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.
“When [a patient] looks in the mirror and sees that hairline growing back in and says, ‘I would never have thought I would see my hairline again. I never thought I’d cover that bald spot.’ I mean, that’s the exciting thing that keeps me going every day.” —Alan Bauman
“We welcome the criticism and the discussion, that way we will all learn. We don’t claim to have the final answer, but we think that this book [Estrogen Matters] represents an important step forward in empowering women and helping them live longer and live better.” —Avrum Bluming
“Aging is such a big part of what we treat in orthopedics. . .our role is to help patients adapt and cope with their new reality. . .[without] imposing any artificial limits on them.” —Eric Chehab
“In case you haven’t guessed yet, there’s been a lot of drug traffic on the beach. And I’m not talking about Robitussin and No-Doze. I’m talking about the hard stuff, and a lot of it. I’ve been trying to find out who’s behind it. It hasn’t been easy. I don’t shower much.” —Irwin M. Fletcher
“Using these powerful basics, I’ve seen amazing changes.” —Brett Kotlus, referring to the 3 simple tools people can utilize to protect and rejuvenate their skin
“I believe that rigorously demonstrating that we can increase healthspan and lifespan in pet dogs will be a huge step toward gaining the support and credibility that the field needs.” —Matt Kaeberlein
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