#54 What are we to believe? (With Dr. Adam Cifu)

Summary: I unpack why medicine sometimes reverses course—and how you can tell sound evidence from shiny anecdotes—with physician-author Dr. Adam Cifu of the University of Chicago and co-author of Ending Medical Reversal.Key topics & takeawaysWhy medicine “flips”: Plausible theories + observational data → premature guidelines; true answers require randomized trials. Classic examples: menopausal hormone therapy, early peanut avoidance, and stents for stable angina (LEAP trial, COURAGEOpen-minded skepticism: Ask, “What’s the human outcomes evidence?” Cool mechanisms and moving testimonials aren’t proof.Hype outside the clinic: Mitochondria “rechargers,” microbiome panaceas, and biological age tests are intriguing—but not ready for prime time.Nutrition sanity:  For supplement evidence summaries, I like Examine.When AI helps (and when it doesn’t): Tools can orient you to established topics; they’re weaker on breaking studies. Look for linked primary sources.N-of-1 experiments: When evidence is uncertain and the outcome is measurable (sleep, blood pressure, pain), test on yourself—track a baseline, try the change, measure again, and, if possible, stop-start to confirm. Use symptom diaries, validated scales, or wearables.Humility is a signal: Trust sources that sometimes conclude “we don’t know.” I often check Cochrane Reviews for balanced syntheses.About my guest Adam Cifu, MD is a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, author of 140+ peer-reviewed papers, and co-author of Ending Medical Reversal. He writes at Sensible Medicine.Call to action If this episode helped you think more clearly about health claims, share it with a friend and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. For my newsletter on practical, evidence-supported longevity, visit DrBobbyLiveLongAndWell.com.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📥 Tap to join my free newsletter & get the 1-page episode checklists: drbobbylivelongandwell.com