The recent hype about longevity
Recently (well, in the last couple of years), I have been observing the rise of awareness around longevity and biohacking. I have been keeping a close eye on it: I bought several books (e.g., “Why we sleep” by Matthew Walker or “Lifespan” by David Sinclair), followed the newsletter of Peter Attia, and even tried some routines myself by taking supplements and following special wake-up patterns or routines.
However, my medical background made me skeptical about the lack of high-quality clinical trials and the speculative nature of some recommendations. In this post, I want to share my thoughts on distinguishing between hype and what truly works in the field of longevity and explore the future of longevity science.
First, let’s answer a simple question: what is longevity from today’s perspective? Although I am not suggesting the following definition is the only right one, I like Peter Attia’s definition where he separates it into two main branches:
Lifespan - how long you live.
Healthspan - the period of life during which you are generally in good health.
A fundamental starting point is staying healthy. Once you've achieved this baseline, you can explore further and improve your health performance through various supplements, biohacking techniques, etc.
Starting with the basics is key — make sure you prioritize essential elements like getting sufficient sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and staying physically active. You might have been hoping for a quick fix, a miraculous pill to defy aging, right? But don't worry. There is no way around it since living longer with chronic diseases, in other words, extending your lifespan while not being able to live a high-quality life, is not really what longevity is about. If you've already nailed down these main pillars, it's time to take your well-being to the next level.
I’ve done some research on the technologies that might sound promising:
Rejuvenate Bio, based in California, is actively developing innovative gene therapy approaches in animals while already delivering some results (at least according to free accessible data on the net) in extending the lifespan of mice.
Retro Biosciences (secured $180M in funding) focuses on cellular reprogramming, autophagy, and plasma-based therapies.
Turn Bio is dedicated to reprogramming the body to heal itself by instructing specific cells to fight disease or repair damaged tissue.
Life Biosciences is “targeting the biology of aging” and received $82M in funding last year.
Calico, an Alphabet subsidiary, also researches aging and disease to mitigate their impacts.
Altos Labs — a newly-established biotech company specializing in rejuvenation programming to enhance cellular health and longevity. Although founded in 2022, the startup has already raised an impressive total funding exceeding $3B.
This list can be continued by far, but these are just some examples with the highest funding (read: with the highest hopes of investors to bring something working to the market in the nearest future). As of now, these technologies do not have any practical usage. However, if someday they find practical application, you want to be prepared for it and stay in great health to extend that health state over a longer lifespan.
Disclosure: I would like to clarify that this blog is a personal endeavor where I share my own opinions and experiences. I do not claim to provide medical advice. It is important to note that every individual's health situation is unique, and what works for me may not be suitable for everyone. If you have any specific health concerns or questions, I strongly recommend consulting your healthcare provider or doctor for professional guidance tailored to your needs. The content shared here is my personal opinion and is for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice.