Advancements in tooling and technology have made it possible to study and understand biology at a deeper level, leading to the discovery of the cell and the link between molecular biology, genetics, and microscopy. The Longevity Fund focuses on longevity now because the availability of these tools has made it the right time to work on longevity. Laura Deming got started in longevity because she wanted to solve cancer and her father told her that cancer is a subset of aging. Aging became a major issue once infectious diseases were under control, so Laura started a fund to address the problem of aging. Raising a fund for aging therapeutics is necessary due to lack of funding and venture capitalists' unfamiliarity with aging therapeutics. Laura Deming follows a low-sugar and low-protein diet for longevity. Worm and mouse studies have shown that gene therapy and caloric restriction can significantly increase lifespan. Trials on humans are being considered to test the effects of drugs on aging biomarkers. The most likely strategies to increase lifespan involve understanding the biology of aging, developing interventions to slow down the aging process, and utilizing genetic engineering. The ethics of longevity and people's desire to live longer are discussed. The potential impact of immortality on society is explored, questioning whether it would lead to complacency and a decrease in innovation. Cognitive enhancement, daily habits, and the tech environment are also discussed.
Why focus on longevity now?
Advancements in tooling and technology have made it possible to study and understand biology at a deeper level, leading to the discovery of the cell and the link between molecular biology, genetics, and microscopy. The Longevity Fund focuses on longevity now because the availability of these tools has made it the right time to work on longevity.
How did Laura get started in longevity?
Laura Deming got started in longevity because she wanted to solve cancer and her father told her that cancer is a subset of aging. Aging became a major issue once infectious diseases were under control, so Laura started a fund to address the problem of aging.
- Laura Deming got started in longevity because she wanted to solve cancer and her father told her that cancer is a subset of aging.
- Aging became a major issue once infectious diseases were under control.
- Laura started a fund to address the problem of aging.
Why raise a fund?
Raising a fund for aging therapeutics:
- Lack of funding for developing drugs in aging therapeutics
- Venture capitalists' unfamiliarity with aging therapeutics
- Need to support and fund drug development in this field
- Increase in funding and emergence of companies in aging and longevity space
- Shift in industry and questions about personal involvement in this field.
What does Laura do personally for longevity?
Laura Deming, from The Longevity Fund, follows a low-sugar and low-protein diet for longevity. She acknowledges that the ideal protein intake may vary depending on factors such as exercise. She suggests that low protein and low sugar diets may be beneficial for longevity. The Longevity Fund has a secret list of drugs that they believe may impact lifespan, but they do not release it due to potential risks.
Worm and mouse studies
Worm and mouse studies have demonstrated that gene therapy and caloric restriction can significantly increase lifespan. In worms, lifespan has been doubled, while in mice, it has been increased by up to two-fold. However, the effectiveness of these interventions may vary based on genetics and other factors. The speaker's family members have lived into their 80s and 90s, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health.
Craig's personal habits
Craig's personal habits:
- Vegetarian for 8 years for environmental reasons
- Started incorporating more protein into his diet by eating eggs
- Emphasizes the importance of sleep for overall health
- Feeling better doesn't always indicate good health
- Healthspan should be correlated with daily well-being, not just total years lived
- Would not choose a lifestyle that makes him unhappy for 90 years
- Experimenting with different diets, like keto, may lead to increased caffeine consumption.
Human studies
The most profound aspect of the topic of human studies is the exploration of increasing healthy human lifespan and the potential effects of certain drugs on aging markers.
Key points:
- Trials on humans are being considered to test the effects of drugs on aging biomarkers.
- The TAME trial is mentioned as an example, focusing on the effects of metformin on aging biomarkers.
- Previous findings suggest potential health benefits of metformin in reducing age-related diseases.
- The speaker expresses excitement about studying the animal kingdom and learning from diverse phenotypes and lifespans of different animal species.
- Differences in lifespan between animals challenge the theory that complex systems inevitably lead to death.
- Similarities between animals of similar size question the validity of the theory of entropy increasing over time.
- The topic is further explored through a question about the speaker's thoughts on human lifespan.
