an exercise plan, be safe, get tested, and work out smart to prevent injury. For your mindset, focus on being fast, agile and strong at every age. Develop the habit of exercise in small, sustaining steps. Variety in exercise is a necessity. Keep exercise fun and try new things. For this week's empowering question, ask yourself, "How would you change your training now if you want to be engaged in your favorite activity years, or even decades, from now?"

This week's episode focuses on the difference between what your doctor's visit should sound like versus the few minutes the average doctor spends with a patient. Dr. Gladden explains why these short visits prevail in the current health care system, and they discuss how you need to change your mindset about who is responsible for keeping you healthy. They talk about the dangers of NSAIDs and a how most people use them. When anti-inflammatory drugs are used regularly, the root cause of the inflammation is often not addressed and is allowed to continue to cause damage. They discuss inflammation and how it leads to aging. This Week in Longevity Science also focuses on the average time a doctor spends with patients, questioning how much your healthcare provider can actually address your well-being in that short time. Dr. Gladden recommends how to get more out of your visits. For a unique perspective, Dr. Gladden goes through real results from some of Mark's own tests after a recent visit – showing step by step how this critical set of data can be used to extend Mark's lifespan.

As 2018 begins, there are things to keep in mind as you set goals for improving health and happiness. New Year's resolutions need to be measurable and have a timetable. Also, we need to create good habits to be able to achieve these goals. Fostering small, good habits set you up for greatness and also give you faster feedback on how well you're doing. As people dive into new diets at the start of the year, Dr. Gladden and Mark talk about how no diet is a perfect fit for everyone. You need to pay attention to your own genetic make-up or possibly put yourself at risk. This week in longevity science, Robb talks about gene editing and its possibilities for erasing genetic medical conditions. For more information on CRISPR, visit https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-crispr-gene-editing/ and https://gizmodo.com/in-2018-we-will-crispr-human-beings-1821540150. Ask yourself: how can I change my mindset to one that opens up my longevity and human performance in 2018?

Dr. Gregory Fahy is a cryobiologist and biogerontologist. He's credited with a many of the breakthroughs in cryopreservation, and he has been working on finding new ways to use already-approved drugs. Fahy talks about his work with human growth hormone (HGH) and shares the highlights of the results of his first human trials with it. He talks about what happens around age 62-65 for most people that rapidly increases chances of death. Fahy urges people interested in longevity to pay attention to what is on the cutting edge of medicine, he stresses the importance of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in staying youthful, and he believes there is a profound connection between the immune system and aging. Also on the podcast, Mark explains what he means when he says Americans are eating like we're on death row. Dr. Gladden expands on HGH and considers some of the drawbacks and complications that could occur when it is used as treatment. In This Week in Longevity Science, they discuss peptides as a form of treatment, including how they function in the body and their promising regenerative properties. Research is being done to see how well peptides could work for highly customized medicine, not only for a specific disease but the exact disease within the individual. Ask yourself, "How am I going to learn more about this cutting-edge science in order to change the trajectory of my aging?" About the Guest: Gregory M. Fahy, Ph.D. Dr. Fahy earned his B.S. from the University of California at Irvine in 1972 and his Ph.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in 1977 for work on basic aspects of cryobiology. He spent the next 18 years developing methods for preserving whole organs at cryogenic temperatures at the American Red Cross in Maryland. In 1980, he conceived of preserving organs by vitrification. He published the first proof of principle of this concept in Nature in 1985 using mouse embryos as a model system, an event that led to the wide use of vitrification in academic and commercial animal husbandry as well as in human assisted reproduction. In 1995, he won the Grand Prize for Medicine from INPEX for his invention of the first effective computer-operated equipment for perfusing organs with cryoprotective agents. The same year, he left the Red Cross to become Chief Scientist of two biotechnology companies and the Head of the Tissue Cryopreservation Section of the Transfusion and Cryopreservation Research Program at the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1998, he became the Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of 21st Century Medicine, where he invented several new principles in cryopreservation that have been extraordinarily effective in practical applications ranging from tissues to whole organs. Dr. Fahy's efforts have recently raised the question of whether human suspended animation might be an attainable goal that could allow the human species to survive in deep time as a result of enabling migration from the earth to other habitats in the cosmos. Dr. Fahy is a sought-after speaker and problem-solver. He is on the Board of Directors of several organizations concerned with cryopreservation or aging, serves on the Editorial Board of Rejuvenation Research, and has served as a reviewer for numerous journals and granting bodies. He has over 20 patents in fields related to cryopreservation, aging, transplantation, metabolic protection, and the reversal of autoimmunity and immunosenescence, and has many publications in the fields of cryobiology, aging, and nanotechnology. He currently serves as Director for Intervene Immune, Inc. Learn more about the projects they are working on and how to become a part of their clinical trials at http://interveneimmune.com/.

