The Livelong Newsletter

Happy Holidays everyone,

Longevity is continually being reinforced by ground-breaking insights into extending lifespan, which is certainly reason to celebrate!

All year, we’ve been working hard to bring you the latest in longevity science— talking to researchers, learning how to apply the science, and telling you how you can too.

With so many tips, tools, and insights, there’s probably been some things you missed or forgot along the way.

I know I did! 🙈

So for my sake (and hopefully yours) we want to recap our ‘can’t-miss’ findings from 2024!

To make it more digestible, we’re breaking it into two parts over two weeks:

• Part one (today): The drugs, supplements, technologies, and personalization tools shaping the treatment of age-related diseases.

• Part two (next week): The lifestyle (diet, fitness, stress, wellness, etc..) habits that contribute to longevity.

Let’s dive into it!

A year in review

From the inaugural Livelong Summit to the blow-up of biohacker Bryan Johnson, 2024 was a BIG year in longevity.

In the world of drugs and supplements…

Diabetes medications show huge promise outside of their intended use.

• Metformin gets rid of inflammatory senescent (‘zombie’) cells, slows muscle aging, and, in certain studies, has taken years off biological age.

• Rapamycin, a popular diabetes drug, makes waves as an anti-aging treatment, as it inhibits a biological pathway (mTOR) associated with cancer, neurodegeneration, chronic disease, and aging.

Notable updates in vitamins and supplements…

• Vitamin B may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

• ⭐ In addition to metformin, NAD+, curcumin, vitamin D, and GLP-1s (a class of diabetes/obesity drug) are star drugs and supplements.

• Prebiotics may be better than probiotics to build a healthy gut, according to renowned gut health expert Dr. Will Busiewicz. 

👆 You heard it here first.

• Four billion people may be iron deficient; five billion may be calcium deficient.

The good news? Bisphosphonates and vitamin D can protect bone density.

• David Beckham started a longevity-focused supplement company.

More drugs are being created to extend telomeres. The longer the telomere, the slower the aging.

Telomeres (the end caps of our DNA) protect our chromosomes, reduce risk of disease, and prolong healthy lifespan.

Q: Are telomeres the key to longevity? This is a question we’ll continue to explore in 2025.

Personalization and technology

Blood testing and biomarker testing is the next frontier of personalized medicine.

• Longevity concierges like Function Health, Mito Health, and TruDiagnostic offer a peek behind the curtain of your biology and give personalized recommendations to inhibit the hallmarks of aging.

‘AI’ ask you a question?

Andrew Huberman launched an AI platform that answers health questions with personalized recommendations. The science is based on studies and protocols he shares from his podcast, among other resources. Similarly:

• Alternative healing guru Deepak Chopra created an AI digital twin (‘spiritual guide’) to give users personalized longevity and health span insights.

• A new company founded by The OpenAI Startup Fund is also creating an AI health coach. Sign up for early beta testing access here.

Wearables are changing the landscape of habit optimization.

Whoop, Oura, and Apple now have some (or all) of the following updates: sleep stage tracking, advanced heart rate-tracking, fall detection, personalized coaching, and innovative stress management capabilities.

Looking forward

• For the first time, scientists cured type 1 diabetes.

• Dr. Omri Amirav-Drory says we’ll soon have lab-grown organs.

• More futurists say that we can escape death with ‘longevity escape velocity.’

• Move over biological age: biological noise may be more effective at determining cellular aging and tracking anti-aging tactics.

Keep me in your memory

🧠 New insights on diet suggest that a whole-food plant-based diet reverses early Alzheimer’s decline.

• Walking 30 minutes daily can reduce dementia risk by 30%.

• Standard Interval training is one of the best memorization tools.

• Setting reminders can reduce age-related memory issues.

• Brain training effectively prevents dementia.

There is strong interest in the role of mindset on memory care →

Purpose, positive thinking, and socialization are neuroprotective and reduce loneliness, and this just scratches the surface.

In addition:

• Dopamine and infrared light are being investigated as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s treatments.

• Amino acid L-serine could be the first off-the-shelf Alzheimer’s treatment.

• An experimental form Tai chi is clinically shown to prevent cognitive decline.

• But exercise (period!) may be the most important thing you can do for your brain, says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki.

   

✨Phew! It was big year

Stay tuned for next week’s issue. We can’t wait to share lifestyle habits that are proven to extend your life.

📺 CATCH OUR LAST EPISODE WITH DR. VONDA WRIGHT

She tells you how to eat for cellular health, exercise for bone loss, and change your mindset around aging. Listen here.

📅 MEET DR. VONDA WRIGHT AT OUR NEXT EVENT!

The 2025 Livelong Experience is coming to Palm Beach Island on March 28-29, 2025. 🌴 Join Dr. Wright, Mark Hyman, and other leading experts at an intimate and exclusive gathering to transform your health.

See event details or register here.

Give the gift of health this holiday season

Whether its a ground-breaking book on longevity or a wearable that will change your habits for the better, Livelong has it all.

We can’t wait to cover more trending topics in longevity in our next newsletter. Stay tuned.

Longevity Media LLC

Be your own expert. Optimize your health. Look beyond conventional.

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provid