Aging is a disease — here’s how to fight back 🤺

Aging is the single biggest risk factor for chronic diseases ranging from diabetes to dementia, heart failure, osteoporosis, and liver disease. 

Defeatists have tricked us into believing aging is an inevitable, unstoppable, decline that we simply have to accept. But what if aging itself is a disease — a disease that we can fight back against?

Recent research indicates that aging is a highly modifiable process driven by cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered intracellular communication, genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, and telomere shortening.

Here's four actionable steps our clinical director, Memo Canli, is taking to “fight back” against aging:

1. Exercise

• Resistance training: He knows that true wealth is having adequate muscle tissue to pick up your grandchildren and carry your own luggage. He believes in muscle-centric medicine and aims to spend his mid-life accruing as much muscle tissue as possible to ensure he has ample strength in late life. Regular resistance training helps stave off sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) and reduces the risk of death by 27%.

• Cardiovascular exercise: Cardiovascular exercise is associated with a 20% reduction in death from all causes. Exercise stimulates the release of endogenous ‘exerkines’, the most potent longevity ‘drug’ available. He runs for 5 miles four times per week.

• Sauna: Strategic recovery protocols are a win-win, supporting relaxation and stress management after hard training. Sauna use is associated with a 77% reduction in cardiovascular-related death. Heat stress acts as an exercise mimetic and upregulates the production of FOXO3 (a gene associated with longevity). He spends 20 minutes in a 204°F traditional sauna four times per week.

2. Diet

• Protein prioritization: Consuming 1g of protein per pound of body weight per day (175g protein) across four meals helps Memo maintain muscle mass.

• Time-restricted feeding: By eating all meals before sundown, Memo fasts for ~14 hours each day, allowing his digestive system ample time to rest.

• Dietary fiber: He strives to consume at least 20 grams of dietary fiber each day by incorporating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables into his diet and supplementing his post-workout protein shake with 5 grams of psyllium husk.

3. Medications

• Rapamycin: Preliminary data suggests Rapamycin may have universal anti-aging effects, potentially increasing human lifespan by over 7 years. Memo takes 3x 2mg enteric-coated Rapamycin tablets once per week.

• Acarbose: This glucose-lowering medication is associated with a 10% reduction in average glucose levels, increased levels of endogenous GLP-1, reductions in inflammatory cytokines, and positive remodeling of the gut microbiome. When combined with Rapamycin it may increase lifespan by up to 37%. He takes one 50mg tablet with each meal.

• SGLT2 Inhibitors: This class of medications is associated with a 16% reduction in the risk of death by all causes. He previously took Canagliflozin, based on the positive data in the Interventions Testing Program, however, he recently switched to the newer SGLT2i medication, Bexagliflozin, based on its higher potency and selectivity. He takes one 20mg tablet each day.

4. Hormone replacement therapy

• TRT: Our testosterone levels are half of what our grandfathers were, and on average, our testosterone levels are declining by 1% per year after age 30. He supplements with testosterone cypionate to ensure levels of testosterone and its downstream metabolites remain optimal as he ages.

• Melatonin Supplementation: Recognizing the decline of melatonin levels with age, Memo believes in thoughtfully supplementing pharmaceutical-grade melatonin in older adults to help support sleep architecture. 

Take a proactive stance against aging. Invest in yourself today and reap the dividends of a longer, healthier life tomorrow.

Please consult a medical professional before making any changes to your health regimen. Our team of board-certified medical providers can help you develop a personalized longevity strategy for your individual biology. 

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your wellness routine.