🙌 Happy Friday!
June 15-21 is Men’s Health Week, and nothing is off the table.
Our headlining story looks at the diagnostic wisdom of erectile dysfunction (ED). Did you know that different medications can affect erectile dysfunction? I was surprised to learn that Beta-blockers used to be a culprit (less so with newer ones!). Read more.
This week:
What’s beneath erectile dysfunction
A hopeful brain health study
Five longevity ‘partners in crime’ for men
Dad jokes
What's the biggest lie people tell their doctor?
Spotlight
The most honest organ in your body
The penis is "the perfect biomarker for chronic diseases,” says sexologist Emmanuele Jannini of the University of Rome Tor Vergata in a recent BBC Feature.
Anywhere from 3% to 76% of men experience ED at some point (huge range, different definitions), and it’s much more common after 65. But what’s important is that—in many cases—it’s not just about sex.
Something else might be driving it entirely.
What ED might be signaling
Stress. Often the culprit, high cortisol can suppress testosterone that drags down libido and arousal.
Diabetes. The blood vessels in the penis are among the first to be damaged by glycation — the cellular wear caused by chronic blood sugar spikes.
Heart disease and stroke. In many cases, ED shows up before cardiovascular problems. Men with ED could face a 59% higher rate and a 34% higher risk of stroke.
Dementia. The BBC notes small but meaningful research that points to a 68% higher risk within a decade.
The cost of shame: In one UK survey, about half of men say they’re too ashamed to seek help for ED. It’s a risky hesitation, as Jannini calls the penis a “canary in the coalmine” for many long-term conditions.
Key takeaway: Not every case of ED means something serious, but ignoring it certainly could mean missing something that could be.
Talk to your doctor. This gives you the chance to potentially catch heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic issues early.
Ask about treatment. Drugs like Viagra were originally developed for blood pressure; emerging evidence suggests they may also reduce the risk of heart failure and dementia.
🏃 What we clicked next
‘Viagra for women’: A cream that ‘brings back the joy of sex’ for women in midlife. Very much worth the read.
Wellness watch
Men’s longevity: Five people who can help you live longer
This year’s Men's Health Week theme is "Partners in Care: For Better Lifespans Across the Lifespan." Strong relationships consistently rank as one of the best predictors of health, more than diet or exercise or sleep or creatine… or whatever else is on a ‘live longer’ list.
Here are five partners most men can access, each targeting a core longevity gap.
The dermatologist. Men may die from melanoma at 70% higher rates than women, mostly because they never get looked at. A yearly full-body scan catches what you can't see yourself.
The cardiologist. According to the CDC, heart disease affects men younger and kills them sooner, often without warning. A baseline check-in before 50 builds your window to intervene.
The GP. Men are significantly less likely to have a regular primary care doctor, and that can show up as delayed diagnoses.
A trainer or PT. Just one to two hours of weekly strength training cuts dementia risk by 27%, per new research. Consider a trainer for accountability and injury prevention.
New friends. Social isolation carries an estimated 29% higher heart disease risk and 32% higher stroke risk. Your chosen community is helping to keep you alive.
Big picture: Longevity is more within our control than ever — but that's not an argument for going it alone.
In recent headlines
The growth formula: Your brain can still grow in your 90s
The brain is not a one-way ticket to cognitive decline. You already know this, but a new study might have found the formula for gains.
When researchers at the University of Texas, Dallas, analyzed participant data from the BrainHealth Project (participants ranged in age from 19 to 94 years old), they found two things that determined a person’s capacity for cognitive gains:
Effort beats age: It was motivation that determined how effective brain training was, not age or demographics.
Baseline brain health: Those with lower baseline brain health saw the greatest improvements, but even high performers can always experience gains.
Put it to work: Enroll in the BrainHealth Project study here, or start with the simplest version — pick something hard to learn, and care about getting better at it.
Short reads
Dad goals: Fatherhood is linked to longer lifespan in Black men—but so are other things.
Don’t wine about it: Wine mightttt slow biological aging in men.
Research suggests women help men live longer. It’s your time to support her.
The Livelong Women’s Health Summit™ is for women who want to feel more energetic, vital, and strong—and for men who want to understand how to actually support that with science-backed tools.
Long-levity: For a feel-good life
Dad jokes are corny, but shucks — they’re good for you
Nothing prompts a face slap like the ol’ dad joke. But the endearing and cringey style of humor (dad jokes lean on puns, wordplay, and obvious punchlines) can be weirdly beneficial for health.
Why (dad) jokes might work: Shared humor strengthens social bonds and sparks a connection tied to healthier aging. Dad jokes are also surprisingly witty, requiring a mental reframe that provides a tiny cognitive workout and stress relief.
But some dad jokes are better than others: There’s even research on this. An analysis of thousands of dad jokes on Subreddit found the “best” ones tend to be:
Simple
Concrete
Pun-heavy
Mundane (family, pets, and everyday things)
So if a terrible pun makes the room groan, it might be doing more for healthy aging than you think.
Mid-year check-in
Hiya! Over the next few newsletters, we’ll be sending you questions to improve your newsletter experience. This is designed to better serve you, so we greatly appreciate any feedback!
How often do you want us to send you longevity news?
Livelong recommends
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Forget the overwhelm: Use our AI-powered search engine to ask your complicated longevity questions and get science-backed, actionable answers.
Reader responses
Highlighting your responses to last week's question.
We asked: What do you most associate creatine with?
Muscle growth is the top response, and one reader shares, “In my 20s and 30s, I would see gym rats/bros just gobble up anything related to creatine to get that ‘muscular’ look.” With emerging research on creatine for cognitive health, I’m curious how it’s landing for everyone.
Thanks for reading! Have a great week.
Erin
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The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.