Dr. Aubrey de Grey is a biological gerontologist on a crusade to defeat aging. He thinks we are within a couple of decades of rejuvenation medicine capable of adding another 30 years to human lifespan, proposing that the first person to live to 1,000 years old may already be alive today. In the field of longevity science, there are a few roadblocks, but the biggest one is funding. They discuss why it isn't a higher priority for average people to further this research. Mark and Dr. de Grey cover a number of concepts at the forefront of anti-aging, such as whether increasing telomere lengths may be beneficial against aging or may cause side effects. Dr. de Grey suggests we learn more about the subject of defeating aging. Then become an advocate for the research, to bring about these medicines faster. Mark also asks Dr. de Grey about the morality of pursuing greater longevity for humans. Also on the podcast, Mark and Dr. Gladden discuss how the typical medical approach isn't designed to promote longevity but treat the immediate problem. Medicine is still, after all, a business. Reimbursement is always going to trump research. They consider de Grey's focus on finding a big breakthrough, versus the approach of making what you have better now, along the way. For more information on This Week in Longevity Science, visit https://news.osu.edu/news/2017/08/07/regenerative-med-study/. Dr. Gladden expands on the function of stem cells in regard to these new findings. Ask yourself, "How does it change your thinking about the structure of your family, your work, community, etc., when you consider the ability to live 120 robust years?" About the guest: Dr. de Grey is the biomedical gerontologist who researched the idea for and founded SENS Research Foundation. Learn more at http://www.sens.org/. He received his BA in Computer Science and Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Cambridge in 1985 and 2000, respectively. Dr. de Grey is Editor-in-Chief of Rejuvenation Research, is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the American Aging Association, and sits on the editorial and scientific advisory boards of numerous journals and organizations. Follow de Grey on Twitter @AubreydeGrey and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdegrey/

Dan Sullivan's Strategic Coach® program is how Mark and Dr. Gladden met, and Sullivan describes how he came to imagine a different kind of longevity than most people. He talks about how just thinking differently about the possibilities and changing his mindset about aging has helped him feel better and more capable of achieving his goal of living to 156. In Strategic Coach, Sullivan says, "Your eyes only see and your ears only hear what your brain is looking for," which applies directly to the mindset you need to live much longer. In the reverse, he talks about the three factors he believes predispose you to die. For information on Vasper, watch this video: https://vimeo.com/159245493 For more on This Week in Longevity Science, visit the following links: http://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/ketogenic-diets-promote-longevity-and-memory https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/eat-fat-live-longer/ Dr. Gladden weighs in on the ketogenic diet, offering some tips on how to approach it. However, every body works with food differently, and Gladden says that food may be the most important thing you can pay attention to for your mental and physical performance. Dr. Gladden, Mark and Robb each talk about their individual experiences with ketogenesis. Longevity requires the mind to be first, and then you bring your body along. Ask yourself, "What different questions would I be asking today if I knew it was possible to live a vibrant 120 years?" About the guest: Dan Sullivan is founder and president of The Strategic Coach Inc. A visionary, an innovator, and a gifted conceptual thinker, Dan has over 35 years' experience as a highly regarded speaker, consultant, strategic planner and coach to entrepreneurial individuals and groups. Dan's strong belief in and commitment to the power of the entrepreneur is evident in all areas of Strategic Coach® and its successful coaching program, which works to help entrepreneurs reach their full potential in both their business and personal lives. He is author of over 30 publications, including The Great Crossover, The 21st Century Agent, Creative Destruction and How The Best Get Better®. He is co-author of The Laws of Lifetime Growth and The Advisor Century. Dan is married to Babs Smith, his partner in business and in life. They jointly own and operate The Strategic Coach Inc., with offices in Toronto, Chicago, and the U.K. Follow Dan on Twitter @StrategicCoach and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrategicCoach/ For information on his business strategies and programs, visit https://www.strategiccoach.com/