Live Long with Peter Bowes

What if the best days of our lives were to come in our 70s or later? The societal norms around aging are far from optimistic, preferring to frame the process around dotage and frailty. But such views are increasingly being challenged, not least because the evidence suggests we can be active, purposeful and fulfilled, well beyond the traditional age of retirement. In her book, Turning: The Magic an...

Longevity Fest in Las Vegas, one of the world's premier gatherings of health professionals, has just wrapped up for another year. The meeting of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M ) attracts experts from around the world.  Doctors, nurses, researchers and health entrepreneurs share insights into the latest biotech, supplementation and health protocols to promote a long healthspa...

Accurate body composition data is often seen as the holy grail of information for the longevity-minded biohacker.  Calipers are an accurate way to measure body fat. Smart scales and medical facilities equipped with DEXA machines also do a good job.  But now it is possible to generate body composition data using the camera on your phone.  In this episode, Jason Moore, CEO and founder of Spren, disc...

As we get older, how can we still enjoy a runners high or exercise-induced euphoria, while being careful not to get injured? Dr. Kevin R. Stone is an orthopedic surgeon, the founder of the Stone Clinic in San Francisco, and author of Play Forever: How to Recover from Injury and Thrive. With a passion for helping patients play until they drop, Dr. Stone is redefining what it means to maintain a hig...

Loneliness, which affects how long people live, is at epidemic levels. Social isolation is not confined to the elderly, although the anxiety caused by feeling alone is borne especially hard by older people. Could artificial intelligence help? Dor Skuler, co-founder of Intuition Robotics, joined us to explain that AI-driven technology could be part of the solution. The company has developed ElliQ,...

The traditional idea of retirement is changing with people now looking for new ways to continue contributing and finding purpose in their lives. Campbell Gerrish and Caroline Brecker, co-founders of Third Half Advisors, have developed the concept of the 'third half' and how to navigate the bonus years of life. They stress the need to envision a different kind of future and ways to explor...

Sky Bergman's film, Lives Well Lived, explored the joys of growing old, the value of wisdom, and the appreciation of life. Through interviews with people aged 75 and older, the documentary highlighted the resilience, sense of joy and positivity that come with age.  The film has now evolved into a book, Lives Well Lived Generations , where Sky shares her personal journey of embracing aging, ch...

VILPA (Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity) is a type of physical activity that involves short bouts of strenuous activity. It is opportunistic and integrated into daily life. It can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, doing squats, or parking farther away to walk more. This type of activity improves fitness and provides health benefits, including cardiovascula...

Vegetable oils are sometimes referred to as seed oils because they come from the seeds of plants.  The most commonly used include corn, soybean, canola, palm, peanut, safflower, and sunflower oil. They are widely touted as an alternative to butter, but Dr. Cate Shanahan, a physician-scientist, challenges the notion that these oils are a heart-healthy, pro-aging option. Navigating the dietary lands...

The power of innovative storytelling to better understand human longevity has been harnessed by a unique community known as JellyfishDAO. The group - made up of filmmakers, life extension professionals, and blockchain experts - aims to accelerate the acceptance and understanding of aging science through compelling media projects.  In this Live Long interview we unpack how JellyfishDAO is pioneerin...

Do we all have equal access to the benefits of longevity science? Undoubtedly not, although many of the proven interventions are more accessible than some people realize.  "The metabolic benefits of appropriate nutrition, appropriate sleep, appropriate exercise, and also stress and a sense of purpose can outweigh even the very expensive interventions," says Dr. Robert Lufkin, one of the...

DIY blood testing is growing in popularity. At-home testing kits make it easy to collect our own samples and receive lab results online.  But could we be over-testing – just because we can?    Michael Dubrovsky is the co-founder of SiPhox Health, a home blood testing system that claims its results are as accurate as traditional methods. What is SiPhox Health? It is a home blood testing that can me...