Mica asks - Do you think immortality is going to be achieved by: 1. Curing all disease and stop aging so we could live with our own bodies forever 2. OR is going to be something like porting our brain, "mind" to a computer/robot?
- Biology is like a set of tools that have evolved over time, from small molecules to proteins to genetic engineering.
- Understanding the brain is considered the final frontier in achieving immortality.
- Advancements in other areas of biotechnology may coincide with advancements in understanding the brain.
- The two proposed methods for achieving immortality are curing all diseases and stopping aging, or transferring our minds to a computer or robot.
Most likely strategies to increase lifespan
The most likely strategies to increase lifespan involve understanding the biology of aging, developing interventions to slow down the aging process, and utilizing genetic engineering. However, current treatments are limited and new technologies are needed to significantly impact longevity. Key points include:
- Some therapies in the clinic or on the market may have an effect on lifespan, but they are not sufficient on their own.
- Tooling and investing in the development of new technologies is crucial to achieve an engineered ability to impact longevity.
- Longevity research is currently in a foundational stage, similar to genetics and molecular biology in 1953.
- Genetic engineering holds potential for increasing lifespan, but ethical considerations must be taken into account.
Ryan Hoover asks - Ask about the ethics of longevity. Jack J. Fernandes asks - Do people actually want to live longer?
The ethics of longevity and people's desire to live longer are discussed in this video. The speaker highlights the different perspectives on longevity, with one camp focusing on limited resources and the other supporting exploration of the cosmos. The importance of curing diseases and working on aging is emphasized, while the concept of multiple universes is briefly mentioned.
Mica asks - How would immortality change society? Wouldn't we become more complacent? Since we have "forever" to do things wouldn't that diminish our rate of innovation? And since less new individuals are being created we would have access to less new ideas. We would just stop creating new Newtons, Einsteins, Mozarts…
The potential impact of immortality on society is explored, questioning whether it would lead to complacency and a decrease in innovation. However, the speaker challenges these assumptions, stating that motivation comes from various sources other than the fear of death. They also mention the possibility of addressing cognitive changes with age through interventions. The speaker argues that individuals who maintain their brilliance and openness as they age can bring value to society. They also highlight the contributions of older individuals like Stephen Hawking and the potential for coexistence and collaboration between older and younger generations in innovation.
Cognitive enhancement
Cognitive enhancement is the use of substances like Provigil to enhance cognitive abilities, but individual choice is emphasized and coercion is discouraged. Exciting research on enhancing brain function and increasing neuron division is mentioned. Cognitive enhancement is seen as part of longevity and a pill for cognitive enhancement is desired. The speaker acknowledges personal experience with effective cognitive enhancement methods and highlights the importance of daily habits in improving cognitive function.
- Cognitive enhancement involves using substances like Provigil to enhance cognitive abilities
- Individual choice is emphasized and coercion is discouraged
- Exciting research on enhancing brain function and increasing neuron division is mentioned
- Cognitive enhancement is seen as part of longevity
- A pill for cognitive enhancement is desired
- Personal experience with effective cognitive enhancement methods is acknowledged
- Daily habits play a crucial role in improving cognitive function.
Daily habits
The most profound aspect of the topic of daily habits is the importance of having a set routine, particularly in the mornings.
Key points:
- Mornings are more valuable than evenings for establishing daily habits.
- The reasons for this could be biological or psychological.
- Cognitive enhancement and the use of psychedelics are discussed.
- Personal habits such as caloric restriction, avoiding vices, and exercise are mentioned.
- Internal motivation and imagining future success are helpful in maintaining habits.
- Focusing on what winning looks like and controlling what one can are important motivations.
- Moving from New York to California and starting a company with friends is shared.
- The differences between living in California and New York are discussed, including outdoor activities and cultural differences.
- The professional atmosphere in the tech and entertainment industries in California is highlighted.
- Changes experienced in the past seven years are mentioned.
