Biotracking, Age Reversal & Other Advanced Health Technologies

Current Healthcare System

• Based on a model developed over the last few centuries
• Wait until you get sick, then go see a doctor
• Made sense in the context of the 19^th and 20^th centuries 
  • Doctors had no way of knowing if you were sick other than asking how you feel
  • Needed to physically examine patients and take samples in the office

Remote Healthcare

• Wearable biosensors, monitors, and at-​​home blood tests provide more information than in-​​person visits
• Video conferences with doctors becoming more common
• Current model often waits until it’s too late (e.g., large tumor in prostate)

Early Detection of Cancer

• New tests can detect 50 different types of cancers before they become tumors
• Cancer cells release signalers (blood analytes) into the bloodstream
• Detecting these signalers allows for early detection and treatment

Other Diseases

• Heart disease can also be detected through early warning signals in the blood

Future of Healthcare

• Wearables and implantables will change the way we address health
• Scaled access to biological aging clocks
• Monitoring at home and remote healthcare will become more prevalent

• Early detection and treatment of diseases will improve health outcomes and extend lifespans
  Reducing Cancer Incidence and Death Rates

• Geneticists developing tests to find circulating DNA in blood

  • Catch tumors early, treat with chemotherapy before spreading
• Dramatically reduce cancer incidence and death rates

Monitoring Heart Disease

• Blood tests can measure inflammatory markers predicting cardiovascular disease
• Wearable devices like Bio Button monitor heart function 
  • FDA approved EKG
  • Used to send patients home early after heart attack or surgery
• Future: monitor people at risk of heart attack before acute risk

Continuous Glucose Monitors (Levels)

• Monitor blood sugar levels in real-time
• Help individuals understand how food affects their blood sugar
• Encourages healthier eating habits
• Currently requires a prescription

Wearable Devices and Blood Biomarkers

• Wearable devices can monitor various blood biomarkers
• Can be tailored to individual’s genetic profile and propensity for disease
• Allows for early detection and intervention

Changing Medical System

• Current system focuses on treating disease rather than prevention
• Insurance often only covers tests once a disease is present
• Some countries, like Australia, provide free preventative tests (e.g., colon cancer)
• Doctors may be open to using personal health data for better care

Dashboard for Your Body

• Need a dashboard to monitor body’s health, like a car dashboard
• Massive reduction in diseases like cancer and heart attacks

• Early detection of mental health issues, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s through monitoring daily activities and typing patterns
  Current and Future Biomonitoring Technologies

• Variety of biomonitoring products available:

  • Glucose monitors
  • Lactate monitors
  • Body fat, muscle mass, and body fat percentage monitors
  • ECGs
  • Caloric intake
  • Temperature
  • UV exposure
  • Sleep quality
  • Blood oxygen

• Top 5 biomarkers to monitor constantly:

  • Glucose
  • Heart function
  • Inflammation (CRP — C‑reactive protein)
  • TNF alpha or IL-​​116 (predictive of longevity)
  • Cortisol (stress levels and over-exercising)

• Future of biomonitoring:

  • Wearables and semi-implantables
  • Nano-​​biosensors (measure various things through the skin)
  • Implantable sensors that last for months or even a lifetime

Data Privacy and Ownership Concerns

• Massive amounts of data collected

  • Storage, ownership, and usage concerns
  • Anonymization and protection under HIPAA
  • Right to delete personal data

• Genetic data implications:

  • Affects family members who share genetic data
  • Can be used to solve cold cases or track individuals
  • Potential for misuse by governments or other entities

• Infectious disease monitoring:

  • Balancing privacy and collective good
  • Governments making decisions based on health data

• Current and upcoming sensors:

  • Blood glucose monitor
  • Sleep and heart rate monitoring ring
  • Fitness watch
  • Chest monitor (not commercially available yet)
  • InsideTracker blood draws
    Monitoring Health with Biosensors and Personalized Medicine

• Scientists working on monitoring health through various biosensors

  • Contact lenses for measuring blood glucose levels
  • Tooth sensors for measuring bacteria in the mouth
  • Viome for analyzing gut health and providing personalized supplements
  • Mouth guard biosensors for detecting markers in blood and saliva
  • Temporary tattoo biosensors and sweat microfluidic biosensors for detecting hormones

• Monitoring health can help prevent diseases and optimize overall well-being

  • Allows for early detection of potential health issues
  • Can inform lifestyle changes and supplementation needs

• Personalized medicine and supplementation

  • Companies like Levels and InsideTracker provide nutritional recommendations based on individual needs
  • Future possibility of at-​​home machines that create personalized “polypills” with vitamins, minerals, and medicines tailored to individual needs

• Importance of considering individual factors in medicine

  • Current medicine often based on averages, not taking into account personal history, genetics, and lifestyle
  • Future medicine will likely incorporate AI and personalized data for more accurate and effective treatment
    Exercise and Biological Age

• Tracking devices help understand effective exercise for reducing biological age

• Devices measure heart rate, heart rate variability, and resting heart rate
• Exercise recommendations will be personalized based on individual needs

Exercise Mimetics

• NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) provides exercise benefits in animal studies
• Future drugs may allow for exercise benefits without physical activity
• Current best approach: eat right, move right, and supplement for longevity

Epigenetic Reset of Biological Age

• Gene therapy using three genes (Oct4, Sox2, KLF4) can reset the age of cells
• Successful experiments in mice, reversing blindness and restoring vision
• Potential applications in other age-​​related diseases (Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer)

Future of Age Reversal Treatments

• Gene therapy may be administered through a course of treatments
• Patients could take antibiotics to turn on reprogramming for a set period

• Alternative methods may involve small molecules or drugs to mimic gene therapy effects
  Epigenetic Reprogramming and Aging

• Greg Fahey’s Trim Trial

  • Used metformin, growth hormone, and DHEA
  • After one year of treatment, participants’ epigenetic clocks were reset by 2.5 years on average
  • Unclear if this can be repeated multiple times or if it affects the whole body
• Potential risks of age resetting 
  • Stimulating cancer cells
  • Unknown long-​​term safety
• Gene therapy challenges 
  • Viruses are difficult to distribute evenly through the body
  • Immune responses to viruses
  • Irreversible effects

Implications of Longer Lifespans

• Population growth
  • Advanced countries have declining population growth rates
  • Humanity predicted to peak at 10–11 billion and then decline
• Resource management
  • Need to preserve the environment and reduce waste
  • Longer, healthier lives can lead to increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs
• Economic benefits
  • Extending lifespan by one year with metformin could add $86 trillion to the US economy
  • Extending lifespan by ten years could add $360 trillion to the US economy
• Education and career opportunities 
  • Longer lives allow for multiple career changes and opportunities
  • “Skill Sabbatical” — paid time off to change careers or pursue passions
  • Longer lives can lead to more intergenerational wisdom and knowledge sharing

Responsibility to Live Longer and Healthier Lives

• Taking care of aging family members is emotionally and financially draining
• Living longer, healthier lives can reduce the burden on families and society

• People may have a responsibility to maintain their health and contribute to society for as long as possible
  Taking Responsibility for Longevity

• Live a long, healthy life for yourself and your family

• Work towards a healthier future by adopting healthy habits now

Longevity Requires Effort

• Effective drugs and supplements are in development, but not yet available
• Must put in the work to achieve a longer, healthier life
• Best recipe for long life: proper diet, fasting, exercise, and stress management