Longevity Science
Longevity science is advancing faster than the mainstream health media can keep up. In the last decade, researchers have identified specific cellular mechanisms driving aging (from senescent cell accumulation to NAD+ decline to mTOR dysregulation) and have begun developing targeted interventions. Some of this research will change medicine fundamentally. Much of it is still too early to act on.
These articles translate the primary literature into something actionable without overstating what the evidence supports. We cover the hallmarks of aging framework from Lopez-Otin et al., the rapamycin and metformin trials, senolytics research from the Mayo Clinic and Unity Biotechnology, and the ongoing NAD+ precursor debate between NMN and NR.
We also cover biomarkers: biological age clocks like Horvath's epigenetic clock and GrimAge, blood-based markers that correlate with aging rate, and how to interpret your own lab results in the context of longevity research. The goal is to bridge the gap between what researchers know and what individuals can do with that knowledge today.
When a compound or intervention is generating excitement in longevity circles but lacks human trial data, we say so clearly. Distinguishing between promising mouse studies and replicated human evidence is the foundation of everything we publish here.
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The operating system for a longer, sharper, more resilient life. The protocol that ties it all together.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lifespan and healthspan?
Lifespan is how long you live. Healthspan is how long you live without chronic disease or significant functional decline. Longevity research increasingly focuses on healthspan because adding years of disability is not the goal. The interventions covered here prioritize maintaining physical and cognitive function, not merely extending survival.
Is NMN or NR better for NAD+ supplementation?
The evidence is insufficient to declare a clear winner. NR (nicotinamide riboside) has more published human trial data, including the CHROMADEX-funded studies. NMN has strong preclinical data and a growing body of human research. Both raise NAD+ levels, but through slightly different metabolic pathways. The debate is ongoing, and anyone claiming certainty is ahead of the evidence.
Can you actually measure your biological age?
Yes, with caveats. Epigenetic clocks like Horvath's clock and GrimAge estimate biological age by analyzing DNA methylation patterns. GrimAge appears to be the most predictive of mortality risk. These tests are commercially available but should be interpreted as estimates with inherent uncertainty, not definitive measurements. Trends over time are more useful than any single reading.