Tech environment changes in the past 5-10 years
In the past 5-10 years, the tech environment has undergone significant changes, particularly in the biotech industry. The most profound aspect is the shift in wealth distribution, with more venture capital going to founders of companies. This change is attributed to a shift in strategy, focusing on founder-driven initiatives and promoting company growth without replacing the founders. Additionally, there has been a drop in the cost of sequencing genomes, making it more accessible and leading to technological advancements. However, there are concerns about extreme risk aversion and lifestyle inflation. Overall, the changes in the tech environment have had both positive and negative impacts.
- Shift in wealth distribution, with more venture capital going to founders of companies
- Focus on founder-driven initiatives and promoting company growth without replacing founders
- Drop in the cost of sequencing genomes, making it more accessible
- Technological advancements and easier project initiation
- Concerns about extreme risk aversion and lifestyle inflation
What percentage of people in labs want to start companies?
- A significant percentage of people in labs are not aware of the possibility of starting their own companies
- Lack of awareness and education about entrepreneurial options is a barrier that needs to be addressed
- Many people have never even thought about starting their own company
- Misconceptions and myths surrounding entrepreneurship exist due to the lack of awareness
Pioneer
Pioneer is a project that aims to find talented individuals with innovative ideas and provide them with opportunities to pursue their projects. It offers a platform for people from various backgrounds and age groups to apply and work on their projects. The Pioneer tournament allows participants to showcase their work and receive community votes. The selected individuals are then granted a $5,000 grant and become part of the Pioneer community, which consists of ambitious individuals striving to make a difference in the world.
- Pioneer aims to find talented individuals with innovative ideas and provide them with opportunities to pursue their projects.
- It offers a platform for people from various backgrounds and age groups to apply and work on their projects.
- The Pioneer tournament allows participants to showcase their work and receive community votes.
- Selected individuals receive a $5,000 grant and become part of the Pioneer community.
Confidence
Confidence is crucial for pursuing goals and taking risks. Boosting confidence can have a significant impact on actions and decisions. It can be transmitted through personal connections or podcasts. Scaling and replicating confidence-building processes is challenging.
Podcasting
Podcasting: Merging Persona with Reality
- The challenge of merging podcast persona with real-life self
- Reflecting on the authenticity and naturalness of podcasts
- Using Joe Rogan's show as an example
- Desire to make the podcast feel more like oneself
- Exploring ways to create a relaxed and comfortable environment for conversation
- Laura Deming discusses increasing healthy human lifespan in a podcast
- Challenge of keeping the discussion on topic while maintaining a natural flow
- Exploring the topic of longevity and its level of interest to listeners
- Host reveals they are not a podcast person
Choosing media to consume
Choosing media to consume is an important decision that can impact our learning and understanding of various topics. Here are the key points to consider:
- Consuming media that cannot be fast-forwarded or easily skimmed through can be annoying and time-consuming.
- Everyone consuming the same media can lead to outdated information and a lack of diverse perspectives.
- Understanding topics from first principles and pursuing ideas with inspiration is crucial, rather than relying solely on logical processes.
- Factual and research-based media is preferred for accurate information.
- Media that presents information in an engaging and visually appealing manner, such as a Tim Urban-style FAQ with drawings, can be enjoyable and effective in conveying complex concepts.
Sam Betesh asks - The last thing that led to a step function change in average life span was germ theory. What new areas of research might provide the next step function change?
The next step function change in average lifespan and potential areas of research are discussed in this video. The breakthroughs of germ theory and understanding life's origins are highlighted. The importance of defining life and differentiating between the germ line and soma is mentioned. The aging phenomenon and our desire for longer life are also explored.
Key points:
- Germ theory and its impact on average lifespan
- Exploring new areas of research for a similar impact
- Repurposing existing knowledge and technologies
- Defining life and understanding the germ line and soma
- The aging phenomenon and our desire for longer life
Extending fertility windows
Extending fertility windows is a topic that explores the possibility of delaying childbirth until later in life. The value of this is highlighted, with the potential to have children even at the age of sixty. The concept of menopause is discussed, suggesting that humans may age similarly to other animals. The idea of artificial wombs and reengineering humans is briefly mentioned, but the focus is primarily on understanding and manipulating the biological processes involved in fertility and aging. Key points include:
- The importance of understanding when fertility is optimal in order to increase healthy human lifespan
- The potential to delay childbirth until later in life, even at the age of sixty
- Menopause as a clocked onset of various health issues, indicating similarities between humans and other animals in terms of aging
- Brief mention of artificial wombs and reengineering humans, but the primary focus is on understanding and manipulating biological processes.
