In our practice, we organize longevity tactics into five domains — one of which I call ‘exogenous molecules,’ a fancy way of talking about medications, supplements, hormones, or any other formulated molecule you put into your body. Although powerful, this tactic can be challenging to discuss as it is highly individual. So instead of telling you to “take X” or “never take Y,” I find it more beneficial to approach this tactic with a 3-part framework:
(1) What is the objective? The more clearly you can define your objective, the more clearly you can assess if this is the right tool for accomplishing that objective
(2) Is there a biomarker? How do you plan to customize, track, and adjust your treatment over time? If there is no biomarker to monitor as a measure of effectiveness, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the supplement or medication; it just means you may need to be more intentional around monitoring results in other ways.
(3) Does the risk outweigh the reward? Everyone has a different tolerance for risk. Some questions to consider when weighing risk vs. reward: What is the mechanism of action? How many patient years of use exist? What are the short-term and long-term risks of taking the medication? What are the risks of not taking the medication?
Below is a collection of past content discussing some common supplements, medications, and other treatments.
“We have to come to grasp the reality that there are problems in the medication system in generics, potentially even brand, and all sorts of holes that exist in how the system is now for medications. We want to be a part of that solution and work together to ensure that every patient is getting a high quality medication.” — David Light
There are not many topics in clinical medicine more polarizing than hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women suffering from menopausal…
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“Generics are supposed to be this great leveler. It’s like the democratization of drugs that the rich and the poor alike can have access to for these great cures. To find out…that the companies cashing in on that image are really selling that short in a very devious way, is painful to realize. It’s a real great public health hope that has a very dark underbelly.” — Katherine Eban
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Criticism and skepticism can be far more useful than praise and unflinching belief.
There’s an art and science to critical thinking and how to conduct yourself. There’s a multitude of fallacious appeals we could spell out, but a good rule of thumb is not to attack the person, attack the ideas. Don’t look for the flaws in the person, look for the flaws in the hypothesis. Let’s keep the brawling to movies depicting minor league hockey teams and political “news” shows.
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