The New Fountain of Youth
During his final years, Mark Twain said that “life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18.”
hundreds of years before Mark Twain, 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, searched for a fountain or river of youth in Florida. At the time this was the new way to reverse aging. Little did he know that one day Florida would become the retirement Mecca of the modern day USA. In St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., there’s a tourist attraction dating back a century that purports to be the Fountain of Youth of 1513.
No one has discovered such a fountain yet, and even those living out their golden years in Florida eventually succumb to the ravages of age and time. But what if modern science and technology could hold the key to extending our healthy years of life?
A New Approach
In the modern era, tech billionaires and countless others are applying science and technology to discover habits, foods, supplements and actions that can at least slow down the aging process. I recently discussed the tech millionaire Bryan Johnson’s quest to measure his way to actions and nutrition that will dramatically slow down aging.
5 New Ways Gaining Traction
So beyond the basics such as nutrition, sleep and exercise, what are some other ways we can slow down the aging process?
And I see this as a national and moral imperative. Here is why. Our collective strength goes up as we improve our health. And the longer we can live a healthy productive life devoid of disease, the better for us, our families and society at large.
Sick Care System
Unfortunately we still live in a destructive society that has a huge “sick care” system. What if we lived a True Wealth life that did everything possible to avoid disease and rapid aging? Here are 5 other ways I am exploring:
Fasting
Intermittent fasting is a dietary pattern that involves alternating periods of eating and fasting. There are many different ways to do intermittent fasting, but a common approach is to eat normally for 8 hours each day and fast for the remaining 16 hours. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can help to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and protect against age-related diseases.
Cold therapy
Exposing yourself to cold temperatures, also known as cryotherapy, can help to boost your metabolism, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function. There are many different ways to do cold therapy, but a common approach is to take a cold shower or bath.
Red light therapy
Red light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses red light to penetrate the skin and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are proteins that give your skin its structure and elasticity. Red light therapy can help to reduce wrinkles, improve skin tone, and protect against sun damage.
NAD+ therapy.
NAD+ is a coenzyme that is essential for many cellular processes, including energy production and DNA repair. As we age, our levels of NAD+ decline. NAD+ therapy involves taking NAD+ supplements or receiving NAD+ injections. Studies have shown that NAD+ therapy can help to improve cognitive function, reduce inflammation, and protect against age-related diseases.
Senolytics
This concept is a class of drugs that may not be available currently to the general public and are being researched.
From the NIH:
Aging results in an elevated burden of senescent cells, senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and tissue infiltration of immune cells contributing to chronic low‐grade inflammation and a host of age‐related diseases. Recent evidence suggests that the clearance of senescent cells alleviates chronic inflammation and its associated dysfunction and diseases.
Senolytics are drugs that are designed to kill senescent cells. Senescent cells are old, damaged cells that accumulate in the body over time. They can contribute to age-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Senolytics are still in the early stages of development, but they show promise as a way to reverse aging.
In the meantime, a way to clear out old cells and debris is through proper rest. Sleep serves this function and cleans our system. Combined with fasting there is a more powerful effect.
Many Ways Explored
It is important to note that these are just a few of the new and emerging ways to reverse aging. There are many other promising treatments being investigated, and it is an exciting area of research.
If you are interested in learning more about these or other anti-aging treatments, I recommend talking to your doctor or a registered dietitian.