Dr. Robert Lustig, an emeritus professor of pediatrics at UCSF, discusses the harmful impact of ultra-processed foods, especially high in fructose, on metabolic health. He highlights how these foods contribute to obesity, fatty liver disease, and other chronic conditions by disrupting normal metabolic processes. Dr. Lustig advocates for consuming minimally processed foods to maintain good health and reduce the risk of metabolic diseases.

In this Longevity by Design Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode with Ashley Reaver, MS, RD, CSSD, and Dr. Gil Blander, the focus is on user questions about optimizing health and longevity. Dr. Blander discusses the rationale behind InsideTracker's shift to a subscription model, emphasizing the importance of continuous engagement for long-term health improvement. He explains how this model encourages users to maintain their health optimization practices consistently over time, enhancing the overall effectiveness of their health plans.Ashley and Gil also dive into the recent updates to InsideTracker’s blood work page, which now categorizes biomarkers into healthspan categories such as cognition, endurance, and gut health. This reorganization aims to simplify the complex data, making it more accessible and actionable for users. Dr. Blander highlights how these changes help users focus on the most critical health areas, guided by clear, data-driven recommendations.The conversation also touches on the impact of real-life data from InsideTracker’s extensive user base. Dr. Blander shares fascinating insights, such as the relationship between sleep and cardiometabolic health markers and the influence of genetics on health outcomes. He underscores the importance of prevention, citing examples like early intervention for cardiovascular health and the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight and muscle mass for longevity. The episode concludes with a discussion on the growing trend of at-home testing, highlighting its convenience and potential for expanding preventive health measures to help people live better for longer.

Dr. Gordon Lithgow, a research professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, delves into aging mechanisms and lifespan extension using genetic mutations and drug-like molecules. He explores the significance of using nematode worms as models for understanding aging processes and discusses how protein misfolding contributes to age-related diseases. Dr. Lithgow emphasizes the importance of studying protein homeostasis in the context of healthspan and chronic diseases, shifting the focus from lifespan extension to improving overall health.

In this episode of Longevity By Design, co-hosts Ashley Reaver, MS, RD, CSSD, and Dr. Gil Blander welcome renowned professor Dr. Keith Baar. As the head of the Functional Molecular Biology Lab at UC Davis, Dr. Baar has made groundbreaking discoveries about how exercise and nutrition influence the adaptation of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. During this episode, he shares his expertise on the critical role of exercise and nutrition for musculoskeletal health, longevity, and improving quality of life.Dr. Baar discusses the profound impact that both strength and endurance exercise have on healthspan and longevity, emphasizing the unique benefits of strength training. He delves into the molecular biology of muscles, explaining his discovery that resistance exercise activates the mTOR pathway, which is crucial for muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth. He also shares his knowledge on the effects of the drug rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR, on muscle versus longevity, highlighting the nuances and complex balance needed for optimal health. Dr. Baar also shares his expertise and addresses common misconceptions regarding tendons and ligaments. The conversation also covers the significance of nutritional timing, the benefits of integrating protein intake with exercise for muscle, and collagen and vitamin C for tendons and ligaments.Listeners to this episode will be equipped with an understanding of the responses to different types of exercise and practical exercise and nutrition advice for optimizing muscle, tendon, and ligament health througout life. Episode timestampsIntroduction: 00:00-02:52What led Dr. Keith Baar to become a scientist interested in exercise physiology?: 02:52-05:19What is the musculoskeletal system, and can you explain why it is so vital for health, physical function and performance, and quality of life?: 05:20-12:13What is the role of mTOR in health and longevity? 12:14-16:44What is the role of rapamycin and metformin in health and longevity? 16:45-20:58Activation of mTOR by resistance exercise and protein: 20:59-23:03Is there a window of opportunity for consuming protein following exercise to increase muscle protein synthesis? Is the timing of protein consumption post-exercise important for muscle protein synthesis? 23:04-27:35Is the type of protein important for muscle protein synthesis? 27:36-28:32Is there a difference between young and older adults in how they respond to resistance exercise?28:33-33:49What are the differences in molecular responses and longevity between resistance and endurance exercise?: 33:50-38:31What are ligaments and tendons? Are there differences in ligaments and tendons between men and women? 38:32-43:26What is the best way to exercise for tendons and ligaments? 43:27-49:10Is there a difference between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women in tendons and ligaments?: 49:11-51:17Why is collagen important for tendons and ligaments?: 51:18-53:22Why is vitamin C important for collagen synthesis and tendons and ligaments?: 53:23-55:19When should a collagen supplement be consumed?: 55:21-57:07What are some misconceptions about tendons and ligaments?: 57:08-58:42What happens to tendons and ligaments during a joint replacement?: 58:43-01:00:50What excites or interests Dr. Keith Baar the most that has the potential to extend healthspan in the next 5-10 years?: 01:00:51-01:03:36Dr. Keith Baar’s top tip for health: 01:03:37-01:05:59

