Laura Pomatto - researching the disparity in lifespan between the sexes - LLAMA31

Live Long and Master Aging Episode 31

Could fruit flies help us understand why women tend to live longer than men? It is an intriguing but age-old question. Laura Pomatto is the first-ever graduate in the Biology of Aging Doctorate program of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, in California. It is the first formal program of its kind in the U.S. Her main interest is in understanding why an organism loses its ability to cope with oxidative stress during aging. Laura’s work with fruit flies has revealed differences in the way male and females respond to oxidative stress. The research could help explain why women typically outlive men. In this in-depth interview Laura explains why fruit flies are a perfect genetic model for aging research; how the close bond she had with her grandparents inspired her to follow a career in the biology of aging; and why she believes scientists should work harder to explain their work to the general public.

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Andrius Baskys - restricting calories to extend health span and stave off diseases - LLAMA30

Live Long and Master Aging - Episode 30

Dr. Andrius Baskys (@MindThisMind) adopted a lifestyle of calorie restriction because he wanted to improve his health as a middle-aged man. The Lithuanian-born psychiatrist and neuroscientist studies aging and interventions to reverse it. 

A prolific writer and former clinical professor of health sciences at the University of California, Riverside, Dr. Baskys currently practices as a gero-psychiatrist, treating mental disorders in the elderly. He permanently restricts his caloric intake because he believes it will optimize his everyday health and chances of living a long, disease-free life. 

In this in-depth interview he describes his daily regimen, its apparent health benefits and the restrictions it imposes on his active lifestyle. He also discusses the practical implications of a dietary practice thatinvolves careful measuring of his food, at every meal.

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The man behind LA's skyline

Architect and author David Martin’s thumbprints are quite literally on the skyline of LA. He is best known for designing some of the city's iconic buildings - including the Wilshire Grand Center skyscraper - at 73 stories it is the tallest building west of the Mississippi. David also runs the Martin Architecture and Design Workshop (Madworkshop) which is a non profit foundation that focusses on architectural innovation. David is also the author of a new book - Joy Ride - about his travels in Mexico exploring the country's ancient buildings.

Allison Melody - embracing the power of food to heal - LLAMA29

Live Long and Master Aging - Episode 29

When Allison Melody lost her parents to cancer it had a profound and life-changing effect on her attitude towards food and the healing power of nutrition. In her early twenties she says she had "no awareness of health,” but was moved to dedicate her life to finding a better way to heal. A film-maker and entrepreneur she formed Holistic Voice, a multi-media production company focussing on diet, exercise and alternative healing modalities. Allison co-hosts, with Suzy Hardy, the Food Heals Podcast (@FoodHealsNation), which brings together experts in the fields of nutrition, health and healing. In this in-depth interview, recorded at the recent Podcast Movement gathering in Anaheim, California, Allison reveals her personal longevity goals and explains how she handles skeptical voices as she pursues a life of optimum health.

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Bob Tygenhof - living the best life through a devotion to exercise - LLAMA28

Live Long and Master Aging - Episode 28

Bob Tygenhof is a 68-year old gym rat and health professional. A former advertising industry executive, Bob pursued a second career as a certified fitness specialist and nutritionist with the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, California. A long-time exercise devotee, Bob follows a rigid program of strength and aerobic training, in between coaching patients on personalized programs. Working alongside doctors, he also overseas patients following a Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), called ProLon, for body weight management and longevity. The Irvine medical practice was among the first to embrace the diet, developed by Dr. Valter Longo at the University of Southern California (USC). LLAMA host Peter Bowes took part in an early clinical trial and was one of the first human guinea pigs to try out the FMD. He discusses it in detail with Dr. Longo in LLAMA episode 01. In this in-depth interview, recorded at the 2017 Podcast Movement gathering in Anaheim, California, Bob Tygenhof explains his motivation for a relentless exercise program and devotion to a lifestyle focussed on longevity.

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Lilian Grigorian - reviving aging hearts with cells from newborns - LLAMA27

Live Long and Master Aging - Episode 27

Problems associated with the aging heart could be reversed by infusing the organ with a type of cell taken from a young heart. According to a study published last week in the European Heart Journal, elderly rats injected with a specific type of stem cell showed a significant improvement in their health and vitality. The cardiosphere-derived cells helped reverse signs of aging in animals with an average age of 22 months, which is considered old for a rat. They were more agile and even showed better hair growth than animals in a control group. In this in-depth interview, Dr. Lilian Grigorian, the study’s co-primary investigator at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Heart Institute in Los Angeles, explains how the research was carried out, and why some of the results came as a surprise. She says the “incredibly motivating” findings could have “exciting” implications for human heart health and longevity within the next ten years.

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