Dr. Michael Rose - when does aging stop?

LLAMA episode 23: 

A hundred years from now, "physicians will have the capacity to keep people alive indefinitely,” says Dr. Michael Rose, director and professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Rose has spent over 40 years working with fruit flies to try to unravel the mechanisms at work as we age. He believes that there is a point (which can be manipulated) in our lives, when aging ends. It is followed by a "post-aging phase of biological immortality" before we die. Dr. Rose, co-founder (with Dr Larry Cabral) of Lyceum Pharmaceuticals, a research startup in California, focuses on trying to "re-tune" patterns of aging to help us live longer and better lives. In this in-depth interview, he explains his “four-steps to the conquest of aging,” and the importance of living an “age appropriate lifestyle."

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Los Angeles' homeless encampments shame La La Land

Phil Libin - tech entrepreneur and Evernote co-founder achieves weight loss and euphoria through fasting

LLAMA episode 22 - Phil Libin (@plibin) co-founder and former CEO of Evernote, the note-taking app, recently moved into a new phase of his life. He turned 45, launched a new AI startup studio, All Turtles, and perhaps most significantly, lost a ton of weight. Phil has been a big guy since his late teens. 

He knew he was obese but did nothing about it until eight months ago. That’s when he decided to join the growing clan of fasting enthusiasts in Silicon Valley. It worked. He has lost 86 pounds (39 kilograms). Blood tests suggest he could be 20 years younger. 

And here’s the kicker: Phil says he plans to continue fasting indefinitely - not because he needs to lose much more weight but because he enjoys a sustained feeling of "mild euphoria" while not eating. He fasts periodically for up to eight days at a time. In this in-depth interview, Phil explains why his extreme regime is so invigorating; how he pushed back at his doctor, who thought it was a bad idea; and why he likens fasting to skydiving.

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Dr. Duke Han - detecting Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms emerge

LLAMA podcast #21: As human life expectancy continues to increase, age-related diseases are the main impediment to enjoying the fruits of longevity. High on the list is Alzheimer’s disease, the incurable neurodegenerative condition that robs sufferers of their memory and eventually leads to death. But valuable progress is being made in the understanding and prevention of the disease. A new study at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles has revealed that biological changes in the brain occur long before symptoms of Alzheimer’s become apparent. The research, led by neuropsychologist Dr. Duke Han, suggests that cognitive tests are able to detect early stage of the disease in people without symptoms. In this in-depth interview, Dr Han argues that routine brain testing should be incorporated into annual physical check ups for people of all ages.

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Dr. Felice Gersh - gynecologist and integrative medicine doctor advocating for a new approach to health care

LLAMA podcast #20:  Why do women live longer than men?  Does the ability to bear children play a role and to what extent do evolutionary forces discriminate between men and women?  Dr. Felice Gersh is a board-certified (1984) gynecologist and the founder of a private medical practice, the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, California. Fellowship trained in a relatively new medical field, known as functional/integrative medicine, Dr. Gersh believes longevity is connected to estrogen. She argues that it is the “most maligned and insulted” of all hormones and acts a natural anti-inflamatory agent to promote good health in both women and men.  Dr. Gersh is a leading voice on women’s health issues. She advocates for a better understanding of the role stomach bacteria play in living a long, healthy life. A prolific speaker, she believes doctors should “expand their tool boxes” to include acupuncture, herbal medicine and meditation. 

In this in-depth interview Dr. Gersh explains why she “had to unlearn” about half of everything she learned at medical school calls for a fundamental “shake-up” in the delivery of health care.

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