In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander is joined by Dr. Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, a leading figure in aging research. Dr. Scheibye-Knudsen discusses his groundbreaking research on the role of DNA damage in the aging process and its implications for chronic diseases, aging research, and longevity medicine. The goal of his work is "to discover interventions leading to healthier, happier, and more productive lives."Dr. Scheibye-Knudsen's work is on understanding normal and premature aging, with a focus on the pivotal role of DNA damage in the aging process and interventions for healthier aging. By combining computational methods with laboratory experiments, his team explores innovative strategies to target DNA and counteract aging processes. This conversation illuminates the intricate relationship between DNA damage, aging, and chronic diseases. Dr. Scheibye-Knudsen also discusses the impact of lifestyle (diet, exercise, sleep, social factors) on aging. He goes on to describe his work using data-driven approaches to better understand aging and developing interventions, including identifying novel targets and drugs, for healthier aging. Additionally, he explains what longevity medicine is and the importance of educating clinicians and politicians on this topic to translate research on aging into healthcare and improve people’s healthspan and lifespan. Dr. Scheibye-Knudsen's dedication to unraveling the mysteries of aging is advancing scientific knowledge, which has tangible benefits for global health and longevity.Episode timestampsIntroduction: 00:00-03:06What led Dr. Morten Scheibye-Knudsen to become a scientist?: 03:07-04:37Could please give us an overview of the research you are doing?: 04:38-05:54What is DNA damage, and what causes it?: 05:55-07:54What do we know about the influence of DNA damage on aging and age-related diseases?: 07:55-09:41Can DNA damage be repaired? 09:42-14:14What questions are your research group asking to better understand DNA damage and repair and their effects on aging?: 14:15-16:22What is NAD, and why is it relevant to aging and age-related diseases?: 16:23-19:56What are the benefits and risks of NR and NMN supplements in humans?: 19:57-24:50What is a ketogenic diet? What are the effects of a ketogenic diet or ketones on DNA damage or repair and aging?: 24:51-31:08What is the effect of a ketogenic diet on cancer?: 31:09-32:29What is the Aging Research and Drug Discovery (ARDD) conference and its mission?: 32:30-40:43What are the most prevalent features of aging?: 40:44-47:54Are there differences in aging between females and males?: 47:55-50:21Are there differences in tissue aging trajectories?: 50:22-54:01Identifying compounds that target aging: 54:02-56:16Can nuclear morphology predict cellular senescence and cancer?: 56:17-01:04:04What is longevity medicine, and why is it so important for physicians?: 01:04:05-01:07:25What pharmaceutical drugs are the most promising for targeting aging to extend human healthspan and lifespan?: 01:07:26-01:12:00How important are lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity and exercise, sleep, and social engagement and connections for human healthspan and lifespan?: 01:12:01-01:16:39Dr. Morten Scheibye-Knudsen’s top tip for health: 01:16:40-01:18:22

Do you know what senescent (zombie) cells are and how cellular senescence and senolytics impact health? In this episode of Longevity by Design, hosts Ashley Reaver and Dr. Gil Blander are joined by Dr. James Kirkland from the Mayo Clinic, one of the world's leading figures in aging research. This episode is a deep dive into aging research, cellular senescence, and senolytics. Dr. Kirkland discusses the impact of cellular aging (senescence) on healthspan and his discovery of the first senolytic agents that remove senescent cells and extend healthspan, illuminating his pioneering work in aging research.Dr. Kirkland shares insights into the science of cellular senescence and how selectively eliminating these cells could revolutionize the treatment of age-related chronic diseases. He sheds light on the mechanisms behind senolytics and their promise for extending healthspan. The discussion also touches on the importance of lifestyle factors like diet and exercise in managing senescent cells. Dr. Kirkland also discusses geroscience, a research paradigm that seeks to understand the mechanisms of aging and how this knowledge can be used to slow the rate of aging, reverse its effects, delay or even cure age-related diseases, and extend healthspan. T Dr. Kirkland also covers the challenges and opportunities in translating these scientific discoveries into clinical applications, emphasizing the critical role of interdisciplinary efforts in advancing our understanding and management of aging.This is an enlightening episode with Dr. Kirkland on aging research and the opportunities to revolutionize healthcare by combating aging-related diseases and extending people’s health span and lifespan.Timestamps:Introduction: 00:00-03:49What led Dr. James Kirkland to become a physician-scientist and become interested in aging research?: 03:50-05:24What is geroscience, and what are fundamental aging processes?: 05:25-09:17What are the differences between targeting aging vs. the traditional medical system of waiting to treat illnesses or diseases after they occur?: 09:18-12:39What are gerotherapeutics, and what is their relevance for healthspan and lifespan?: 12:40-16:10What are senescent cells? What is the impact of senescent cells on the body and aging: 16:11-26:39What are senolytics? How do senolytics work to target senescent cells to remove them?: 26:40-35:05How Dr. James Krikland discovered senolytics such as fisetin, quercetin, and dasatinib? What clinical trials on the effects of senolytics in humans have been done? 36:06-40:47Discovering biomarkers for senescent cells: 40:48-42:37What are some important factors to consider on the effects of gerotherapeutics and senolytics on lifespan and healthspan in model organisms compared to humans?: 40:38-47:39The potential for geroscience and gerotherapeutics, such as senolytics, to transform healthcare. What is the importance and what are some challenges of conducting clinical trials on gerotherapeutics, such as senolytics, to improve healthspan in humans?: 47:40-56:15What is the Translational Geroscience Network, and what are its goals?: 56:16-01:02:01How might senolytics be used clinically in the future if proven safe and effective? What conditions might they benefit?: 01:02:02–01:05:57What are the effects of lifestyle, such as diet and exercise, on senescent cells?: 01:05:58-01:06:52What excites Dr. James Kirkland the most about the potential for extending people's healthspan and lifespan with therapies, drugs, or interventions in the coming years?: 01:06:53-01:07:41Dr. Kirkland’s top tip for health? 01:07:42-01:12:14

