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There has been "spectacular" progress in recent years in the understanding and treatment of Alzheimer's.  The progressive disease, which is the most common cause of dementia, a late-in-life decline in memory and cognitive ability, afflicts 50 million people around the world. Taking family members and other carers into account, that number increases exponentially.  The condition, for which there is currently no cure,  amounts to a modern day crisis, for all involved. In this episode of the LLAMA podcast, Dr Jason Karlawish, a gerontologist and professor of medicine and medical ethics and senior fellow of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, says significant gains are being made with therapeutic treatments, but many hurdles remain.  The author of The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture and Politics turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis, also argues that Alzheimer's is disease of our identity and a condition that raises fundamental, moral questions about what it means to lead a good life. Recorded: March 30, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:The difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease.How can dementia be distinguished from the 'normal course of aging?"The work of the Penn Memory Center, with patients and their loved ones. Explaining medicine in the 'real world,' through the stories and experiences of people.Why patients and caregivers are the best teachers. Distinguishing between disease and disability. How stigma haunts the lives of people with dementia. Defining Alzheimers as once a rare disease, now a crisis. The "spectacular progress in science," dealing with Alzheimer's. "Living' with Alzheimer's rather than relying on drugs. Why is the risk of demential declining? The crisis of good quality care for Alzheimer's patients in the U.S.Regular exercise and a heart healthy diet to maintain good brain health.  Red wine too? This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Turning fifty can be a wrenching experience for some people.  Others discover that it is their sixtieth birthday that conjures up disturbing emotions. There is no doubt that big birthdays focus the mind on the aging process and what is often described as a midlife crisis.  But should we fear the passage of time?  Lisa Levine is a life coach and the author of Midlife No crisis, an insightful and entertaining exploration of the years that signpost our lives.  In this LLAMA podcast conversation with Peter Bowes, Lisa explains why we should embrace "transformative" periods, instead of dreading them, and how the advancing years can propel us in a "more fulfilling direction," with excitement and optimism. Recorded: April 5, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:When does mid-life happen and why is it associated with a crisis for some people.Pre-empting a mid-life crisis When the meaning  of life becomes more important that just doing a job. The difference between turning 50 and 60?Leaving Hollywood and the entertainment business for a new calling - something deeper with more meaning. Becoming a life coach and "walking the talk." Dealing with health obstacles and fertility issues and discovering alternative therapies. Do men and women face the same mid-life issues? How our backgrounds and life experiences mold our lives and attitudes toward aging. Discovering the perks on midlife, wisdom and putting space between negative thoughts.The value of friends and community in dealing with the aging process - knowing that you're not alone. Social media - compare and despair. Avoiding the rabbit holes. The privilege that is aging. This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Living life to the full, at any age, has been a challenge recently.  To put it mildly.  But if Covid has taught us anything, it is that some of life's simplest pleasures are what make life itself worth living. Therein lies a metaphor for healthy aging.  Physical fitness, social contact and an active mind go a long way towards helping us live longer and better.  They are also central to the ideals of Aging is Cool, a Texas-based company that helps people over fifty stay active and engaged as they age. In this LLAMA episode, Aging is Cool co-founder, Amy Temperley, explains why she rails against a modern-day culture rife with ageism and how she hopes to redefine what it means to grow old. "Old is a feeling and I don't know that you're old until you decide that you're old," she says.  In conversation with Peter Bowes, Amy also reveals how life with Covid has opened her eyes to the everyday activities that bring pleasure and purpose to life. Recorded: March 22, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:Targeting healthy, active aging and coming up with the idea for Aging is CoolRealizing that aging can be positive, celebrating a robust zest for life and it is okay to get older.  Is there a benchmark for becoming oldAnti-aging versus finding a sense of purpose in life. Building a company focussed on mind and body training for older adultsA Mighty Good Time -  a one-stop-shop and mostly virtual resource for adults aged 50+Over fifty - is there a mindset change? Reducing social isolation through involvement in a communityThe value of friendship and forging new relationshipsSocial interaction post Covid and find new joy-inducing pastimes. How making stuff can be fun. Advocacy for the benefits of a healthy, aging population. Breaking out of Covid, socializing more and multi-generational friendships. Morning rituals that include caring for dogs. Finding those things that make life worth living - "embracing the things you love rather than lamenting what you've lost."This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Cracking the code behind aging has long since fascinated, frustrated and captivated scientists.  In our quest to live longer and better, a desire to fully understand the mechanisms that explain how and why we grow old, has been central to longevity research. In recent years some significant progress has been made. A clearer picture is emerging of the changes that occur, at a cellular level, that could dictate how our bodies respond to the passing years. In this episode of the LLAMA podcast, Prof. David Walker, a researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) discusses his work with tiny worms and fruit flies, and explains the significance of myriad age-related issues, such as dysfunctional mitochondria, leaky intestines and inflammation. Recorded: March 2, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Disclosure: Prof. Walker is a member of the scientific board of JUVICELL, a sponsor of this LLAMA podcast episode. Topics covered in this interview include:Dr. Walker's academic journey from Belfast to Manchester and Los Angeles. Inspiration through  Jonathan Weiner's Time, Love Memory - a biography of Seymour Benzer, the biologist renowned for his study of genetics through experiments with fruit fly genes.  Working with nematode worms and fruit flies.  Aging - a great scientific mystery.  How our understanding of what is driving aging, at a cellular level, has evolved. Developing novel ways, using genes, to prevent age- related health decline.  Changing awareness of aging as we grow older.Accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria and how it appears to be an important cellular hallmark of aging. The importance of autophagy for maintaining cellular health.Why do we age at different rates?  The pathophysiology of aging: How do age-related changes that affect organ function, relate to the health and viability of the aging organism?    Leaky intestines in fruit flies and humans . Inflammation and the link to age-onset diseasesGut bacteria and relevance to various diseases and health interventions. Diet and variability of our gut microbiome.High/low  protein diets and the aging gut, based on fruit fly studies.  Does eating less protein enhance longevity? Making better informed decisions about diet and dietary supplementation. Practicing "  common sense" lifestyle goals. Exercise and everyday diet    to counter the effects of aging. Memory loss  as we age and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved based on studies with fruit flies. Lifestyles focussed on living life to the full.This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Baby boomers make up a significant portion of the world's population.  In the US and the UK the generation born between 1946 and 1964 represents about a fifth of all people and is a hugely influential group.  So what's it like to be a boomer in 2021?  Many are still working, physically active and important contributors to the economy.  Others are retired and enjoying the fruits of their careers, while some are facing up to the challenges of life as a septuagenarian.  "My almost fervent, religious conviction is we can all do better," says Dave Frost, a decorated naval officer,  world-ranked oarsman and Master Fitness Trainer.  Dave was born in 1953. The San Diego-based author of KaBoomer: Thriving and Striving into Your Nineties is the founder of Well Past Forty, a company that promotes wellness and fitness for athletes of all ages and abilities. In this LLAMA podcast interview, with Peter Bowes, he discusses his gregarious approach to life, ambitious athletic goals and plan to "live large" into his tenth decade. Recorded: March 16, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:What is it like to be a baby boomer in 2021?Dave's definition of the "encore" years and what it means to live in the "best act yet" of our lives. Living through the bottom of the happiness curve.Figuring out the daily activities, including motion and purpose, that enhance life. The life-changing impact of 911. Embracing the Loma Linda, low stress, outdoor lifestyle, for longevity. The importance of breathing for everyday health and good sleep. The joy of distance running and how the runner's high can be achieved with alternatives forms of exercise, as we get older. The value of exercise, quiet time, mind-body alignment  and "living large" as we age into our nineties. "We know aging is unavoidable, but we don't have to get old."This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Why do we rush to the refrigerator during commercial breaks, while watching television?  Are we really hungry or does TV fuel our addiction to foods that we know are bad for us? "Without your agreement at all, you're doing what we call the robot walk or the zombie walk to the kitchen to get something to eat," says Joan Ifland, Ph.D., author of the textbook, Processed Food Addiction. Dr. Ifland believes we are wired to snack, in response to stress, excitement and suspense, and that an addiction to sugar and processed food is making us sick. In this LLAMA podcast interview, with Peter Bowes, she discusses her mission to help people recover from an addiction to processed foods and why, she says, cleaning up our diets, especially ridding them of sugar, could add years to our lives.Recorded: February 18, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:In this interview we cover: Melding the worlds of business and nutrition researchExploring what Dr. Ifland says is the role of corporations "in the spread and maintenance of addiction to processed foods"What is processed food? The difference between processed plant and animal-based foods. Food cravings, marketing, stress and addiction. How do we take control of what we eat, to avoid unhealthy foods - or "bad" foods - and what Dr. Ifland describes as "artificial aging" "Somebody who is seventy years old can feel fifty or even forty or they might feel better than they've ever felt in their lives."Why is it so difficult to give up certain foodsWhat is "conformance drive" and how does it influence what we eat. Associating with others, online, to build an immersion experience with healthy peopleDr. Ifland's diet change, 25-years ago, that she says eliminated cravings and "brain fog"Why do we fall off the wagon and return to bad eating habits? How does the Addiction Reset Community work?The connection between watching the television and eating too much. The impact of Covid on "clean" eating and food addictions. The "purpose" of living a long healthy lifeThis episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

At the age of eighty-one, Jean Ketcham is looking forward to sky diving again, when the pandemic is over. The co-founder of Aging But Dangerous, an international women's movement promoting active, healthy aging, is on a mission to empower women over fifty to live their lives to the full.  When Jean retired, she and her friend, C. Suzanne Bates, realized that their social circles were shrinking and that their friends were becoming less adventurous. Convinced that life still had much to offer, the pair set up the group to encourage women to live dangerously, as they age. In this LLAMA podcast interview, with Peter Bowes, Minneapolis-based Jean discusses her zest for life, optimism and aspirations for the next two decades. Recorded: February 2, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:Challenging the "trauma" experienced by women turning 50 What's wrong with the word 'aging?'Cataract surgery at 80 Setting up Aging But DangerousInspiration from Jane Fonda and Lily TomlinMartini Jump Skydives, fashion shows and colonoscopy prep parties for women over 50  Inner strength, positivity and surviving cancer Finding the silver lining in the face of negativity Embracing social media, hosting Facebook lives for a multi generational audienceJean's advice to her younger self about weight and self-esteem Having fun full-filling a mission to connect with and help women An octogenarian's bucket list and aspirations This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

If you're a fast walker, you're likely to live longer. The correlation between walking speed and lifespan has been widely studied and is a good indicator of our general physical condition and the number of years that we are able to enjoy optimum health. "It is a wonderful predictor," says, Dr. Cliff Bleustein, Global President and CEO of AposHealth, a home based exercise program aimed at helping patients with their mobility. In this episode we delve into the importance of a healthy gait, sometimes described as the sixth vital sign. Dr. Bleustein explains the link between the natural ability to take a brisk walk and maximally performing bodily systems, such as the heart, lungs and musculoskeletal. Recorded: January 26, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:Dr. Cliff Bleustein's "eclectic" career, encompassing surgery, research, business and healthcare consulting. Making the shift from treating patients to the business of healthcare Treating osteoarthritis of the knee by changing the way people walk Earlier health management of chronic conditions to improve health outcomesRehabilitation based on physical therapy rather than surgery Purposely including short bursts of exercise during the day for optimum health and maintenance of muscle massThe cumulative impact of exerciseGait - the sixth vital sign and predictor of long life. Walking speed as an indicator of healthThe daily activities that cost nothing and promote physical health The impact of Covid-19 on general healthcare, and the switch to telemedicine Future problems caused by plummeting activity levels during the pandemic The physical and emotional health impact of taking fewer steps a day through working at homeWhy healthcare facilities should be considered safe for preventative interventions, even as Covid continues to be a threatTaking small steps every day to pursue health and longevity. there are only so many things we can control.  Don't worry! This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Nutritional supplementation is one of the most frequently raised topics in relation to longevity and healthy living.  But do we really need additional components in our diet, such as pterostilbene , sulforaphane and resveratrol?  Scientifically validated studies suggest some dietary supplements are beneficial to our health, but how do we decide which ones to take?  There are myriad considerations. To explore the subject, the LLAMA podcast is teaming up with JUVICELL, a nutraceutical product developed by US and German scientists. In this conversation with Peter Bowes, co-founder, Erin Sharoni, discusses the scientific, ethical and societal issues involved in developing a product that aims to extend healthspan. Recorded: February 15, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.The study of epigenetics and what it means. Our internal and external environments and how they interact.   Erin's "obsession" with the human body and how it changes over time.  Does living like an elite athlete help us live longer?The basic protocols for good health, like sleep, diet and hydration that impact longevity The most basic lifestyle traits that help us thrive.Why there is no magic bullet to optimum health.  The insurance policy approach to dietary supplementation.      The power of fasting and the work of Dr. Valter Longo at the university of Southern California (USC).   The idea and mission behind JUVICELLWhy the mission is to help people optimize healthspan rather than lifespan.Explaining the ingredients that go together to form an all-in-one dietary supplement. Safety, supplementation and ethical responsibility to follow the science. Lessons from the Covid pandemic and the big changes needed at a societal level to enable healthier populations. Sleep, whole foods, meditation and other lifestyle components to promote every day health and longevity.  This episode is brought to you in association with JUVICELL, the all-in-one longevity supplement that contains 10 key ingredients shown to have a positive impact on healthspan, as validated by scientific studies. To find out more, visit juvicell.comThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Cognitive decline is an all-too-familiar hallmark of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. While there is much research that focuses exclusively on functional changes in the brain, the so-called gut-brain axis  - a connection between the digestive system and the central nervous system - also appears to play a pivotal role. It raises the question: Could nutritional interventions, to nurture the health of the gut microbiome, also help prevent or reverse age-related dementia?  In 2018, Dr. Julie Andersen, a scientist at the Buck Institute for Research On Aging, in California, received a $3.8 million grant to explore the hypothesis.  In this LLAMA podcast episode, Dr. Andersen discusses the work of her laboratory, and the idea that a gut metabolite, urolithin A, could play an important role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Recorded: February 9, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:Working at the Buck Institute for Research On Aging - the only freestanding institute studying aging and age-related disease.A multi-disciplinary approach to aging research, embracing a range of diseases and mechanisms that drive-age related conditions. Evolving definitions of aging.Exploring autophagy, mitochondrial function, urolithin A and muscle health, in relation to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The science and logic behind restoring an older person's gut microbiome to that of a younger person. Building on "exciting" clinical trials, by Amazentis, looking at the efficacy, in older humans, of Urolithin A, to enhance muscle function.Exploring the relatively new area of study known as the gut-brain axis.Explaining the scientific process, grants and clinical trials.How preliminary preclinical trial data suggests urolithin fed to mice may prevent cognitive loss associated with Alzheimer's disease.  Turning 60 and aspirations for a long healthspan. This episode is brought to you in association with Amazentis, a Swiss life science company, that is pioneering cutting edge, clinically validated cellular nutrition, under its Timeline brand.Related episodes:David Katz: Robust health beyond the pandemicStuart Phillips: Boosting physical strength as we ageStephanie Blum: Embracing and marketing the science of wellbeingJohan Auwerx: Enjoying youthful vitality as we ageNavindra Seeram: The rejuvenating power of plantsPatrick Aebischer: A novel molecule to promote longevityAnurag Singh: Pomegranates, muscle mass and healthy agingThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

When the pandemic struck, instead of hunkering down, with her life on hold, Alison Weinlaeder moved into top gear with her brain-child, a new online business melding physical and mental workouts.  The speech-language pathologist, from Saint Paul, Minnesota, wanted to help people improve their cognitive abilities, at the same time as nurturing their cardiovascular fitness. Cardiomelon is a fitness program that puts the essential components of daily health at its core. In this LLAMA podcast interview with Peter Bowes, Alison explains the science behind her novel approach to fitness.  She also shares the challenges and rewards she enjoys through a startup focussed on helping people live longer and better.Recorded: January 22, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new financial product that provides guaranteed supplemental income for people who worry about the financial impact of longevity. To find out more, visit Age-Up.comTopics covered in this interview include:Why we should work on keeping the brain healthy and strong as well as the bodyWorking, as a speech language pathologist, with people who've experienced tragic and traumatic eventsPushing the brain outside its comfort zoneThe challenged posed by virtual therapy for patients with severe brain injuriesLaunching Cardiomelon in the midst of a pandemicIsn't it just normal to forget things as we get older? Empowering people through brain-focussed exercise How gardening  and walking can help boost brain performance.Building a brain workout programme based on the concepts of rehabilitation - the principles of neuroplasticityWhy you've got to use it to improve itWhy just doing mental workouts, without always succeeding in a challenge, will improve brain health  Never too late or early to start.  Partnering with Hilarity for Charity with a mission to educate people in their 20s about poor health habits that could lead to Alzheimer's The evidence to support combining cognitive and physical exerciseLearning how to think smarter, through visualization and habits Being empowered to control brain healthThe lifestyle habits that will determine how our lives will be like, decades in the future.Future science-based  research into the outcomes from CardiomelonThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

After a diagnosis of lupus, in her 30s, Leslie Kenny was told she had a life expectancy of five years. The prognosis focussed the Berkeley and Harvard grad's mind like never before. Long before biohacking was a thing, Leslie set about changing her lifestyle, embracing safe, natural solutions, in a fight for her life. Now 56, she is aging well, healthy and a fully signed up biohacker. She is the founder of Oxford Healthspan, a UK-based company, working with leading scientists to identify safe compounds as nutritional supplements. In this LLAMA podcast conversation with Peter Bowes, Leslie discusses her own unique journey, as well as the science and life-enhancing potential of spermidine, a compound that has been shown to be vital to myriad bodily functions. Recorded: January 19, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new financial product that provides guaranteed supplemental income for people who worry about the financial impact of longevity. To find out more, visit Age-Up.comTopics covered in this interview include:Leslie's journey from Swiss banking to biohacking Facing up to Lupus and a five-year life expectancy One's own mortality and the limits of longevityPillars of preventative healthcare: sleep, movement , diet, friendship, familyWhy your health is your wealthDiscovering the polyamine compound spermidine and establishing Oxford Healthspan Where does the name spermidine come from and what is it? The evidence for the benefits of spermidine - epidemiological  studies and clinical trials Is spermidine supplementation safe? How do consumers make decisions about which supplements to take?  Living life with the promise of healthspan rather than lifespan Disease prevention versus disease care The lifestyle of a biohacker - sleep hygiene, good food, lowered stressThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

It is often said that it is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle - never too late to incorporate more exercise into our daily routine or focus on a healthier diet, to reap the rewards as we age. In reality, a message that it is never too early to focus on our wellbeing and longevity, is equally important. Perhaps more so. Cathy Richards is an exercise physiologist and founder of Inspiring Vitality, an online coaching program focussing on the needs of people over 40.  In this LLAMA podcast interview with Peter Bowes, Cathy discusses her mission to encourage more people to take steps - even tiny steps - in their daily lives, to incorporate strength building activity into their routines.  She also highlights the significance of deteriorating hearing for overall health and the likelihood that impaired hearing can lead to social isolation and loneliness. Recorded: January 11, 2021 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new financial product that provides guaranteed supplemental income for people who worry about the financial impact of longevity. To find out more, visit Age-Up.comTopics covered in this interview include:Adapting to a new way remote way of working out during and likely after CovidLearning about the behavioral trail of very old populations and joining the longevity dotsThe onset of frailty and the snowball effect of muscle declineImplementing resistance training into exercise regimes to maintain muscle strengthDoing the bare minimum exercise to still realize significant result. Small, step and changes that add up and make a difference over timePersuading younger generations that it is never too early to think about being fit at 85. Hearing loss and the impact on our quality life as we age  The stigma associated with hearing loss and dangers The correlations been hearing loss and dementia. Social isolation, poor hearing and loneliness. Personal habits to live a healthy daySleep as a wellness trendThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

As we push the boundaries of human longevity and our expectations for lifespan, mid-life is going to be different.  Our healthy, vibrant decades are being extended. The goal of enjoying more fulfilling years, free of diseases and physical decline is becoming a reality. The trajectory of our lives is changing.  Chip Conley is a veteran executive in the hospitality industry, formerly Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy with Airbnb and a prolific writer.  He's also the founder of the Modern Elder Academy, a self-styled school for midlife wisdom and the author of Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder. In this conversation with Peter Bowes, Chip shares his vision of older people as wise, curious and indispensable members of society. He recalls the impact of a near-death experience, the way his life went through a transformation in his 50s and the art of lifelong learning.     Recorded: December 29, 2020 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Photo credit: Lisa KeatingThis episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new financial product that provides guaranteed supplemental income for people who worry about the financial impact of longevity. To find out more, visit Age-Up.comTopics covered in this interview include:Chip's life-defining brush with death and experience of going to the "other side" during a medical  emergency. Doing business as a "hospitality disrupter," as one of the first boutique hoteliers and later with Airbnb.Creating the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), mid-life wisdom school.What is long-life learning? The unexpected pleasures of aging.Focussing on "great longevity" and a spiritual diet. Upgrading the human operating system - moving from reverence to relevance as a "modern elder." Launching the MEA - a regenerative community - a 21st century version of a retirement community. Taking the less traveling path in life.  Having regrets or no regrets in life?  Metabolizing and cultivating wisdom from life's experiences.Acknowledging and challenging "new year resistances" fears and old habits.  Role models for a living a very long life.  Embracing curiosity as tool to live a long life. The Live Long and Master Aging (LLAMA) podcast is a HealthSpan Media LLC production. LLAMA shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

The body's unique ability to repair itself, with a little outside help, is the focus of a growing sphere of longevity science. One area of research concerns a molecule, known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which plays a key role in many biological processes.  NAD+ declines as we age, but research has shown that, through supplementation,  youthful levels can be restored, helping us to age better.   In this episode, Dr Nichola Conlon, a molecular biologist and co-founder of Nuchido Laboratories, based in North -East England, discusses her mission to develop nutraceuticals to stimulate rejuvenation. In conversation with Peter Bowes, Nichola explains her passion for nutritional interventions designed to enhance healthspan; she addresses the need to educate people about the relevance of biogerontology research and the new products that could significantly improve our quality of life. Recorded: December 3rd, 2020 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.“This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new financial product that provides guaranteed supplemental income for people who worry about the financial impact of longevity. To find out more, visit Age-Up.comTopics covered in this interview include:A career in science driven by Nichola's fascination with the human body - how "it's so intricately designed and perfect to make us tick."How do drugs work - from consumption to the cells where they need to work. What is aging? The steep learning curve involved in aging research.Is it a good thing to try to slow aging and should it be done through supplementation?Translating the science into consumer products. What does Nuchido mean? Explain the role and complexities of NAD+The benefits of elevated NAD levels, related to aging. Why reverse a process (declining NAD) when it appears to be a natural part of aging? Why we are very good at being young but not so good at being old. Being a successful female scientist and entrepreneur in a male-dominated world.The importance of tracking your own health through regular blood tests. Why the sky's the limit in biogerentology.The Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Optimism, during this tumultuous year, has been in short supply. But as 2021 beckons, there is a real sense of hope that happier, healthier times are ahead. Cheryl Ladd, best known for her role in the 1970s detective series, Charlie's Angels, is also emerging from a rollercoaster of a year.  As well as dealing with the emotional challenges presented by Covid-19, for the first time in her life, the actress says she started to feel old.  But it was the challenge of failing eyesight that motivated her to take on a new mission in life, encouraging others, with optimism and gratitude, to embrace the aging process.  In this LLAMA podcast interview with Peter Bowes, the 69-year old explains why wellness matters; how she has overcome cataracts with new technology; her reluctance retire and future aspirations in Hollywood. Recorded: September 17th, 2020 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.“This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new financial product that provides guaranteed supplemental income for people who worry about the financial impact of longevity. To find out more, visit Age-Up.comTopics covered in this interview includeThe rocket ship that was Charlie's Angels and a 44-year careerMastering the process of growing old with optimism Dark times through isolation during the pandemic The healing power of a hugAppreciating what we have and expressing gratitudeI'm 69-years old.  How did this happen?Changing sleep patterns as we age.Appreciating what we have and expressing gratitudeDealing with eye cataracts and a fear of driving at night What is there to love about life and keep living for? Retirement or not? Being old and female in Hollywood.The Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

If the coronavirus pandemic has reminded us of anything, it is that there is nothing more important than our health and wellbeing.  Now that the vaccine is a reality for people in the UK - and the rest of the world soon -  there is real hope that the disease will be brought under control during the first part of next year.  "People in robust good health are massively less vulnerable to bad outcomes during the pandemic and more vital in general," says Dr. David Katz, a physician and co-author of the new book, How to Eat. Highlighting the importance of lifestyles and nutritional interventions, to promote health and vitality, Dr Katz says, there is much to be done tackling the "neglected scourges” of modern living, as we move on from the pandemic. A renowned public health commentator and prolific writer, Dr Katz serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Amazentis, a Swiss life science company and co-producer of this LLAMA podcast episode. In this interview, with Peter Bowes, he analyzes the current state of Covid-19; the challenge of sorting fact from fiction; the prospect of “herd immunity” and life after the virus. He also delves into the infinitely fascinating world of the microbiome and nutritional products that promote enhanced muscle mass and function as we age.Recorded:  December 1st, 2020 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.This episode of the LLAMA podcast was brought to you in association with Amazentis, a Swiss life science company, which is pioneering cutting edge, clinically validated cellular nutrition, under its Timeline brand.Topics covered in this interview includeHow a rambunctious kid chose a career in medicine and developed a passion for preventing chronic disease, and promoting health.Analyzing the lifestyle practices that determine our state of health.Drama over data and the Covid-19 pandemic. What does herd immunity mean? Pandemic fatigue, opening up society and phasing back to normalcy.The "acute case for chronic health" as we emerge from the pandemic. Mitochondrial health,  the microbiome, pomegranates and urolithin A. Amazentis' nutritional product Mitopure and clinical trials suggesting a positive impact on physical stamina and endurance. Can rejuvenation of mitochondria mimic the health of the world's fittest communities?Sleep, diet and exercise. Related episodesStuart Phillips: Boosting physical strength as we ageStephanie Blum: Embracing and marketing the science of wellbeingJohan Auwerx: Enjoying youthful vitality as we ageNavindra Seeram: The rejuvenating power of plantsPatrick Aebischer: A novel molecule to promote longevityAnurag Singh: Pomegranates, muscle mass and healthy agingThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

The concept of healthspan - the number of years that we enjoy optimum health - has come a long way, in recent years.  In fact, Dr. Nir Barzilai, founding director of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine,  believes we are "ushering in a future where the norm will be for people to be healthy, active and mentally sharp, during the last quarter of their lives."  In his new book, Age Later: Healthspan, Life Span, and the New Science of Longevity, he argues that aging can be "targeted, improved and even cured," and that it should be thought of as not "as a certainty but as a phenomenon."  In this LLAMA podcast episode, with Peter Bowes, Dr Barzilai, discusses his life's work studying some of the world's super agers, people who are enjoying active and productive lives well into their nineties and beyond. Recorded:  September 21st, 2020 | Read a transcript and show notes at the LLAMA podcast website.Topics covered in this interview include:Dr Barzilai's lifelong interest in longevity and healthspanThe impact of Covid 19 and why it has highlighted issues surrounding agism. Post-covid and finding the right balance with social interactions. The TAME (Targeting Aging with Metformin) study and wider uses for the anti-diabetic drug, relating to aging, coronavirus and cancer. Should we all be taking metformin?  The ethical dilemmas. Why "flexible" biology of aging. What has been learned through the study of 750 centenarians?Learning lessons from Frieda - the grandmother of Dr. Barzilai's wife. Why we should not put off our dreams. The longevity dividend.Caloric restriction, fasting and time-restricted eating.Getting enough sleep.Earlier LLAMA podcast in with Dr. Barzilai: Researching the genetics of exceptional longevity and drugs that could target agingThe Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Lee Gutkind has spent much of his life denying his age. The Pittsburgh-based writer and teacher, renowned for his skills as an immersion journalist, has long been fascinated by the aging process and the insecurities that come with growing old. Now, aged seventy-seven, he has overcome his anxieties and age-related tensions. It followed a dark period of time, marked by the loss of loved ones and loneliness, when Lee decided to use his journalistic skills to perform a deep dive on himself. The result is a candid memoir, My Last Eight Thousand Days: An American Male in His Seventies, which documents the realities of aging and the transformation in fortunes that Lee enjoys today. In this episode, he explains how, despite a hugely successful career and a naturally outgoing personality, he reached a low point in his life; how he developed a new appreciation of casual friendships and the joy of connecting with other people. Described by Vanity Fair as the Godfather behind creative nonfiction, Lee also reflects on the frustrations that come with being pigeonholed as an old, soon-to-be-retired, man.  Published: November 12, 2020 | Recorded: November 10, 2020Visit the LLAMA podcast website for complete show notes, including a transcript of the conversation.This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new product that helps fill in the financial gaps that are often created once you’ve mastered aging and achieved an exceptionally long life. Small monthly payments to AgeUp stack over time to create a secure income stream for your 90s and beyond. Contributions to AgeUp are shielded from market swings, and once payouts begin at age 91 or above, they’re guaranteed to last for life. AgeUp is backed by MassMutual and sold by Haven Life Insurance Agency. You can find out more at Age-Up.comIn this interview we cover:The life and times of an immersion journalist, who immerses himself into his own storyDispelling the popular image of an older personDefending the vitality of people still working in their seventies The “demeaning” assumption that retirement beckons at 65Lee’s denial of his age and mid-life loneliness Turning the journalistic microscope inward with positive resultsThe realization that casual friends can be a lifelineThe power of human interaction after a lifetime of self-enforced solitude, as a writerThe impact of Covid on friendshipsThe physical prowess of a lifelong athlete in his 70sThe excitement of hot yoga at 70 Moving forward while remaining younger in mind and body

Matters of the mind may be more important to us now, than ever before. The number of new coronavirus cases is continuing to rise in many countries.  The United States - as well as dealing with political uncertainty - is reporting over 100,000 infections every day and England has just gone back into lockdown.  There are encouraging exceptions, like Australia, which, earlier this week, recorded its first day without local cases in almost five months. But our lives have been upended like never before, and as we continue to battle the virus, the pandemic brings into focus our overall health and wellbeing. “When there’s a huge event like Covid, it’s a forced pause for all of us,” says Giovanni Dienstmann, a Sydney-based meditation teacher and creator of the blog, Live and Dare.Is it time to re-think the way we live our lives and contemplate the future?"Perhaps start a different life, perhaps start to focus more on family, on personal growth, on health and longevity and on service."In this episode, we explore the power of meditation to get us through these difficult days.  Giovanni also discusses his personal journey, from troubled child to a place of contentment - and his regimented lifestyle, encompassing meditation, work, exercise, one daily meal, stoicism and family. Published: November 5, 2020 | Recorded: August 27, 2020Visit the LLAMA podcast website for complete show notes, including a transcript of the conversation.This episode is brought to you by AgeUp, a new product that helps fill in the financial gaps that are often created once you’ve mastered aging and achieved an exceptionally long life. Small monthly payments to AgeUp stack over time to create a secure income stream for your 90s and beyond. Contributions to AgeUp are shielded from market swings, and once payouts begin at age 91 or above, they’re guaranteed to last for life. AgeUp is backed by MassMutual and sold by Haven Life Insurance Agency. You can find out more at Age-Up.comIn this interview we cover:Nurturing the mind as well as the bodyMastering the aspects of our lives that we can controlThe impact of Covid 19 on the demand for meditationGiovanni’s story: from troubled child to a place of restfulness. Almost becoming a monk at 19Is spirituality religious?Classifying meditation into different disciplines: Concentration, awareness, relaxation and standby modeDeveloping the muscle of concentrationShutting out the modern day distractions in life and developing self-disciplineGiovanni’s constantly evolving and adapting daily schedulePracticing biphasic sleep - splitting sleep into to blocks per dayThe importance of routines in daily lifeEating just one meal a day. Starting the day with a cold shower followed by meditation Embracing intermittent fasting for longevity and wellbeingLiving by a stoic philosophy and letting go of what you cannot controlPutting life in perspective during the pandemic The Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.