Category

Family Medical History & Genetics

When patients join my practice, one of their first exercises is to gather a detailed family medical history. We want to know everything knowable about their mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings. Although I recognize this is not possible for everyone, for those who are able to gather this information, it can help reveal patterns that may prove critical for your longevity journey. The more data you collect, the more likely you are to understand what’s really at the root of the genetic template that you inherited. 

Below is a collection of audio clips and podcasts all about genetics, what to look for when gathering your family history, how genetics can influence your risk of certain diseases, and even the potential role of genetics in determining one’s success in a given discipline.

Risks

Peter on what to ask when gathering a family medical history

This audio clip is from AMA #15: Real-world case studies, originally released on August 17, 2020.

“DNA diets” are still a long way off from offering an easier route to weight loss

A recent study reports that leveraging genetics to inform diet choice is ineffective in promoting weight loss beyond the effects of calorie restriction alone

Genetic similarities between unrelated look-alikes

With a world population of nearly 8 billion, there’s a good chance you have a doppelgänger, but might you share more than just appearances?

#268 ‒ Genetics: testing, therapy, editing, association with disease risk, autism, and more | Wendy Chung, M.D., Ph.D.

There are literally tens of thousands of genetic variants in your genome, and what they mean and whether or not they do anything whatsoever is hard to know.” —Wendy Chung

Don’t drink and science: why a study on the cognitive effects of wine and cheese is sheer stupidity

A study claiming that daily consumption of cheese and wine may improve long-term cognition seems more like a bad joke than reliable science.

Twenty Years of the Human Genome: Growing Older and Wiser

In the 20 years since the Human Genome Project was completed in 2003, we’ve dramatically expanded our understanding of the impact of genetics on human health, but the work is far from finished.

PCSK9 inhibitors

The genetics of PCSK9i nonresponders

A recent case study shines light on why some individuals are resistant to PCSK9 inhibitors. 

#222 ‒ How nutrition impacts longevity | Matt Kaeberlein, Ph.D.

It’s really important that we be willing to change our beliefs about nutrition and other aspects of health as more data comes in.” —Matt Kaeberlein

#212 – The neuroscience of obesity | Stephan Guyenet, Ph.D.

This system works better at protecting against fat loss than it does against fat gain.” —Stephan Guyenet

Are there “biomarkers” for aging?

This clip is from “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode #35, originally released on May 16, 2022. If you’re a member,…

#207 – AMA #35: “Anti-Aging” Drugs — NAD+, metformin, & rapamycin

“It’s really hard to know, in my view, how important sirtuins are as longevity factors…If we accept that, then it’s difficult to know [the importance of] activation of sirtuins by NAD as a longevity mechanism.” —Matt Kaeberlein

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