The standard “wear and tear” story of aging may be incomplete. Dr. Peter Lidsky—a virologist and evolutionary biologist argues that aging is programmed. He says aging can be an adaptive strategy for controlling pathogens, a concept he calls the “pathogen control hypothesis.”

In this episode, we dig into the evidence behind this idea, the immune system in aging, and what his theory means for longevity interventions.

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/plidskyFind me: https://x.com/aasthajs My longevity products: https://www.livelongerworld.com/p/2024TIMESTAMPS:0:00 — Aging ≠ Wear-and-Tear

3:44 — The Case for Programmed Aging

8:48 — Why Program Aging at All?

11:09 — The Pathogen-Control Hypothesis

14:26 — Why We Get “Sick Time”

24:37 — Rising Lifespans, Explained

27:36 — Bowhead Whales’ Longevity Edge

31:15 — Why Lone Animals Don’t Live Forever

34:00 — Planaria: The “Immortal” Worm

35:00 — Do Infections Speed Up Aging?

36:46 — When Immunity Starts to Slide

38:17 — Why Fertility Has a Deadline

42:49 — Extending Life via the Immune System

1:00:35 — How Honey Bees Rejuvenate

1:10:50 — Can We Tackle Aging? Healthspan to 90s+AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:X: https://x.com/aasthajs Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/Peter Lidsky: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/bms/profile/peterlidsky.htmRELATED:Dr. Geoffrey West | Scaling Laws in Longevity & Aging: https://youtu.be/T67U8IK_1RU?si=ajq5AbjM6ufBQ7WfDr. David Gems | Hyperfunction & Programmatic Theory of Aging & Critique of Hallmarks of Aging: https://youtu.be/rLD-8UhHEZM?si=R_x_mLguTAKfdXtQDr. Bjorn Schumacher | DNA Damage & Aging, p53 & Cancer, and DNA repair in Reproductive Cells: https://youtu.be/kjQ-SwEP1bo?si=G2mEtNZs1O7TsLKe

“We can use the rule of evolution to optimize cancer therapy. The standard practice is that any therapy is given at maximum tolerated dose continuously until progression. It's almost a mantra that they have. Evolutionarily, you could hardly do it worse.” The current treatments on cancer do not account for how evolution works. Dr. Robert Gatenby has been studying evolutionary and game theory dynamics in the progression of cancer. He established the first cancer biology and evolutionary program in the U.S. We can leverage this evolutionary information to provide more effective cancer treatment, which he discusses in this episode. Dr. Michael Levin is my co-host.Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/rgatenbyFind me: https://x.com/aasthajs My longevity products: https://www.livelongerworld.com/p/2024TIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Cancer as Tissue Damage, Not Just Mutations8:48 – How Evolution Supercharges Cancer Cell Fitness11:04 – Debunking the “Primitive Cell” Myth12:06 – The Herd Mentality of Cancer Cells14:57 – Why Cancer Dynamics Go Beyond the Genome22:27 – Networks and Information Flow Inside Cells26:56 – Shared Goals: The Secret to Cellular Cooperation29:55 – Genome = Hardware, Information = Software36:26 – Healthy vs. Cancer Cells: Competing Information Systems39:05 – Evolution Turns Harsh After Reproduction41:03 – How Cancer Rewrites Its Own Information Playbook43:07 – Adaptive Therapy: A Patient’s Guide50:45 – The Limits of Adaptive Therapy53:12 – Hunting for Better Cancer Biomarkers55:11 – The Tumor Microenvironment’s Hidden Role59:42 – Why We Must Look Beyond Genetic DataAASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:X: https://x.com/aasthajs Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/LINKS:Michael Levin: https://x.com/drmichaellevinRobert Gatenby: https://www.moffitt.org/inspiring-stories/dr.-gatenbys-storyEpisode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/rgatenbyALSO WATCH:The First Cancer Cell: A Revolution in Early Detection | Michael Levin & Azra Raza: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7yW6ZVVdQkboWpldUZyenD?si=obYEC22NSsSyy7j09JBf7QKeto & Metabolic Therapy for Cancer | Dr. Thomas Seyfried: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tYdjcJ3G4tqbAx9Z6Bix2?si=Yz9CQ-wNQ3WdcwjKw3lXGwWhy Viruses Could Be the Cause of Chronic Disease | Dr. Paul Ewald: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OdYInlzTy2zG3Mi6TgADY?si=BtishVk_R-28K2KypODIog

Mitochondria might be one of the most important organelles inside our cells. Best known as the cell’s powerhouse, they don’t just make energy; they regulate metabolism, control cell death, drive immune function, and may even be the reason multicellular life exists at all!

It’s no surprise they’re implicated in nearly every major disease, from heart disease and cancer to neurodegeneration, especially as they decline with age. What if we could slow or even reverse that decline by giving cells fresh, healthy mitochondria? That’s the promise of mitochondrial transplantation—a groundbreaking approach Mitrix Bio is pioneering.

In this episode, I talk with CEO Tom Benson about the science, the potential, and the early results from people already lining up for their trial.

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/tbenson

Find me: https://x.com/aasthajs

My longevity products: https://www.livelongerworld.com/p/2024

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Injecting new mitochondria into your body

01:39 - Mitochondria’s evolutionary role in aging

04:35 - What happens to old mitochondria?

06:18 - Why humans live longer than other animals

11:30 Why cardiovascular disease is #1 killer

12:30 - Why does the brain remain sharp with age?

15:30 Why does energy decline after age 30?

19:04 Why doesn’t the body correct mitochondrial mutations?

22:42 Mitochondrial defects in children

24:14 Diagnostics for mitochondrial health

27:36 Mitochondrial DNA is eternal

33:18 Where does mitochondria come from in mitochondrial transplantation?

34:59 Growing mitochondria in a bioreactor

39:07 How neurons grow their mitochondria

40:52 Mitochondrial theory of cancer

44:23 Mitochondria and psychobiology

48:32 Chemotherapy and radiation damage mitochondria

50:38 Evidence that mitochondrial transplantation works

56:06 Caloric restriction, sauna, sunlight, and mitochondria

1:00:01 Mitochondria and races

1:02:57 Why stop at 130 years old?

1:04:48 Why might this not work?

1:10:03 Volunteers for Mitrix trial

AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:

X: https://x.com/aasthajs

Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/

Mitrix Bio:

https://mitrix.bio/

Tom Benson: https://mitrix.bio/team/tom-benson/

RELATED:

New Spin to the Free Radical Theory of Aging: https://www.livelongerworld.com/p/ros

Keto & Metabolic Therapy for Cancer | Dr. Thomas Seyfried: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tYdjcJ3G4tqbAx9Z6Bix2?si=biOOH1e5RpeZduLJv2fPHw

Boost Mitochondria with Sunlight and Infrared light: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jGfhzX1P245LU2kLwgHTq?si=yPOC3bViRnmOUeR-P0jeWA

Can we detect cancer so early such that we find the very first cell of cancer? Not just stage 1 cancer, but the first cell of cancer.

In this episode, Dr. Michael Levin and I speak with Dr. Azra Raza. She is an oncologist pioneering early detection of cancer using electric signals. So far, our best solution to curing cancer has been to detect it early, and she wants to take this further, by nipping cancer at the very first cell.

Her story with cancer is also deeply personal as she lost her husband to the disease. You can see in the episode how much she cares about solving cancer through early detection, and how aggrieved she is about the fact that not only have we made zero progress on cancer in the last 100 years, but doctors are also not focused on cancer prevention.

Dr. Raza is also the author of the book The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last.

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/araza

Find me: https://x.com/aasthajs

My longevity products: https://www.livelongerworld.com/p/2024

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 New theory of cancer

1:45 What causes cancer?

5:39 Hybrid cells in cancer

11:16 Why do cancer cells become immortal?

14:14 Detecting the first cell of cancer

17:09 Stress causes cancer cells to fuse

21:40 Cancer drugs don’t work universally

25:54 Personalization of early cancer detection

29:29 Detect cancer early using electrics

35:46 Anguish of cancer patients

39:06 Cancer progress hasn’t moved in 100 years

44:04 Doctors don’t think of cancer prevention

46:54 First Cell Therapeutics - Azra’s company

50:55 What is the first cell stage of cancer?

54:55 Advice for cancer patients

AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:

Twitter: https://x.com/aasthajs

Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/

LINKS:

Michael Levin: https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin

Azra Raza: https://azraraza.com/

Azra Raza book The First Cell: https://amzn.to/4jGJzoJ

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/araza

RELATED EPISODES:

Keto & Metabolic Therapy for Cancer | Dr. Thomas Seyfried: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tYdjcJ3G4tqbAx9Z6Bix2?si=gboyPAiLQrqg-y5YEKQiQQ

Why Viruses Could Be the Cause of Chronic Disease | Dr. Paul Ewald: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OdYInlzTy2zG3Mi6TgADY?si=Gnbg7efNSy21bS3q0c23jg

What if chronic diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s are caused by infections we’ve overlooked?

We assume chronic disease is caused by genetics and / or lifestyle. However, evolutionary biologist Dr. Paul Ewald says latent viruses and pathogens play a critical hidden role in many diseases.

For example, we already know that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. And research indicates how the EBV virus shows up in Multiple sclerosis, and chlamydia pneumonia shows in Alzheimer’s. Deeper investigation into viruses and disease is warranted and will help with better diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Paul Ewald is also the author of Plague Time: The New Germ Theory of Disease, and Evolution of Infectious diseases. Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/pewaldFind me: https://x.com/aasthajs My longevity products: https://www.livelongerworld.com/p/2024TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Role of infection in chronic disease is neglected

2:40 Role of viruses in Alzheimer’s

10:50 Connections between Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cardiovascular disease

15:57 Genes cannot explain the full reason for disease

20:47 Strong association between Alzheimer’s, chlamydia pneumonia, and APOE4

28:16 Multiple sclerosis and EBV virus

35:08 Latent viruses may in fact be active & cause cancer

41:41 Sexually- transmitted pathogens correlated with cancer

46:50 Viruses that cause cancer (EBV & breast cancer)

53:09 Hodgkin’s lymphoma and virus

57:15 Stanford study showing EBV as leading cause of MS

1:00:19 Do viruses attack the mitochondria and cause cancer

1:01:38 Glioblastoma and virus / antiviral treatment

1:07:07 Virus vs. oncogenes causing cancer

1:14:17 Breast cancer BRAC1 mutations & virus association

1:15:59 Vaccines against viruses

1:17:56 Practical steps if you test positive for infectious viruses

1:24:57 Could cancer relapse be due to persistent virus

1:27:48 Protect the immune system

1:29:38 Areas Dr. Ewald is excited aboutAASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:X: https://x.com/aasthajs Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/PAUL EWALD LINKS:Plague Time: The New Germ Theory of Disease: https://amzn.to/3FXjOSuEvolution of Infectious diseases: https://amzn.to/3FYaqOvEpisode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/pewaldALSO WATCH:Keto & Metabolic Therapy for Cancer | Dr. Thomas Seyfried: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tYdjcJ3G4tqbAx9Z6Bix2?si=biOOH1e5RpeZduLJv2fPHw

What if our cells have memory and cognition, which changes how medicine is done?

In this conversation with Dr. Pamela Lyon and Dr. Michael Levin, we discuss:

- Cognition and creativity is not merely associated with the brain and nervous system

- Implications of this view of cognition for regenerative medicine and longevity

- Is stress response the source of our creativity?

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/plyon

Find me: https://x.com/aasthajs

My longevity products: https://www.livelongerworld.com/p/2024

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Intro, Basal cognition

1:00 Our view of cognition is incorrect

8:50 What does biology have to say about cognition?

12:12 Cognition in xenobots

14:20 Cognition and cooperation in microbes

30:03 Bioelectricity and cognition

33:58 Is stress response the source of our creativity?

43:27 Mike’s paper: Stress-sharing as a cognitive glue

47:31 Implications of cognition not only being associated with brain

56:55 Cognition in AI

1:02:33 View of cognition in the East

AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:

Twitter: https://x.com/aasthajs

Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/

LINKS:

Michael Levin: https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin

Pamela Lyon: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/pamela.lyon#

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/plyon

ALSO WATCH:

Michael Levin & Denis Noble on What Biology Needs to Advance Longevity: https://open.spotify.com/episode/49WaTa4Vl67FU4zjjX1H6F?si=x1rjzVocS2OjSVdxpzNt5g

We’re only just waking up to the benefits of sunlight and red light for mitochondrial health, lowering blood glucose, and potentially treating Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

Dr. Glen Jeffery is at the leading edge of this research.

We discuss:

- Health benefits of sunlight and red light

- Harmful effects of blue light & LEDs

- In the 2nd half of the podcast, I ask him rapid fire practical questions that everyone wants to know about light, ranging from how much sunlight should one get to what time of day is best for infrared light exposure.

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/gjeffery

Find me: https://x.com/aasthajs

TIMESTAMPS: 0:00

Intro

0:59 Light impact on public health

3:08 Light research is understudied, mitochondria is impacted by light

6:05 Red and blue light impacts on mitochondria

8:25 Benefits of red light - wound healing, lower glucose

15:09 Are there downsides to red light?

16:59 Does time of day impact red light benefits?

22:05 Red light and cancer

26:00 Blue light is making you pre-diabetic

37:46 n=1 light experiments

39:22 Mitochondria & Longevity

46:21 “Sunlight offers a unique package”

Rapid fire questions:

53:40 Is sunlight good enough for red light?

55:10 How much sunlight do we need?

56:07 When should you get sunlight?

56:55 Should you worry about afternoon sunlight?

58:57 Can you get sunlight on cloudy days?

59:38 Does sunscreen mitigate benefits of sunlight?

1:00:12 Should you not wear caps and sunglasses in sunlight

1:01:43 Clothing and sunlight

1:05:52 Sunlight through window?

1:06:16 Are blue light blocking glasses helpful? (see 1:19:31 for more context)

1:08:17 Do Artificial sunlight lamps work?

1:08:51 What wavelength red light is the best?

1:10:56 Time in front of red light device

1:12:41 Body exposure to red light

1:15:37 Lighting at home at night

1:19:31 Differences in blue light for mitochondria vs. circadian biology

1:24:18 Stop using LEDs

1:25:24 Does light impact the bioelectrics of the mitochondria?

1:26:55 Mitochondria in melatonin mop up ROS

1:31:29 Benefits of fire light?

1:35:33 Open questions on light and health

1:37:28 Support Live Longer World

AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:

X: https://x.com/aasthajs

Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/

DR. GLEN JEFFERY:

Bio page: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/7465-glen-jeffery/publications

ALSO WATCH:- Keto & Metabolic Therapy for Cancer | Dr. Thomas Seyfried: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tYdjcJ3G4tqbAx9Z6Bix2?si=rHlCwLVqQHqiOB7yTVBtgQ

Dr. Thomas Seyfried challenges the existing paradigm that says cancer is a genetic disease. He says that instead cancer is caused by damage to the mitochondria. Understanding this completely overturns the management and prevention of cancer.

He is a Professor of biology, genetics, and biochemistry at Boston College. He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and is also the author of books such as, ‘Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer’.

WE DISCUSS:

- Why cancer is not a genetic disease

- Why cancer is a metabolic disease originating from damage to the mitochondria

- How metabolic therapy, management of glucose and glutamine, can be used to manage cancer

- His December 2024 paper outlining a proposal for ketogenic metabolic therapy in glioblastoma

Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/tseyfried

TIMESTAMPS:

5:04 Origins of somatic mutation theory of cancer

8:04 Mitochondrial damage causes cancer

13:42 Is mitochondrial dysfunction involved in every cancer

16:14 Mitochondria in cancer cells ferment

21:52 Target glucose and glutamine to manage cancer

28:51 Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy for cancer

31:04 December 2024 study: Role of glutamine in cancer

33:35 Can metabolic therapy be done at any stage of cancer

36:44 Combine chemotherapy with metabolic therapy

38:05 Drugs to target glutamine

40:30 People will say “I want metabolic therapy”

44:04 “Failure to understand biology”

47:48 National Cancer Institute’s take on Dr. Seyfried’s theory

49:34 Why does Peter Attia think cancer is a genetic disease

53:09 “I think about this 24/7; we’re right!”

55:56 Glioblastoma treatment protocol study

59:22 Resistance to breakthrough ideas in science

1:01:40 Radiation fuels cancer!

1:04:52 Current standard of care is responsible for poor survival rate in glioblastoma

1:07:14 Metabolic therapy for epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s

1:12:22 How to prevent cancer

1:13:49 Young, healthy individuals in their 20s, 30s with cancer

1:15:05 Resources on following metabolic therapy

1:17:43 How to support Dr. Seyfried’s research

1:18:51 New cancer questions Dr. Seyfried is researching

1:21:32 Closing thoughts

Denis Noble and Michael Levin - two great minds in biology come together on Live Longer World.

The gene-centric view has failed us in advancing progress on many diseases, and we need to now take a systems based approach focused on functional networks within biological systems.

Michael Levin is an American developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University, where he is the Vannevar Bush Distinguished Professor. His research is focused on bioelectricity and he is my co-host for this podcast.

0:10 Denis’s journey to systems biology; cell voltage is a global property of the cell

3:45 Advice to young researchers pursuing systems biology

7:00 “Absolutely everything is wrong with Neo-Darwinism”

14:10 Epigenetic inheritance

19:12 Genetic vs. other information used by organisms

23:48 Biology textbooks have to expand beyond DNA in 50 years

25:03 Epigenetic processes are ubiquitous

28:58 If not DNA, what is the blueprint of life

36:15 Rewriting biology textbooks is fundamental

39:57 “A lot of time has been wasted” (in biology)

46:52 Darwin on the “Origin of Species”

55:38 “Unfortunate that Philosophy and science have diverged”

1:00:31 Importance of Functional networks; DNA does not predict disease

This interview is part of my series with Dr. Michael Levin where we interview significant people in the history of developmental bioelectricity.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/