I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of biological age, how “old” your body really is versus what your passport says. When I first heard about DNA methylation tests that claim to measure that, I was hooked. Could we really peek into our own cellular aging?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. David Furman, a leading scientist at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the Director of the Stanford 1000 Immunomes Project. Dr. Furman shares his extensive knowledge on biological age and breaks down the latest technologies in aging science. With decades of expertise, he explains why current biological age tests, especially epigenetic clocks, aren’t as reliable as they may seem, and what advancements are on the horizon.

He explains why inflammation is at the center of age-related diseases and how targeting it could improve our health span, thus helping us not just live longer, but better.

We also touch on some fascinating new technologies, including microgravity-based aging tests, which simulate the effects of aging on cells, revealing how specific organs may age differently.

Plus, we get a glimpse into a smartphone app that can measure inflammation with just a selfie!

Want to learn more about the future of aging and how you can take control of your biological age? Tune in now to hear from one of the leading experts in the field!

Key Takeaways

Introduction (00:00)

Epigenetic tests and their limitations (01:04)

Technical variability and alternative tests (02:28)

Inflammation and aging (05:07)

Trustworthiness and commercial interests (07:53)

Challenges in biological age testing (12:52)

Democratizing aging tests (15:41)

Advanced aging tests (17:17)

Final thoughts and future directions (22:04)

Additional Resources:

✨ Learn more about how to live a long and pain-free life: https://joykongmd.com/ 

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✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_joy_kong/ 

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Dr. Joy Kong is a regenerative medicine and anti-aging expert. Her podcast is part of her mission to reduce suffering and elevate happiness. Join us every week for the latest holistic health insights that will help you live a long and pain-free life.