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Is collagen worth the anti-aging hype, longevity in Dubai and at the Met Gala
Sharing knowledge to guide you toward making insightful decisions that support you on your path to health and longevity.
Issue 7 | May 17, 2024
Hello Livelongers,
Welcome to this week’s newsletter—we are highlighting skin health. Scientists discovered that modifying the skin microbiome to elicit certain scents (including some found in an apple 🍎) may be a natural way to repel mosquitos. They also suggest there is a possibility of stopping the skin microbiome from producing chemicals and scents that attract mosquitos, like lactic acid. As mosquito season approaches, we’ll continue to stay tuned.
The week is May 13. In today’s email:
How collagen prevents skin aging—if it even does.
We are in the midst of a ‘longevity revolution.’
Livelong has feet on the ground at Global Healthcare Week.
Being a perfect parent is not healthy for children.
And more…
We love to hear from our community. Please share your feedback, stories, questions, testimonials, ideas and more with us at [email protected].
Does collagen deserve clout around anti-aging?
Collagen has become synonymous with anti-aging in recent years. From collagen-rich skincare to collagen-infused chocolates and treats, the market is stronger than it's ever been. However, there is division about whether collagen deserves this clout.
What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is perhaps most famous for its role in promoting skin health and suppleness, but it is an integral part of our tendons, bones, organs, cartilage, and ligaments as well. You can get collagen via diet, OTC dietary supplement, or apply it topically, according to Dawn Davis, MD, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist.
*The more you know! The body is 30% collagen.
Where is the research?
In a small study from 2017, oral supplementation with bioactive collagen peptides improved brittle nails in 64% of participants and increased nail growth by a rate of 12%.
In a separate 12-week study, supplementing with hydrolysed fish collagen (or collagen + methylsulfonylmethane [MSM]) improved signs of skin aging–it significantly improved skin density, dermis thickness (although more so when combined with MSM), and reduced wrinkle volume + depth.
Is a collagen supplement effective for aging?
Maybe. There is clearly positive data, but it is relegated to a few smaller studies, according to an article from Harvard. Moreover, oral or topical collagen cannot be absorbed by the body in its whole + original state, so it must be broken down into its building blocks (peptides)–for better absorption.
While it may improve visible signs of aging, known methods to preserve collagen/prevent skin aging include not smoking, sunscreen, and limiting alcohol, said Davis.
Livelong Summit: Join the longevity revolution!
The Livelong Summit is coming to Los Angeles, CA, and Santa Clara, CA, in August. As a newsletter subscriber, you get tickets at EXCLUSIVE early-bird pricing! Discover the latest in longevity from the world’s most renowned experts. See past presenters here.
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In other news
Don’t try to be a “perfect” parent: those with too-high expectations are more likely to experience parental burnout, which may eventually lead to mental health issues in the child, according to a new study. Striving for perfectionism may partly be a byproduct of our “culture of achievement” (no doubt exacerbated by social media), said study lead Kate Gawlik, DNP. Read more.
A Swiss institution for higher education becomes the first to offer an academic track allowing students to specialize in longevity science. The Geneva College of Longevity Science will offer a 2-semester executive-level master’s program taught by professors who are experts in genetics, medicine, pharmacy, gerontology, nutrition, psychology, and public health. Read more.
The UN declares that the world is in the midst of a “longevity revolution,” says journalist William Kole. Centenarians credit their long life to a few key principles: faith, purpose, love and laughter. Specifically, faith and spirituality are common among people who live in the famous longevity-harboring Blue Zones. Read more.
At 121 years old, the world’s oldest living person (according to records), named Jeanne Calment, jokes, “I only have one wrinkle and I’m sitting on it.” She loves a good laugh!
Live longer, together
Living longer is better with the ones you love. Share this newsletter sign up page with your family, friends, and colleagues to help us grow a community who celebrates good life and good health.
What’s on your workout playlist?
Music can be a powerful motivator during your workout, inspiring the intensity, speed, and mood of the session. I often turn to 90s indie rock, even though I was born in 2000 and totally missed the 90s (cue me being cliche 🙋).
Please share your favorite workout songs by emailing us at [email protected]! We're curating a Spotify playlist based on your recommendations. We will share the playlist with you in an upcoming newsletter.
The intersection between longevity and this year’s Met Gala
Last week’s highly exclusive and unabashedly extravagant Met Gala (May 6) was filled with celebrities and renowned media figures coming together in celebration of fashion, the arts, and literature. This year’s dress code was inspired by J.G. Ballard’s short story called “The Garden of Time.” But how does this event relate to longevity? Read my case for it here.
Toolkit: Vitamins
5 supplements (+ recommended doses) to promote better aging, according to a longevity expert:
Calcium (1200 mg/daily before age 50 + 1500 mg/daily for ages 50+)
Vitamin D (600 IU/daily before age 70 and 800 IU/daily for ages 70+)
Probiotics (can get via fermented foods or supplement)
Magnesium (320-420 mg/daily after age 30)
Multivitamin (with USP label, which ensures quality)
Holistic and personal health care
-Brad Inman, Founder of Livelong
This week, I am attending the Global Healthcare Week conference in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. During the opening session—Reimagining Health and Life—Bacar Jamar, the CEO of Crescent Enterprises, said global health care spending reached $9 trillion last year. Of that, $4.5 trillion is spent on U.S. health care.
Bottom line:
Only pennies on the dollar are spent on disease prevention and on longevity. “Capital is abundant, that’s not the problem,” said H.E. Badr Al-Obama, director general, Abu Dhabi Investment Office. The focus should instead be on innovation, technology and new ways of distributing health care.
Lifestyle is essential, everywhere. “Eat well, exercise, drink less and quit smoking, " said 2Pointzero UAE CEO H.E. Mariam Al Mheiri. Sound familiar?
“We should be aiming to prevent people from going to hospitals and begin using technology and AI from the comfort of their homes and see doctors virtually,” Al Mheiri said.
Look for more on-the-ground reports in next week’s Livelong Newsletter.
Do you know someone (including YOU!) doing great work in the longevity, health, and wellness space? We’d love to shout them out! Please reach us at [email protected] to submit this person’s name and work, and we may feature them in a future newsletter.
Don’t miss next week’s newsletter:
We’ll be highlighting the immune system!
Look good, feel better, live long,
Erin Hunter, head editor
About Livelong
Longevity science can feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland at times—it is a rabbit hole of intrigue, but laden with misinformation: where one magic pill claims to make you bigger, another makes you smaller. Our goal at Livelong is to provide you with credible and actionable information about health and longevity so you can live a longer and healthier life and guide you toward making insightful decisions that support you during your health and longevity journey.
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