Dr. Peter Franz, expert in mental health and suicide risk, joins the podcast to discuss the profound connection between aging, mental health, and suicide. Topics explored include the prevalence of mental health issues, raising awareness, interventions, social support, and the impact of isolation. The conversation sheds light on the importance of addressing mental health for longevity and healthspan.

Can we find ways to target human aging and extend healthspan? This ambitious premise is at the heart of XPRIZE Healthspan, a 7-year, $101 million global competition with an audacious challenge: to successfully develop a proactive, accessible therapeutic that restores muscle, cognitive, and immune function by a minimum of 10 years, with a goal of 20 years, in persons aged 65-80 years, in one year or less.In this episode of Longevity by Design, hosts Ashley Reaver and Dr. Gil Blander spoke with Dr. Jamie Justice, Executive Vice President of the Health Domain at XPRIZE, and Executive Director of XPRIZE Healthspan. The conversation sheds light on the emerging scientific evidence and paradigm-shifting concept for therapeutic interventions to extend healthspan and lifespan by targeting aging, rather than one age-related disease at a time. Dr. Justice also discusses her career journey and the XPRIZE Healthspan competition, in which she is leading international networks to drive innovative solutions to improve human health and aging that is affordable and accessible to all.The conversation also explores the intersection of art and science in Dr. Justice's work. She emphasizes the role of creativity in scientific discovery, suggesting that a holistic approach is essential for groundbreaking achievements in aging research. The episode wraps up with Dr. Justice emphasizing a holistic approach for good health. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in aging and healthspan and the innovative work being done by XPRIZE.Episode timestampsIntroduction: 00:00-02:08What led Dr. Jamie Justice to become a scientist?: 02:09-06:55How did Dr. Jamie Justice get interested in aging, healthspan, and longevity research?: 06:56-13:14What kind of research did Dr. Jamie Justice do before becoming the EVP of the Health Domain at XPRIZE Foundation?: 13:15-26:09What is XPRIZE?: What is the mission of XPRIZE? Why did Dr. Jamie Justice join XPRIZE?: 26:10-35:36What is XPRIZE Healthspan?: 35:37-45:46How is XPRIZE uniquely positioned to advance and facilitate innovative solutions to improve human health and aging?: 45:47-49:54What are the phases of XPRIZE Healthspan?: 49:55-56:05Who can apply to be in the XPRIZE Healthspan competition?: 56:06-58:54What kind of trial designs does the XPRIZE Healthspan competition allow?: 58:55-01:02:38How is the winner of XPRIZE Healthspan decided?: 01:02:39-01:04:57Dr. Jamie Jusice’s top tip for improving health: 01:04:58-01:07:46

Dr. Nir Barzilai discusses genetics, lifestyle, and blood biomarkers influencing healthspan and lifespan, with a focus on targeting aging using metformin. The episode explores centenarians, factors affecting longevity, gender disparities in aging research, proteomic biomarkers, and future gerosarapeutic candidates. Actionable insights on personalized health strategies and the evolution of longevity medicine are shared.

Dr. Bartek Nogal discusses the impact of exercise on blood biomarkers and InsideTracker's new DNA Healthspan report. Topics include personalized health data, actionable guidance, running on blood biomarkers, genetics, DNA analysis, and technology bridging scientific research with everyday health practices.