Jason Choi asks - What % of longevity is attributable to lifestyle choices vs genetics and the progress of technology in influencing both.
- Genetics may play a smaller role in longevity than previously believed, with an estimated heritability of around 11%.
- The potential impact of genetic factors on lifespan may be underestimated.
- The progress of technology and the study of mutants with longer lifespans could provide more understanding of the influence of genes on longevity.
Fatih asks - is blood transfusion a thing or just a hoax
Blood transfusion is not a hoax, but its impact on lifespan is not fully understood. Early studies show positive effects on age-related phenotypes, but more research is needed. It is not a simple solution and should not be overemphasized.
- Blood transfusion is a legitimate medical procedure.
- Its impact on lifespan is not proven.
- Early studies show positive effects on age-related phenotypes.
- More research is needed.
- It is not a simple solution and should not be overemphasized.
Rapamycin
Rapamycin, a drug discovered on Rapa Nui, has diverse effects on the body, primarily targeting the protein mTOR. It shows potential benefits for longevity, but also carries side effects. Doctors differ in their recommendations, with some suggesting high doses on a schedule and others awaiting safer alternatives. The maximum effective dose for longevity remains uncertain.
- Rapamycin is a drug discovered on Rapa Nui with various effects on the body
- It primarily impacts the protein mTOR
- Rapamycin has potential benefits for longevity
- However, it also has side effects
- Some doctors recommend high doses on a schedule
- Others are waiting for safer versions of the drug
- The maximum effective dose for longevity is still unknown.
Testosterone
Testosterone and growth hormone have potential effects on longevity, but their impact on lifespan is unclear. Knocking out the growth hormone receptor analog in worms increases lifespan, and dwarf mice tend to live longer. However, taking growth hormone or testosterone may only optimize healthspan. Some dwarfs in humans have lower rates of cancer and metabolic disease. It is uncertain how much shorter one would be if they could live 60% longer, but it could potentially be between 50 and 70 years. The trade-off between size and longevity is still uncertain.
Chris asks - Aubrey De Grey, IIRC, mentioned a number of times that we might, in the future, replace organs and tissues with new organic ones before they fail. Is this actually a reasonable idea, or is it more likely that we'll replace them with synthetic ones, if we replace them at all?
Replacing organs with new organic ones before they fail is a concept discussed by Aubrey De Grey. However, it is still being developed and faces challenges. It is a futuristic yet old method in the field of aging.
Key points:
- Aubrey De Grey mentioned the possibility of replacing organs and tissues with new organic ones before they fail.
- This concept is still in development and there are risks and challenges that need to be addressed.
- It is considered both a futuristic concept and an old method in the field of aging.
Mica asks - Laura did a "cookie diet" for one month. Why did you do it? How did you feel? Doesn't it go against all the research on longevity? ;-)
Laura Deming did a "cookie diet" for one month to test if it was possible to sustain oneself on a single food item. Although the diet worked well in the short-term, she realized it was not a good long-term idea. She mentioned a well-known long-distance hiker who had a diet consisting of Snickers and Pringles, highlighting that extreme diets can sometimes work. Laura also discussed the importance of considering factors like the stress levels of animals before consuming meat.
Is Laura actually not doing anything strange in her diet?
Laura Deming discusses her diet and concludes that many popular diet theories are incorrect. She mentions trying the cookie diet and attempting to calculate the ideal diet based on calorie intake and protein consumption after workouts. However, she found it difficult to determine the correct timing and amounts. Laura directs viewers to the Longevity Fund and her personal website for more information.
- Laura Deming discusses her diet and lack of strange or extreme practices
- She tried the cookie diet and attempted to calculate the ideal diet based on calorie intake and protein consumption after workouts
- Laura found it difficult to determine the correct timing and amounts
- She concludes that many popular diet theories are incorrect
- Laura directs viewers to the Longevity Fund and her personal website for more information.