Category

Preventing Chronic Disease

One of the foundational lessons we can take away from studying centenarians — those who have lived to the age of 100+ — is that if you want to live longer, you have to live longer without chronic disease, not live longer with chronic disease. Unfortunately, our current healthcare system is primarily geared toward helping you live longer once you develop chronic disease. This, of course, is the opposite of the approach I take with my patients. 

Over 80% of deaths in people over 50 who do not smoke can be grouped into 4 main categories, what I like to call the four horsemen of chronic disease. These are: (1) atherosclerotic disease (comprised of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease), (2) cancer, (3) neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease being the most common), and (4) metabolic disease (a spectrum of everything from hyperinsulinemia to insulin resistance to fatty liver disease to type 2 diabetes).

We have five main longevity tactics at our disposal to affect our longevity: (1) exercise, (2) sleep, (3) nutrition, (4) medications & supplements, and (5) distress tolerance. Below is a collection of podcasts and articles discussing how we can use these tactics to mitigate, prevent, and reverse chronic disease.

Screen time and children’s cognition: a question of context

A recent review suggests that screen time may not be as bad for infants as many of us may think – but only under the right circumstances.

#240 ‒ The confusion around HDL and its link to cardiovascular disease | Dan Rader, M.D.

“HDL cholesterol itself is not directly and causally protective against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” —Dan Rader

#238 – AMA #43: Understanding apoB, LDL-C, Lp(a), and insulin as risk factors for cardiovascular disease

“ApoB is a necessary, though not sufficient, factor in the development of ASCVD which means the more you lower it, the more you lower risk. Full stop.” —Peter Attia

Non-caffeine components of coffee and their effects on neurodegenerative diseases

Coffee consumption is associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative processes, but the effect may be more than a matter of caffeine.

cancer mrna vaccine

Antitumor mRNA vaccines are cause for optimism

Moderna recently announced preliminary results of a clinical trial involving a personalized antitumor mRNA vaccine, and despite the knee-jerk uproar, the treatment may prove to be another useful weapon in the battle against cancer

#236 ‒ Neurodegenerative disease: pathology, screening, and prevention | Kellyann Niotis, M.D.

“When you think of brain health, it’s not just the cognitive piece, but it’s the movement piece too.” ‒ Kellyann Niotis

reduce alzheimers risk

Can an annual flu vaccine reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease?

A recent retrospective study suggests that flu vaccines reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but the study raises as many questions as it answers.

#230 ‒ Cardiovascular disease in women: prevention, risk factors, lipids, and more | Erin Michos, M.D.

“How we live the first half of our lives really influences our freedom for morbidity and mortality the second half of our lives.” —Erin Michos

statins and Lp(a)

Reassuring new data on statin-induced Lp(a) elevation

Statin therapy is known to raise Lp(a) particle concentration in some patients, but how does this impact the overall effect of these medications on ASCVD risk?

#229 ‒ Understanding cardiovascular disease risk, cholesterol, and apoB

“Not everybody dies from atherosclerosis, but… everybody dies with it.”  —Peter Attia

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