Decoding Longevity

What if the biggest barrier to healthy longevity isn’t scientific—but philosophical, economic, and ethical?In this episode of Decoding Longevity, Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques are joined by Dr. Raiany Romanni-Klein to explore how our beliefs about aging, death, and human value shape the future of longevity science.From the idea that “natural is good” to the economic incentives holding the field back, this conversation challenges how we think about aging—and what it will take to change it.🔗 Resources & Links:Silver Linings : https://silverlinings.bio/Raiany’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB1IFGYaYXo

Aging might not be inevitable.In this episode of Decoding Longevity, Dr. Michael Ringel (COO, Life Biosciences) explains how scientists are learning to “reset” the biological age of cells—without changing what they are.From reversing vision loss in preclinical models to launching one of the first human trials, this conversation explores a future where we don’t just treat diseases of aging—we target aging itself.🔗 Show notes:Life Biosciences: https://www.lifebiosciences.com/Clinical pipeline: https://www.lifebiosciences.com/pipeline/Michael Ringel talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC31N9KbOEs / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OycGR-03S8A / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZUBjXv5wIw

What if aging isn’t defined by disease — but by how much function we preserve over time?In this episode of Decoding Longevity, Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques sit down with Stephen Kritchevsky to explore how mobility, metabolism, and physiological resilience shape the aging process.From walking speed as a powerful integrative biomarker… to why muscle quality may matter more than muscle mass… to what long-term trials like Look AHEAD reveal about bending aging trajectories — this conversation reframes longevity around function, not just lifespan.We also dive into the trade-offs of weight loss in older adults, the connection between brain and physical aging, and what it will take to measure — and truly slow — aging in humans.

What if the biggest barrier to extending healthy human lifespan isn’t the science — but policy?In this episode of Decoding Longevity, hosts Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques speak with Dylan Livingston, founder of the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives. Together, they explore why public policy may be one of the most important — and overlooked — drivers of progress in longevity science.From building support for aging research funding to launching the Congressional Longevity Science Caucus and expanding access to investigational therapies, Dylan shares how advocacy and legislation could shape the future of preventative medicine and healthy aging.Learn more: Alliance for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) → https://a4li.org/LongeviPAC → https://www.longevipac.org/

What if the future of medicine is preventing aging-related disease before it begins?In this episode of Decoding Longevity, Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques speak with James Peyer, CEO of Cambrian Biopharma, about turning aging biology into real therapeutics.We explore exercise-mimetic drugs, metabolism reset therapies, mTOR inhibition, and the path to the first approved gerotherapeutics.

In this episode of Decoding Longevity, host Raghav Sehgal and co-host Macsue Jacques explore one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — drivers of aging: the immune system.Joined by immunologist Alan Landay, the conversation uncovers how chronic inflammation — often described as inflammaging — shapes biological aging at the cellular level. Drawing on decades of HIV research, Dr. Landay explains how persistent immune activation, gut barrier dysfunction, and microbiome imbalance contribute to age-related diseases long before symptoms appear.The episode dives into:• Why aging is a biological process — not just the passage of time • How immune dysregulation accelerates cardiovascular and metabolic disease • The role of gut health and microbial metabolites in systemic inflammation • Biological aging clocks and emerging biomarkers • Promising interventions — from lifestyle strategies to immune-targeted therapiesThis conversation reframes aging as an immune-driven process and highlights how understanding inflammation may be key to extending healthspan.

In this episode of Decoding Longevity, hosts Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques are joined by Dr. Karl Pfleger — angel investor, longevity industry analyst, and creator of AgingBiotech.info.We explore the rapidly growing aging biotech ecosystem, including:Repairing aging vs. slowing agingRejuvenation biotech and combination therapiesLongevity investing, biomarkers, and regulationWhy ecosystems matter in aging researchA big-picture conversation on longevity science, rejuvenation, and the future of aging as a biological problem.

What if healthy longevity depends not only on your DNA, but on the city you live in, the air you breathe, and the communities you’re part of?In this episode, Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques talk with Tina Woods — CEO of Collider Health and leading voice of the Human Exposome Project — about how environmental, social and lifestyle exposures shape aging.You’ll learn:What the human exposome is and why it drives most health outcomesHow cities, neighborhoods & clinics can become “living labs” for aging researchHow exposome data links with methylation, inflammation & aging biomarkersWhy future longevity breakthroughs rely on policy, environment & community designThe role of trust, data governance & public engagement in healthy longevity👇 Links Collider Health: https://www.colliderhealth.com/Human Exposome Project paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03519-8🎙️ Hosts: Raghav Sehgal & Macsue Jacques Follow for more conversations on aging, healthspan & prevention.

What if we could produce safe, ethical, and infinitely renewable stem cells — without relying on embryos or complex reprogramming? In this episode, Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques sit down with Yuta Lee, Founder and CEO of Accelerated Biosciences, to explore how his team is pioneering a new source of true pluripotent stem cells that could transform regenerative medicine and longevity research.We dive into:How Accelerated Biosciences discovered its unique stem cell lineWhy these cells could bypass major ethical and regulatory barriersThe potential to treat age-related diseases at their cellular rootsHow this technology could redefine “longevity therapeutics”👉 Tune in to learn how biology and biotechnology are converging to reshape the future of healthcare and human lifespan.🔗 Learn more about Accelerated Biosciences: https://www.acceleratedbio.com/

What if cardiovascular disease wasn’t just about high cholesterol — but about a toxic, oxidized form that drives plaque buildup and cellular dysfunction?In this episode, hosts Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques talk with Matthew “Oki” O’Connor, a leading researcher exploring how 7-ketocholesterol fuels atherosclerosis — and how a new therapeutic candidate could reverse aspects of this age-related disease.We dive into: 💡 What makes 7-ketocholesterol so harmful 🔬 How targeting it can transform foam cells back into healthy macrophages 💊 How this approach differs from statins and traditional lipid-lowering therapies 🌏 Early trials launching in Australia ⏳ The future of cardiovascular rejuvenation and healthy agingIf you’re interested in how cutting-edge science could reshape the fight against cardiovascular aging, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and explore how targeting oxidized cholesterol might help us decode longevity.

What if aging research didn’t just happen in labs but through a global community of people contributing their data and testing interventions in real time?In this episode, hosts Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques talk with Jasmine Smith, CEO of Rejuve.AI, about how Decentralized Science (DeSci), AI, and n-of-1 trials are transforming personalized longevity research.👉 Learn more about Rejuve.AI: https://www.rejuve.ai/

What if we could measure and manage aging as precisely as we treat disease?In this episode of Decoding Longevity, host Macsue Jacques talks with Prof. Brian Kennedy from the National University of Singapore’s Healthy Longevity Translation Research Program about the future of precision medicine in aging.They explore:The LeanAge 2 Clock: a biomarker-based tool predicting biological age, mortality, and health risks.The Lipidomic (Dolly) Clock: uncovering lipid signatures linked to brain aging and Alzheimer’s.Why individuals respond differently to supplements, exercise, and drugs.The risks of untested supplement stacks in longevity.How aging clocks are translating from research to clinical practice.If you’re passionate about healthy aging, geroscience, and personalized medicine, this conversation is a must-listen.

What if healthcare could not just extend life, but extend healthy life?In Episode 13 of Decoding Longevity, hosts Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques welcome Prof. Andrea B. Maier, a leading voice in geriatric medicine and longevity research, to explore the future of precision geromedicine.This episode uncovers how data-driven, personalized approaches are transforming the way we think about aging and health. Together, we dive into: Why precision medicine is key to understandingthe biology of aging  How genetics, biomarkers, and lifestyle factorsguide interventionsThe importance of multi-organ and multi-systemdata in predicting health outcomes  A vision for healthcare that prevents disease,delays decline, and optimizes aging trajectoriesProf. Maier shares powerful insights into a future where one-size-fits-all medicine gives way to tailored strategies for longevity and healthy aging.🎧 Tune in to discover how precision geromedicine is reshaping the biology of time.#Longevity #AgingScience #PrecisionMedicine #Geromedicine #DecodingLongevity

What if we could predict aging more accurately than ever before? In this episode of Decoding Longevity, we sit down with Dr. Amin Haghani (Altos Lab) to explore EnsembleAge, a powerful new epigenetic clock designed to integrate multiple biomarkers into a single measure of biological age.We discuss:Why EnsembleAge could represent the “next generation” of aging clocks 🧬The challenges of combining multiple models into one robust predictorHow epigenetic data is reshaping aging and longevity scienceThe clinical potential for personalized health, disease prevention, and lifespan interventionsWhether you’re a longevity researcher, clinician, or simply curious about the science of aging, this episode dives deep into how multi-model approaches can transform the way we understand and measure aging.👉 Don’t miss this insightful conversation with one of the leading voices in epigenetic aging research.

What if aging in brain cells could be switched on—or reversed? In this episode of Decoding Longevity, hosts Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques speak with Dr. Nathalie Saurat about her groundbreaking CRISPR screen revealing neddylation as a critical regulator of neuronal aging, Alzheimer’s disease progression, and protein turnover.You’ll learn how Nathalie:Generated 2.8 billion human stem-cell-derived neurons to uncover aging pathwaysDiscovered how inhibiting neddylation mimics age-related changes like tau aggregation, DNA damage, and loss of protein quality controlExplores ways to program age into neurons for better drug discovery in late-onset neurodegenerative diseases🎧 Perfect for listeners curious about aging biology, neurodegeneration, and longevity science.

What if aging wasn’t a steady decline—but a mosaic of cellular behaviors?In this episode, we explore the complex biology of senescent cells with Dr. Iman Azimi, whose recent study using image-based single-cell profiling reveals an unprecedented diversity within these “zombie” cells.Together with hosts Dr. Raghav Sehgal and Dr. Macsue Jacques, we dive into:🧬 The hidden heterogeneity of senescent cells💊 Why one-size-fits-all senolytics might fail🔬 Rapamycin’s differential effects on cell subtypes🧠 The future of diagnostics for cellular agingDr. Azimi’s insights challenge many of the assumptions behind current clinical strategies and offer a new lens for therapeutic innovation in longevity science.#Senolytics #Aging #LongevityScience #CellularSenescence #Biomarkers #DecodingLongevity

We can now estimate your biological age from just a few drops of blood—but how close are we to using these tests in your doctor’s office?In this episode of Decoding Longevity, hosts Dr. Macsue Jaques and Dr. Raghav Sehgal sit down with Dr. Chiara Herzog, a molecular biologist and aging researcher at King’s College London, to unpack the translational bottlenecks holding back biomarkers of aging from clinical and public health applications.✨ Dr. Herzog is also our first-ever female guest, and she brings a refreshing, action-oriented lens to the field of geroscience.We discuss:Why biological age clocks are not yet clinically validatedThe importance of large, longitudinal studies in aging scienceRegulatory and reproducibility challengesA roadmap for translating discovery into diagnostics and drug developmentHer vision of aging biomarkers in clinical practice 5 years from now🎙 Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or just longevity-curious—this episode will change how you think about the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact.Links to Dr. Herzog’s work 👉 https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00683-3

Can one gene reverse aging without the cancer risk? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Lucas Paulo de Lima Camillo to discuss SB000—a single factor that could make cellular rejuvenation safer and more effective.Lucas walks us through the science behind this new preprint, how SB000 compares to the well-known OSKM cocktail, and what this could mean for the future of aging therapies.🧬 Topics Covered:• Cellular reprogramming and safety• SB000 vs OSKM• Transcriptome-level biomarkers• Translational potential of single-gene therapies• The future of gene-driven longevity🎙️ Hosted by:Raghav Sehgal & Macsue Jacques👨‍🔬 Guest: Dr. Lucas Camillo (Oxford, Cambridge, Brown)👉 Don’t forget to follow, share, and rate our podcast to support more longevity science content.📖 Read the full paper: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=qEpmbq8AAAAJ&sortby=pubdate&citation_for_view=qEpmbq8AAAAJ:W7OEmFMy1HYC

What if a single drop of blood could do more than tell your biological age? In this episode, we explore how cutting-edge epigenetic biomarker proxies and OMICmAge clocks can predict disease risk, personalize health interventions, and reshape how we approach aging itself.Our special guest, Dr. Varun Dwaraka, computational biologist and lead author of two groundbreaking papers, joins hosts Dr. Raghav Sehgal and Dr. Macsue Jacques to discuss:🔬 How methylation-based biomarkers outperform traditional lab tests🧬 What makes OMICmAge more powerful than previous aging clocks🏥 The clinical potential of remote, one-sample diagnostics🧠 The future of multi-omics and precision medicine in aging scienceIf you're interested in longevity science, epigenetics, or personalized healthcare, this episode is a must-listen!🔗 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to support the podcast.📲 Follow us on all platforms for more insights on aging and healthspan.#Epigenetics #Biomarkers #Longevity #PrecisionMedicine #AgingScience

In this second part of our mind-expanding conversation with Peter Fedichev, co-founder of Gero, we explore what it will take to move longevity science forward.Peter argues that aging is a thermodynamic process — and that the loss of resilience begins before disease. So how can we detect that tipping point? And are mice really a dead end in anti-aging research?We also talk about:Why animal models fail usThe limits of cellular reprogrammingGero’s AI-driven approach to mapping aging as a systemWhat real anti-aging therapeutics might look like🎙️ Hosted by Raghav Sehgal and Macsue Jacques.🔗 Don’t forget to follow the show and check the episode notes for bonus resources!

Is aging just the sum of diseases, or is it something deeper?In this episode, we’re joined by physicist and Gero founder Peter Fedichev, who introduces a groundbreaking new framework: aging as a loss of thermodynamic stability. We explore:Why aging is a systemic phenomenon beyond individual pathologiesHow concepts from physics and complex systems can redefine longevity scienceThe limits of cellular reprogrammingAnd why resilience—not disease-free survival—may be the key to a longer healthspan🎙 Hosted by Raghav Sehgal and Macsue JacquesStay with us as we decode the science shaping the future of aging.🔗 Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/decodinglongevity/📬 For updates: Subscribe & follow us @DecodingLongevity

What if your DNA holds the key to your true biological age? In this episode of Decoding Longevity, hosts Raghav and Macsue talk with Prof. Nir Eynon to explore how DNA methylation helps us measure, understand, and potentially reverse aging.🎙️ Based on: “Making Sense of the Ageing Methylome” – Nature Reviews Genetics (2022)📌 Learn about epigenetic clocks, exercise as an epigenetic intervention, and what methylation can tell us about your aging process.Follow for more episodes that decode the science of longevity!

Aging isn’t just about getting older — it’s about how we age.In this episode, we explore the emerging science of biomarkers of aging: what they are, why they matter, and how they could transform the way we approach health and longevity.We’re joined by Jessi Poganik, PhD (https://www.poganik.com/) — one of the authors of the paper “Biomarkers of Aging for the Identification and Evaluation of Longevity Interventions” PMC11088934, developed in collaboration with the Biomarkers of Aging Consortium.Together, we unpack:– The difference between biological and chronological age– What makes a good aging biomarker– How close we are to using biomarkers in real-world healthcare– The future of personalized aging interventions🔗 Read the article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11088934/🔬 Learn more about the consortium: www.agingconsortium.org📣 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & share this episode!

In this episode, Dr. Raghav Sehgal and Dr. Macsue Jacques dive into the hallmarks of agingOriginally introduced in a groundbreaking 2013 paper by López-Otín, Blasco, Partridge, Serrano, and Kroemer, the Hallmarks of Aging outlined 9 key processes believed to drive the aging process.Fast forward to 2023, and the list has been expanded to 12, reflecting a decade of research and new insights into how and why we age.What does this mean for the future of regenerative medicine and aging interventions?

What if slowing aging could save trillions of dollars and improve millions of lives? This episode breaks down The Economic Value of Targeting Aging, a study that quantifies the economic benefits of longevity interventions. We dive into the science, the numbers, and the real-world implications of investing in aging research.