My paternal grandparents lived into their nineties. They were old for at least half their lives. That’s how they saw themselves. They didn’t consider Old a pejorative.
Gertrude and Louis were vain, quick witted, and irreverent. They dressed well and looked good in clothes. They ate like everyone else and avoided exertion.
My Mommu and Poppu weren’t bothered by the way I eat, because it didn’t mean anything to them. The way I exercise, at my age, would have been alien. As if I bragged about being more popular on Twitch than Rubius.
That’s how I’ve always felt about longevity. Life extension. Making it a goal to live until there’s a cure for the thing that would kill you (cancer, heart disease, car crashes, etc). Surviving until the next cure comes along, and the next. Decades beyond our current limits.
It all felt alien until it didn’t. Like a new mourner beguiled by a medium, I was primed for this kind of thinking. As I wrote in December, Beth’s injuries have me fixated on my health.
I know Bloomberg’s Bryan Johnson feature portrays him as a modern day Hunger Artist. I also recognize myself in his routine. I’m a longtime vegan, runner, and weight lifter. I’m into time-restricted feeding and avoid carbs before dinner. I use a few supplements.
I shared the article with a friend who pointed me to Lifespan by David Sinclair. It’s a bestseller and Sinclair is a celebrity. I’m not sure how I’d missed it. I listened to the podcast, then the audiobook.
I’m the opposite of a biologist. I have a haziness around anatomy and pharmacology, a cognitive quicksand. If I could name the condition for you, I wouldn’t have it. I’m not qualified to assess Sinclair’s assertions.
Coincidentally, Eric Trexler published an article about longevity while I was reading Lifespan. Trexler is my primary guide to health and fitness, and he is not a fan. The problem for many of us is distinguishing between two scientists who have a lot in common. As with so many arguments, it can feel like the guy on the bridge joke. Trexler seems right. I’m not sure that makes Sinclair wrong.
There may be more than wishful thinking behind SENS and the Clock Foundation. Investor Laura Deming appears to be a genius, and her Longevity FAQ is compelling. Sinclair and his collaborators have bona fides.
For me, the appeal isn’t living forever. I’m not ready to believe that we can reverse aging, even if Beth has done it each week of her rehabilitation. (I realize it’s temporary.)
I feel a sense of enchantment when the spirits whisper Prolonged Vitality. As embarrassing as it is to talk about this stuff, I want to see what I can do with diet, supplements, and exertion.
Mommu and Poppu would be nonplussed. At least Kafka would think I was hilarious.
Welcome to February 2023’s Disappearing Moment, an inventory of my experiences. I hope you enjoy it.
Lifespan (I Liked It): The companion podcast to the book. Sinclair and his co-author have good rapport.
Microsoft Excel. The desktop version. I’m less useful without it. (The rest of the Office suite is flaming viscera.)
The Coros Pace2 watch doesn’t distract me, tracks what I want, and holds a charge for weeks. It’s also light and comfortable.
Does your broker or advisor make it easy for you to benchmark their cost and performance? If not, get a new advisor.
Thanks for spending a few moments with me. I look forward to corresponding again next month.
Brett