Live Long with Peter Bowes

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David Gems: Using nematode worms to unravel the mysteries of human aging May 29, 2017

Show notes

The biological mechanisms at work during the aging process have long since intrigued and baffled scientists. Indeed, the very definition of aging continues to be the subject of much debate. The relationship between growing old and chronic disease is pivotal to the understanding of human longevity and the focus of many clinical studies. Dr. David Gems is a professor of biogerontology at the Institute of Healthy Aging, University College London. A leading voice in the quest to unravel the mysteries of aging, he works with tiny worms, called nematodes, to try to shed some light on the process. In this in-depth interview, David reveals why his theories about aging have shifted over the years. He argues that there in no central “underlying aging process” caused by damage or the body wearing out, as scientists once thought. The reality, he says, is “more complex and nuanced”.

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The Live Long podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

James Cole: Brain age and early death May 22, 2017

Show notes

People with a brain age older than their bodies could be at greater risk of dying early, according to a recent study. Dr. James Cole, a neuroscientist at Imperial College London, led a research project using MRI scans and a computer program to predict a person’s brain age. The system, which is still in development, could help spot people whose lifestyles put them at greater risk of poor health and early death.
LLAMA host Peter Bowes visited Hammersmith Hospital in London for this in-depth interview with Dr. Cole, who explains how data for the study was collected and how the findings could be used to help people live longer lives. He also discusses what some people call “the mosaic of aging”, the idea that different tissues and systems in the body can age at a different pace.

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Leslie Saxon: Wearable tech to promote longevity May 15, 2017

Show notes

Implanted devices that monitor the internal functioning of our bodies, in minute detail, could soon be part of our daily lives. Many of us already take for granted the wearable gadgets and apps we use to keep track of exercise and food intake. Technological advances in the field of body computing are moving quickly and are about to revolutionize the way we manage aging and everyday wellbeing. Dr. Leslie Saxon is a professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death. The founder and executive director of USC’s Center for Body Computing and the newly formed USC Virtual Care Clinic, Dr. Saxon is a global authority on the development of wearable and implanted technology. In this in-depth interview, she discusses the potential for body computing to enhance our lives and longevity.

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Steven Eisenberg: Music therapy for cancer patients May 08, 2017

Show notes

Living a healthy lifestyle goes a long way towards reducing the chances of an early death, but some diseases still strike with little warning and deadly effect. You can do everything right and still get cancer. Dr. Steven Eisenberg is an oncologist, based in the California city of San Diego. Board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology, he has been recognized for his compassionate bedside manner. He is best known for singing to his patients. Not only does he burst into song on the ward, he writes heart-lifting and personalized lyrics for his patients. In this in-depth interview he talks about his desire to provide an empathetic environment for people as they face up to their diagnosis. Dr. Eisenberg also shares his thoughts on the roles of diet, exercise and mindfulness in cancer prevention.

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Edith Avise: Longevity secrets of a centenarian May 01, 2017

Show notes

Edith Johnson Avise recently moved into a care home, at the age of 100. After a lifetime of independent living, she is finding it difficult to adapt to her new surroundings. The home, in Southern California, is comfortable and safe, but Edith still has a spirited attitude towards life. She enjoyed a successful career as an agricultural educator, or extension worker, in her home state of Michigan. She traveled the country and worked closely with 4-H, the youth organization that teaches young people life skills through practical programs. In this candid interview Edith shares her life experiences and wisdom. She reveals what she considers to be the key tenets to living a long and healthy life and puts into context the value of living to a ripe old age. Edith is sharp, quick-witted, and remarkably honest.

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Paul Irving: The purposeful aging movement Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

Paul Irving has no intention of ever retiring. As chairman of the Milken Institute’s Center for the Future of Aging, he is a leading campaigner in what has become known as the purposeful aging movement. A lawyer and former president of the Santa Monica-based Institute, Paul is an advocate for the elderly population, whom he sees as a talented and “dramatically underutilized” resource for society. Author of The Upside of Aging: How Long Life Is Changing the World of Health, Work, Innovation, Policy and Purpose, he says longevity is creating an entirely new definition of what it is like to be old. From going back to school in your sixties to romances springing up late in life, Paul views aging with relish and optimism. In this in-depth interview, he explains why he considers aging, along with climate change, to be the “great challenge of the 21st century”. He also discusses the Institute’s upcoming global conference, ‘Building Meaningful Lives,’ taking place in Los Angeles from April 30-May 3, 2017.

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Reverse the diseases of aging | Nathaniel David Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

Imagine a future where we grow old but do not succumb to the diseases that typically define the aging process. Dr. Nathaniel “Ned” David, a molecular and cell biologist, wants to create a world where it does not hurt to grow old. The founder of multiple biotech companies, Ned is the President of UNITY, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company which aims to develop drugs that prevent, halt, or reverse age-related diseases. Named one of the Top 100 innovators in the world under 35, by the MIT Technology Review, Ned combines personal experience with a passion for changing the definition of old age. In this in-depth interview, he discusses his goal of producing a drug to target senescent cells that are linked to some of the diseases of old age. Ned also talks about his personal quest to avoid age-related cognitive decline and to overcome a debilitating condition, degenerative disc disease, which means he is no longer able to run.

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Acting out in old age | Caroline Cicero & Matthew Hoffman Apr 10, 2017

Show notes

When Matthew Hoffman decided to interview elderly people, to hone his skills as a TV host, he stumbled across a unique community project. Matthew, a writer and actor, is the founder of Tuesdays with Matthew, an acting class and video series for senior citizens in Los Angeles. The program, at an adult day care center, takes iconic scenes from famous movies and reenacts them with senior citizens in the lead roles. At a time when many elderly people say they enjoy good health, but often feel socially isolated and lonely, the class is a fun and novel way to inject new purpose into their lives. It may just help them to live longer. Dr. Caroline Cicero teaches social policy and aging at the University of Southern California, Davis School of Gerontology. She focusses on the intersection of aging, urban planning and the delivery of services to make local communities better places to grow old. For this episode of LLAMA, Dr. Cicero reviews Tuesdays with Matthew. She explains why it could promote longevity by focussing on aspects of life such as socialization, participation and inclusion. LLAMA host Peter Bowes spoke to Dr Cicero in Los Angeles and visited Tuesdays with Matthew to meet some remarkable, age-defying, seniors.

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Biosensors to monitor fitness | Ben Hwang Apr 03, 2017

Show notes

Ben Hwang is the chairman and CEO of Profusa, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company, that is developing micro sensors to monitor body chemistry. A former management consultant, Ben earned his MA and PhD in biology from the Johns Hopkins University. He has worked in a variety of biotech roles and is dedicated to developing technology that promotes good health and longevity. Profusa (@profusaInc) is on a mission is to make the inner workings of our bodies more accessible. The goal, using micro sensors, is to gather information about internal biochemical changes, in real time. The 3 to 5 mm long sensors are designed to be compatible with the body’s tissues for long-term monitoring. They collect data, transmitted to external devices, providing a stream of information for long-term health and wellness. Ben Hwang spoke to LLAMA host, Peter Bowes, at TEDMED in California.

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Diet, metabolism and the aging process | Eric Verdin Mar 27, 2017

Show notes

Eric Verdin is the president and chief executive officer of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. The institute, based in Novato, Northern California, is America's first and largest independent body focussed on the biology of aging. Until recently, Dr. Verdin was a senior investigator at the Gladstone Institutes, in San Francisco, where he studied the role of metabolism and diet in aging. A world-renowned expert in the field, Dr. Verdin is trying to better understand the mechanisms linking caloric restriction to increased health span and longevity.

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