The Longevity Revolution with Professor Nir Barzilai

It's great to be back for Season 2 of the Biohackher Podcast! I have a great line-up of guests this season for you, and first up is Professor Nir Barzilai.

Professor Nir presented at the Unlock Healthy Longevity Conference at the National University of Singapore in March, and when I heard him speak I knew I had to have him on the pod to share more broadly the work he is doing in spearheading the campaign to lobby the FDA to approve drugs targeted at treating ageing.

Professor Barzilai holds the distinguished positions of Director of the Institute for Ageing Research, Director of the Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Ageing, and the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair of Aging Research. His groundbreaking work has led to the discovery of the first "longevity gene" in humans, providing a genetic key to understanding healthy aging and extreme longevity. This discovery has paved the way for the development of treatments for age-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, currently being tested in clinical trials​.

In addition to his research on longevity genes, Professor Barzilai's work encompasses studying the biological mechanisms of aging, including the role of nutrients and genetics in lifespan, and investigating the declines in physical and mental capacity associated with aging. He serves as a Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) and of Genetics, contributing significantly to our understanding of how these factors affect longevity​​.

Professor Barzilai's contributions to science and medicine are widely recognised. He has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the Beeson Fellow for Ageing Research, the Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar in Ageing Award, and the Paul F. Glenn Foundation Award, among others. His leadership extends beyond research, as he spearheads international efforts to approve drugs targeting aging. A key initiative, Targeting Agieng with METformin (TAME), aims to demonstrate that aging-related multi-morbidities can be delayed, potentially revolutionising how we approach aging and its associated diseases​.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Barzilai's life is marked by remarkable experiences, including serving as chief medic and physician in the Israel Defense Forces, and his humanitarian work in Cambodia and with the Zulu in South Africa.

In exciting recent news, