December 9, 2025 • 12 mins
We map aging from cells to systems, then separate normal changes from disease so you know when to act. We close with seven lifestyle pillars, smarter screening, essential vaccines, and a provocative look at longer, healthier lives.
• Nonlinear timelines of aging across body systems
• Telomere shortening, cellular waste, and tissue stiffening
• Cardiovascular strain, muscle and bone loss, slower digestion
• Vision and hearing changes, skin and hair shifts
• Normal aging signs versus disease signals
• Severe memory loss flagged as not normal aging
• Seven lifestyle pillars to extend health span
• Nuanced screening decisions and key adult vaccines
• Societal implications of longer healthy lifespans
Call your doctor
This podcast is created by Ai for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional medical or health advice. Please talk to your healthcare team for medical advice.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Welcome back to the deep dive.
Today we are tackling somethingthat affects every single one of
us, with no exceptions.
We're talking about aging.
And you know, we all see thesurface level stuff in the
mirror, the wrinkles, the grayhair, but that's just the tip of
the iceberg.
SPEAKER_00 (00:13):
It really is.
Underneath, there's this huge,complex biological process going
on.
SPEAKER_01 (00:18):
Which raises a really interesting question.
If aging technically starts atconception, when do we actually
start to feel it?
When do the changes really kickin?
SPEAKER_00 (00:27):
That's the perfect question to start with.
Because when we talk aboutaging, what we're really talking
about is our 13 trillion cells.
And in the beginning, you know,growth just completely masks the
process.
SPEAKER_01 (00:38):
But the timeline isn't what you'd expect, right?
It's not like you hit 60 andeverything starts declining at
once.
SPEAKER_00 (00:43):
Not at all.
It's completely nonlinear.
And here's the part that mightsurprise you: your metabolism,
its gradual decline.
That often starts in your 20s.
SPEAKER_01 (00:52):
In your 20s, wow.
SPEAKER_00 (00:53):
Yep.
But then something likesignificant hearing loss might
not begin until you're 50, maybeeven later.
So all our systems are on thesetotally different clocks.
SPEAKER_01 (01:01):
Okay.
So that's our mission for thisdeep dive.
We're going to unpack what agingactually is from the cellular
level all the way up to themajor body systems.
SPEAKER_00 (01:10):
And crucially, we're going to separate what's normal
and what's not.
SPEAKER_01 (01:13):
Exactly.
Differentiating the inevitablewear and tear from preventable
diseases.
This is your roadmap tomaximizing not just your
lifespan, but your health span.
So let's jump right in.
What's actually causing allthis?
It sounds like there's no singleculprit.
SPEAKER_00 (01:28):
Aaron Powell Oh, absolutely not.
It's what we callmultifactorial.
Your genetics, your diet, howmuch you exercise, any illnesses
you have, um, all of it plays apart in how quickly your cells
age.
SPEAKER_01 (01:39):
Aaron Ross Powell The sources we look at pointed
to some really hopeful researchthat started back in the 90s, I
think.
SPEAKER_00 (01:43):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (01:44):
About identifying specific genes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Trevor Burrus, Jr.: Yes.
That was a huge breakthrough.
Scientists found genes thatcould actually change the rate
of aging in animals.
And what was so fascinating, thereal insight, was that the
changes that extended theirlives also extended their
vitality.
SPEAKER_01 (01:58):
Aaron Powell Meaning they weren't just living longer,
they were living well forlonger.
SPEAKER_00 (02:02):
Exactly.
They stayed healthy and activefor almost their entire extended
lifespan.
They didn't just tack on yearsof being frail.
SPEAKER_01 (02:09):
Aaron Powell That's the whole ballgame right there.
Health span over lifespan.
SPEAKER_00 (02:13):
Aaron Powell It is.
Now, of course, the caveat isthat this isn't a fountain of
youth for humans.
Yep.
Not yet, anyway.
But it does suggest that, youknow, maybe in the 21st century
we could see drugs that extendlife and improve health at the
same time.
That's the big hope.
SPEAKER_01 (02:27):
Aaron Powell Okay.
So before we get to futuremiracle drugs, let's get into
the mechanics.
What's actually happening rightnow at the cellular level?
SPEAKER_00 (02:34):
Aaron Powell There are a few key things.
First, and this is the mostbasic one, our cells just become
less able to divide.
They have a limit.
SPEAKER_01 (02:42):
Aaron Powell And the telomeres are part of that,
right?
I've heard so much about those.
SPEAKER_00 (02:45):
Aaron Powell They are.
The telomeres are these littleprotective caps on the ends of
our chromosomes.
Think of them like the plastictips on a shoelace.
Okay.
And every time a cell divides,they get a tiny bit shorter.
Eventually, they get so shortthe cell just stops dividing or
dies.
It's like a built-in countdown.
SPEAKER_01 (03:01):
Aaron Powell Is there anything we can do about
that countdown?
Does lifestyle affect telomerelength?
SPEAKER_00 (03:07):
It seems to.
Things like reducing chronicstress, good diet, exercise.
They're thought to offer someprotection.
You can't stop it, but you mightbe able to slow it down.
SPEAKER_01 (03:17):
Aaron Powell Okay, so that's two.
What's the third mechanism?
SPEAKER_00 (03:19):
Third is that waste products start to build up
inside the cells.
It's like uh the cell's garbagedisposal system gets overwhelmed
and that gums up the machinery.
SPEAKER_01 (03:28):
And how does that cellular gunk translate to how
we actually feel physically?
SPEAKER_00 (03:32):
Aaron Powell That's the bridge.
The fourth mechanism is that theconnective tissue between the
cells starts to stiffen, thecollagen and elastin.
Ah, so that's what leads tostiff joints and less flexible
arteries, less elastic skin,exactly.
And then fifth, the overallfunctional capacity of our
organs starts to decrease.
The failure at the micro leveladds up to a decline at the
(03:55):
macro level.
SPEAKER_01 (03:55):
Okay, that makes sense.
So let's use that as afoundation and do a
system-by-system look, like afield guide to what's going on
inside.
SPEAKER_00 (04:02):
Good idea.
SPEAKER_01 (04:02):
Aaron Powell Let's start with the engine, the
cardiovascular system.
What does all that stiffening doto the heart?
SPEAKER_00 (04:08):
Well, it puts it under a lot of strain.
The actual wall of the heartgets thicker and the muscle
becomes less efficient.
It has to work harder just to dothe same job.
SPEAKER_01 (04:18):
So a less efficient pump?
SPEAKER_00 (04:20):
A less efficient pump pushing blood into stiffer
pipes, because your aorta yourmain artery also gets thicker
and less flexible.
SPEAKER_01 (04:28):
And you get that plaque buildup, atherosclerosis.
But the sources said thatdoesn't happen severely to
everyone.
SPEAKER_00 (04:33):
And that's a fantastic point.
Typical doesn't mean it'sinevitable for you,
specifically.
It suggests lifestyle can have ahuge impact.
SPEAKER_01 (04:41):
So the real takeaway for you, the listener, isn't
just that things get stiffer.
It's about what that means foryour daily life.
SPEAKER_00 (04:48):
That's it.
It means it takes much longerfor your heart rate to come back
to normal after you exercise.
Your body has a harder timecontrolling its temperature.
It's that loss of reservecapacity.
SPEAKER_01 (04:58):
Right.
Let's move to the frame of thebody.
Skeletal and muscular systems.
This is where a lot of peoplesay they first feel old.
SPEAKER_00 (05:04):
For sure.
Your bones become thinner, lessdense, which is why fracture
risk goes up.
SPEAKER_01 (05:08):
And the joints.
The morning stiffness.
SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
That's the cartilage and bone in the joints
weakening.
They get stiffer, less flexible.
And on top of that, your muscletissue itself shrinks.
It becomes less bulky and lessstrong.
SPEAKER_01 (05:20):
Aaron Powell Okay.
What about digestion and oursenses?
Two things that really impactquality of life.
SPEAKER_00 (05:26):
Aaron Powell For digestion, things just slow
down.
The whole process, your stomach,liver, pancreas, they all start
producing smaller amounts ofdigestive juices.
SPEAKER_01 (05:35):
Which can lead to other issues, I imagine.
SPEAKER_00 (05:37):
It can.
Nutrient absorption can becomeless efficient, and for our
senses, the world can literallyseem less sharp.
Oh so with the eyes, yourretinas get thinner and the
lenses become less clear.
For hearing, the ear canal wallsthin out while the eardrums
thicken.
It all adds up to a gradualdecline in vision and hearing.
SPEAKER_01 (05:55):
And finally, the part we can't hide are skin and
hair.
SPEAKER_00 (05:58):
Skin gets thinner, much less elastic, sweat glands
produce less sweat, you nailsgrow slower, and with hair,
well, the pigment cells stopworking, which is why it turns
gray, and eventually thefollicles themselves can just
stop producing hair.
SPEAKER_01 (06:12):
Alright, that's the physical guide.
Now we need to get to what Ithink is the most important part
of this whole deep dive.
SPEAKER_00 (06:17):
The difference between what's normal and what's
a disease.
SPEAKER_01 (06:20):
Exactly.
First, let's cover the commonexpected stuff.
You might be more susceptible toinfections.
You might lose a little bit ofheight.
SPEAKER_00 (06:27):
A slightly stooped posture is also pretty common,
along with reduced reflexes andmaybe some issues with balance.
These are the annoying butgenerally harmless effects.
SPEAKER_01 (06:39):
But now for the myth busting.
Let's talk about what is not anormal part of getting older.
SPEAKER_00 (06:45):
This is so important.
Look, a s slight slowing ofthought, maybe forgetting where
you put your keys.
We all joke about seniormoments.
That's common.
SPEAKER_01 (06:52):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (06:53):
But delirium, dementia, severe memory loss,
these are absolutely not anormal part of aging.
SPEAKER_01 (07:01):
I think that's worth repeating.
That is not normal.
SPEAKER_00 (07:03):
It is not.
The sources are crystal clear.
Senility is not a naturalconsequence of getting old.
If you or a loved one isexperiencing that kind of major
cognitive change, it's a sign ofa disease process.
SPEAKER_01 (07:15):
And it needs to be checked out by a doctor.
You can't just write it off as,oh, he's just getting old.
SPEAKER_00 (07:20):
Never.
That's the single mostactionable thing to take from
this.
That distinction is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
There was one other detail about weight.
When does that typically change?
SPEAKER_00 (07:31):
Yeah, due to that muscle loss we mentioned, some
weight loss is typical.
It usually starts after age 55in men and a bit later after 65
in women.
SPEAKER_01 (07:40):
Okay, so we can't stop time, we can't change our
genes.
The whole game shifts tomanaging risk and maximizing how
well we live.
Let's talk strategy.
SPEAKER_00 (07:49):
This is where we get our power back.
It's all about lifestyle.
This is how we combat the riskof those diseases that are not a
normal part of aging.
SPEAKER_01 (07:57):
Let's run through the pillars.
What's number one?
SPEAKER_00 (07:59):
Stop smoking.
It's at the top of the list fora reason.
Heart disease, stroke,osteoporosis, it even seems to
make memory worse.
SPEAKER_01 (08:06):
But there's hope there, right?
If you quit.
SPEAKER_00 (08:07):
Huge hope.
Quitting can repair some or evenall of the damage.
It's an incredible return oninvestment for your health.
SPEAKER_01 (08:14):
Okay, number two.
SPEAKER_00 (08:15):
Physical and mental activity.
And physical activity doesn'thave to mean running a marathon.
It can be gardening, vigoroushousekeeping, anything that
keeps your heart and boneshealthy.
SPEAKER_01 (08:26):
And the research connecting it to dementia risk
is getting stronger andstronger.
SPEAKER_00 (08:30):
It is.
And on the mental side, stayingactive, learning new things,
challenging your brain helpsbuild up what we call a
cognitive reserve.
SPEAKER_01 (08:39):
Pillar number three is diet.
SPEAKER_00 (08:41):
It's the classic advice because it works.
Whole grains, vegetables,fruits, and swap out those
unhealthy, saturated fats forthings like olive oil or
avocados.
SPEAKER_01 (08:51):
Number four, weight and body shape.
Metabolism slows, so this getsharder.
SPEAKER_00 (08:55):
It does.
And it's not just about thenumber on the scale, where you
carry your weight matters.
Abdominal fat, that apple shape,is a much bigger risk factor for
heart attacks and strokes.
SPEAKER_01 (09:05):
Next up, number five, challenge your mind.
This is more than just stayingbusy, right?
SPEAKER_00 (09:09):
It's about purposeful engagement.
Reading something complex,playing an instrument, having a
really deep, thought-provokingconversation.
It builds new neural pathways.
SPEAKER_01 (09:18):
Okay, number six feels really important
post-pandemic (09:20):
a strong social network.
SPEAKER_00 (09:23):
The data on this is amazing.
Strong social ties seem to helpward off dementia and may
genuinely help you live longer.
We are social creatures.
Isolation is toxic.
SPEAKER_01 (09:34):
And finally, a surprising one.
Number seven, oral health.
SPEAKER_00 (09:38):
Yes.
Don't overlook this.
Floss, brush, see a dentist.
There's a growing link betweenpoor oral health-like gum
disease and a higher risk ofheart disease and stroke.
It's all connected.
SPEAKER_01 (09:51):
You know, we also have to talk about preventive
care because the sources broughtup a really nuanced point about
screening tests as we age.
SPEAKER_00 (09:58):
This was fascinating.
While screenings are good, theirbenefit can actually decline
with age, and they can sometimescause harm.
Harm, how?
A false positive.
It could lead you down a path ofrisky, invasive, and ultimately
unnecessary follow-up tests fora disease you never even had.
SPEAKER_01 (10:13):
So it's not a one-size-fits-all
recommendation.
SPEAKER_00 (10:15):
Not at all.
It has to be a conversation withyour doctor about your personal
risk and just as importantly,whether you'd even want the
treatment if they foundsomething.
SPEAKER_01 (10:23):
And immunizations.
Which ones are thenon-negotiables for adults?
SPEAKER_00 (10:26):
The list is pretty clear
pneumococcal pneumonia vaccineonce you're over 65, a TDAP or T
booster every 10 years, and theshingles vaccine for everyone
over 50.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Aaron Powell So let's tie this all together.
Aging is this continuousprogressive thing.
It starts with telomereshortening and ends with our
heart having to work a littleharder.
SPEAKER_00 (10:47):
Right.
And the big synthesis is thatwhile aging itself is
inevitable, the severity of itis not.
It's manageable.
Understanding these mechanismsand applying those lifestyle
pillars, that's your toolkit.
SPEAKER_01 (10:58):
It's about taking proactive control to reduce your
disease risk and just livebetter for longer.
And please remember the maindistinction Severe memory loss
is not normal aging.
SPEAKER_00 (11:08):
It's a sign of disease.
Call your doctor.
SPEAKER_01 (11:10):
Which brings us to a final really big picture
thought.
If science actually cracks this,if we develop drugs that
dramatically extend healthyhuman life, what happens then?
SPEAKER_00 (11:21):
It creates an incredible societal challenge.
The source put it perfectly.
It's only a good thing if theworld can find room, work, and
resources for all the additionalpeople.
SPEAKER_01 (11:29):
You'd have to rethink everything
housing, jobs.
The entire structure of societyis built around our current
lifespan.
What if people are healthy andworking at 100?
SPEAKER_00 (11:41):
That's the provocative thought we want to
leave you with.
The science might give us moretime, but as a society, we have
to figure out what to do withit.
The ethical and logisticalquestions are just massive.
SPEAKER_01 (11:50):
For now, use this knowledge to have better, more
proactive conversations withyour doctor.
That's it for this deep dive.
We hope this helps you manageaging, not just endure it.
See you next time.
Welcome back to the deep dive.
Today we are tackling somethingthat affects every single one of
us, with no exceptions.
We're talking about aging.
And you know, we all see thesurface level stuff in the
mirror, the wrinkles, the grayhair, but that's just the tip of
the iceberg.
SPEAKER_00 (00:13):
It really is.
Underneath, there's this huge,complex biological process going
on.
SPEAKER_01 (00:18):
Which raises a really interesting question.
If aging technically starts atconception, when do we actually
start to feel it?
When do the changes really kickin?
SPEAKER_00 (00:27):
That's the perfect question to start with.
Because when we talk aboutaging, what we're really talking
about is our 13 trillion cells.
And in the beginning, you know,growth just completely masks the
process.
SPEAKER_01 (00:38):
But the timeline isn't what you'd expect, right?
It's not like you hit 60 andeverything starts declining at
once.
SPEAKER_00 (00:43):
Not at all.
It's completely nonlinear.
And here's the part that mightsurprise you: your metabolism,
its gradual decline.
That often starts in your 20s.
SPEAKER_01 (00:52):
In your 20s, wow.
SPEAKER_00 (00:53):
Yep.
But then something likesignificant hearing loss might
not begin until you're 50, maybeeven later.
So all our systems are on thesetotally different clocks.
SPEAKER_01 (01:01):
Okay.
So that's our mission for thisdeep dive.
We're going to unpack what agingactually is from the cellular
level all the way up to themajor body systems.
SPEAKER_00 (01:10):
And crucially, we're going to separate what's normal
and what's not.
SPEAKER_01 (01:13):
Exactly.
Differentiating the inevitablewear and tear from preventable
diseases.
This is your roadmap tomaximizing not just your
lifespan, but your health span.
So let's jump right in.
What's actually causing allthis?
It sounds like there's no singleculprit.
SPEAKER_00 (01:28):
Aaron Powell Oh, absolutely not.
It's what we callmultifactorial.
Your genetics, your diet, howmuch you exercise, any illnesses
you have, um, all of it plays apart in how quickly your cells
age.
SPEAKER_01 (01:39):
Aaron Ross Powell The sources we look at pointed
to some really hopeful researchthat started back in the 90s, I
think.
SPEAKER_00 (01:43):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (01:44):
About identifying specific genes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Trevor Burrus, Jr.: Yes.
That was a huge breakthrough.
Scientists found genes thatcould actually change the rate
of aging in animals.
And what was so fascinating, thereal insight, was that the
changes that extended theirlives also extended their
vitality.
SPEAKER_01 (01:58):
Aaron Powell Meaning they weren't just living longer,
they were living well forlonger.
SPEAKER_00 (02:02):
Exactly.
They stayed healthy and activefor almost their entire extended
lifespan.
They didn't just tack on yearsof being frail.
SPEAKER_01 (02:09):
Aaron Powell That's the whole ballgame right there.
Health span over lifespan.
SPEAKER_00 (02:13):
Aaron Powell It is.
Now, of course, the caveat isthat this isn't a fountain of
youth for humans.
Yep.
Not yet, anyway.
But it does suggest that, youknow, maybe in the 21st century
we could see drugs that extendlife and improve health at the
same time.
That's the big hope.
SPEAKER_01 (02:27):
Aaron Powell Okay.
So before we get to futuremiracle drugs, let's get into
the mechanics.
What's actually happening rightnow at the cellular level?
SPEAKER_00 (02:34):
Aaron Powell There are a few key things.
First, and this is the mostbasic one, our cells just become
less able to divide.
They have a limit.
SPEAKER_01 (02:42):
Aaron Powell And the telomeres are part of that,
right?
I've heard so much about those.
SPEAKER_00 (02:45):
Aaron Powell They are.
The telomeres are these littleprotective caps on the ends of
our chromosomes.
Think of them like the plastictips on a shoelace.
Okay.
And every time a cell divides,they get a tiny bit shorter.
Eventually, they get so shortthe cell just stops dividing or
dies.
It's like a built-in countdown.
SPEAKER_01 (03:01):
Aaron Powell Is there anything we can do about
that countdown?
Does lifestyle affect telomerelength?
SPEAKER_00 (03:07):
It seems to.
Things like reducing chronicstress, good diet, exercise.
They're thought to offer someprotection.
You can't stop it, but you mightbe able to slow it down.
SPEAKER_01 (03:17):
Aaron Powell Okay, so that's two.
What's the third mechanism?
SPEAKER_00 (03:19):
Third is that waste products start to build up
inside the cells.
It's like uh the cell's garbagedisposal system gets overwhelmed
and that gums up the machinery.
SPEAKER_01 (03:28):
And how does that cellular gunk translate to how
we actually feel physically?
SPEAKER_00 (03:32):
Aaron Powell That's the bridge.
The fourth mechanism is that theconnective tissue between the
cells starts to stiffen, thecollagen and elastin.
Ah, so that's what leads tostiff joints and less flexible
arteries, less elastic skin,exactly.
And then fifth, the overallfunctional capacity of our
organs starts to decrease.
The failure at the micro leveladds up to a decline at the
(03:55):
macro level.
SPEAKER_01 (03:55):
Okay, that makes sense.
So let's use that as afoundation and do a
system-by-system look, like afield guide to what's going on
inside.
SPEAKER_00 (04:02):
Good idea.
SPEAKER_01 (04:02):
Aaron Powell Let's start with the engine, the
cardiovascular system.
What does all that stiffening doto the heart?
SPEAKER_00 (04:08):
Well, it puts it under a lot of strain.
The actual wall of the heartgets thicker and the muscle
becomes less efficient.
It has to work harder just to dothe same job.
SPEAKER_01 (04:18):
So a less efficient pump?
SPEAKER_00 (04:20):
A less efficient pump pushing blood into stiffer
pipes, because your aorta yourmain artery also gets thicker
and less flexible.
SPEAKER_01 (04:28):
And you get that plaque buildup, atherosclerosis.
But the sources said thatdoesn't happen severely to
everyone.
SPEAKER_00 (04:33):
And that's a fantastic point.
Typical doesn't mean it'sinevitable for you,
specifically.
It suggests lifestyle can have ahuge impact.
SPEAKER_01 (04:41):
So the real takeaway for you, the listener, isn't
just that things get stiffer.
It's about what that means foryour daily life.
SPEAKER_00 (04:48):
That's it.
It means it takes much longerfor your heart rate to come back
to normal after you exercise.
Your body has a harder timecontrolling its temperature.
It's that loss of reservecapacity.
SPEAKER_01 (04:58):
Right.
Let's move to the frame of thebody.
Skeletal and muscular systems.
This is where a lot of peoplesay they first feel old.
SPEAKER_00 (05:04):
For sure.
Your bones become thinner, lessdense, which is why fracture
risk goes up.
SPEAKER_01 (05:08):
And the joints.
The morning stiffness.
SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
That's the cartilage and bone in the joints
weakening.
They get stiffer, less flexible.
And on top of that, your muscletissue itself shrinks.
It becomes less bulky and lessstrong.
SPEAKER_01 (05:20):
Aaron Powell Okay.
What about digestion and oursenses?
Two things that really impactquality of life.
SPEAKER_00 (05:26):
Aaron Powell For digestion, things just slow
down.
The whole process, your stomach,liver, pancreas, they all start
producing smaller amounts ofdigestive juices.
SPEAKER_01 (05:35):
Which can lead to other issues, I imagine.
SPEAKER_00 (05:37):
It can.
Nutrient absorption can becomeless efficient, and for our
senses, the world can literallyseem less sharp.
Oh so with the eyes, yourretinas get thinner and the
lenses become less clear.
For hearing, the ear canal wallsthin out while the eardrums
thicken.
It all adds up to a gradualdecline in vision and hearing.
SPEAKER_01 (05:55):
And finally, the part we can't hide are skin and
hair.
SPEAKER_00 (05:58):
Skin gets thinner, much less elastic, sweat glands
produce less sweat, you nailsgrow slower, and with hair,
well, the pigment cells stopworking, which is why it turns
gray, and eventually thefollicles themselves can just
stop producing hair.
SPEAKER_01 (06:12):
Alright, that's the physical guide.
Now we need to get to what Ithink is the most important part
of this whole deep dive.
SPEAKER_00 (06:17):
The difference between what's normal and what's
a disease.
SPEAKER_01 (06:20):
Exactly.
First, let's cover the commonexpected stuff.
You might be more susceptible toinfections.
You might lose a little bit ofheight.
SPEAKER_00 (06:27):
A slightly stooped posture is also pretty common,
along with reduced reflexes andmaybe some issues with balance.
These are the annoying butgenerally harmless effects.
SPEAKER_01 (06:39):
But now for the myth busting.
Let's talk about what is not anormal part of getting older.
SPEAKER_00 (06:45):
This is so important.
Look, a s slight slowing ofthought, maybe forgetting where
you put your keys.
We all joke about seniormoments.
That's common.
SPEAKER_01 (06:52):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (06:53):
But delirium, dementia, severe memory loss,
these are absolutely not anormal part of aging.
SPEAKER_01 (07:01):
I think that's worth repeating.
That is not normal.
SPEAKER_00 (07:03):
It is not.
The sources are crystal clear.
Senility is not a naturalconsequence of getting old.
If you or a loved one isexperiencing that kind of major
cognitive change, it's a sign ofa disease process.
SPEAKER_01 (07:15):
And it needs to be checked out by a doctor.
You can't just write it off as,oh, he's just getting old.
SPEAKER_00 (07:20):
Never.
That's the single mostactionable thing to take from
this.
That distinction is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
There was one other detail about weight.
When does that typically change?
SPEAKER_00 (07:31):
Yeah, due to that muscle loss we mentioned, some
weight loss is typical.
It usually starts after age 55in men and a bit later after 65
in women.
SPEAKER_01 (07:40):
Okay, so we can't stop time, we can't change our
genes.
The whole game shifts tomanaging risk and maximizing how
well we live.
Let's talk strategy.
SPEAKER_00 (07:49):
This is where we get our power back.
It's all about lifestyle.
This is how we combat the riskof those diseases that are not a
normal part of aging.
SPEAKER_01 (07:57):
Let's run through the pillars.
What's number one?
SPEAKER_00 (07:59):
Stop smoking.
It's at the top of the list fora reason.
Heart disease, stroke,osteoporosis, it even seems to
make memory worse.
SPEAKER_01 (08:06):
But there's hope there, right?
If you quit.
SPEAKER_00 (08:07):
Huge hope.
Quitting can repair some or evenall of the damage.
It's an incredible return oninvestment for your health.
SPEAKER_01 (08:14):
Okay, number two.
SPEAKER_00 (08:15):
Physical and mental activity.
And physical activity doesn'thave to mean running a marathon.
It can be gardening, vigoroushousekeeping, anything that
keeps your heart and boneshealthy.
SPEAKER_01 (08:26):
And the research connecting it to dementia risk
is getting stronger andstronger.
SPEAKER_00 (08:30):
It is.
And on the mental side, stayingactive, learning new things,
challenging your brain helpsbuild up what we call a
cognitive reserve.
SPEAKER_01 (08:39):
Pillar number three is diet.
SPEAKER_00 (08:41):
It's the classic advice because it works.
Whole grains, vegetables,fruits, and swap out those
unhealthy, saturated fats forthings like olive oil or
avocados.
SPEAKER_01 (08:51):
Number four, weight and body shape.
Metabolism slows, so this getsharder.
SPEAKER_00 (08:55):
It does.
And it's not just about thenumber on the scale, where you
carry your weight matters.
Abdominal fat, that apple shape,is a much bigger risk factor for
heart attacks and strokes.
SPEAKER_01 (09:05):
Next up, number five, challenge your mind.
This is more than just stayingbusy, right?
SPEAKER_00 (09:09):
It's about purposeful engagement.
Reading something complex,playing an instrument, having a
really deep, thought-provokingconversation.
It builds new neural pathways.
SPEAKER_01 (09:18):
Okay, number six feels really important
post-pandemic (09:20):
a strong social network.
SPEAKER_00 (09:23):
The data on this is amazing.
Strong social ties seem to helpward off dementia and may
genuinely help you live longer.
We are social creatures.
Isolation is toxic.
SPEAKER_01 (09:34):
And finally, a surprising one.
Number seven, oral health.
SPEAKER_00 (09:38):
Yes.
Don't overlook this.
Floss, brush, see a dentist.
There's a growing link betweenpoor oral health-like gum
disease and a higher risk ofheart disease and stroke.
It's all connected.
SPEAKER_01 (09:51):
You know, we also have to talk about preventive
care because the sources broughtup a really nuanced point about
screening tests as we age.
SPEAKER_00 (09:58):
This was fascinating.
While screenings are good, theirbenefit can actually decline
with age, and they can sometimescause harm.
Harm, how?
A false positive.
It could lead you down a path ofrisky, invasive, and ultimately
unnecessary follow-up tests fora disease you never even had.
SPEAKER_01 (10:13):
So it's not a one-size-fits-all
recommendation.
SPEAKER_00 (10:15):
Not at all.
It has to be a conversation withyour doctor about your personal
risk and just as importantly,whether you'd even want the
treatment if they foundsomething.
SPEAKER_01 (10:23):
And immunizations.
Which ones are thenon-negotiables for adults?
SPEAKER_00 (10:26):
The list is pretty clear
pneumococcal pneumonia vaccineonce you're over 65, a TDAP or T
booster every 10 years, and theshingles vaccine for everyone
over 50.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Aaron Powell So let's tie this all together.
Aging is this continuousprogressive thing.
It starts with telomereshortening and ends with our
heart having to work a littleharder.
SPEAKER_00 (10:47):
Right.
And the big synthesis is thatwhile aging itself is
inevitable, the severity of itis not.
It's manageable.
Understanding these mechanismsand applying those lifestyle
pillars, that's your toolkit.
SPEAKER_01 (10:58):
It's about taking proactive control to reduce your
disease risk and just livebetter for longer.
And please remember the maindistinction Severe memory loss
is not normal aging.
SPEAKER_00 (11:08):
It's a sign of disease.
Call your doctor.
SPEAKER_01 (11:10):
Which brings us to a final really big picture
thought.
If science actually cracks this,if we develop drugs that
dramatically extend healthyhuman life, what happens then?
SPEAKER_00 (11:21):
It creates an incredible societal challenge.
The source put it perfectly.
It's only a good thing if theworld can find room, work, and
resources for all the additionalpeople.
SPEAKER_01 (11:29):
You'd have to rethink everything
housing, jobs.
The entire structure of societyis built around our current
lifespan.
What if people are healthy andworking at 100?
SPEAKER_00 (11:41):
That's the provocative thought we want to
leave you with.
The science might give us moretime, but as a society, we have
to figure out what to do withit.
The ethical and logisticalquestions are just massive.
SPEAKER_01 (11:50):
For now, use this knowledge to have better, more
proactive conversations withyour doctor.
That's it for this deep dive.
We hope this helps you manageaging, not just endure it.
See you next time.
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