Retail wellness companies are becoming a more familiar sight on the high street, whether it’s for an infrared sauna, red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, cryotherapy or intravenous drip, there’s a lot of choice. It feels good at the time. You might leave with a healthy glow, but how many of these practices actually change our health outcomes? Indeed, are they designed to do that? Are they really...

Much of the buzz around full body MRI scans has resulted from attention given to them by influencers and celebrities who have posted about their experiences. At a cost of up to $2,500 the scans are touted as a way to catch medical problems, such as cancer, at a stage when they can be treated. But they have been widely criticized by professional medical bodies and are generally not covered by healt...

There has been a surge in interest in the use of full body MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans as a screening tool to spot early signs of disease. Influencers and celebrities have posted about their experiences, creating an additional buzz around these screening interventions. At a cost of up to $2,500 the scans are touted as a tool to catch medical problems, such as cancer, at a stage when the...

David Robson has always found forming new connections and meeting strangers challenging. As a science writer - and confronted by his own insecurities - he decided to delve into the research that suggests forging new relationships has a direct impact on healthy aging. The result is Robson's latest book, The Laws of Connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network, which r...

Memory loss is often cited as one of the most worrying aspects of growing older. But what if the section of the brain that's responsible for memory could be stimulated by simply sniffing a few pleasant odors? There is extensive research pointing to a relationship between exposure to different smells and memory improvement.  A clinical trial led by Prof. Michael Leon at the Department of Neuro...

Maddy Dychtwald has been unraveling the mysteries of aging for decades.  Before biohacking was a thing and the recent surge in interest in age-reversal science, she and her husband launched a mission to address longevity as a new frontier. Through her work with Age Wave, the company they founded, the writer and renowned thought-leader has curated the best advice from the some of the world's l...

Could the regular consumption of algae help us age better and live healthier lives? Catherine Arnston, founder and CEO of EnergyBits, is on a mission to introduce algae to everyday diets for health and longevity. Touted for its potent healing and nourishing properties, algae, particularly spirulina and chlorella, have garnered support from organizations like the United Nations and NASA for their d...

Brandy Gillmore went from being wheelchair-bound, on morphine, and given no hope by doctors, to a full recovery and an active life. It is a remarkable turnaround in fortunes - following two serious accidents and years of searching for a solution.   Now, the former network engineer is telling her story in a new book, Master Your Mind and Energy to Heal Your Body.  Gillmore offers compelling evidenc...

Another day. Another year. Another decade. "Give me some longevity," says fitness coach and author, Nate Wilkins.  The 70-year-old functional aging specialist is the co-founder of Ageless Workout, a Miami-based health, healing and wellness company that seeks to bridge the gap between fitness and medicine.  At the recent Livelong summit in Palm Beach, Florida, he and host Peter Bowes disc...

Could we one day cheat death? Are we hurtling towards a time when science will be so advanced that aging can be prevented or halted in its tracks? Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan takes a skeptical view in a fascinating exploration of longevity research. In Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality, the acclaimed scientist delves into the complexities of aging and the pur...

Ron Kastner experienced what he called a "mortality moment" in his late 50s. A new dad, with two young daughters, it was a "profound realization" that he was entering the third act of his life and that to make the most of it, he had to make significant changes.  A businessman who drank too much and was challenged by the stresses of the corporate world, Ron embarked on a journey...

By Peter Bowes I lost a dear friend last week. In fact the UK, my home country, lost a national treasure. Steve Wright was much more than a DJ on the radio. He was a wonderful communicator, entertainer and soul-mate. He was everyone's pal during more than four decades on the air and was the best at what he did. Millions tuned in to his shows but it was Steve's kindness away from the stud...

Coleen T. Murphy, a professor at Princeton University, specializes in genomics and molecular biology and is the author of How We Age: The Science of Longevity .  In this wide-ranging interview we discuss the significance of declining cellular repair mechanisms that over time lead to visible signs of aging. Prof. Murphy has a particular interest in reproductive aging and cognitive function during a...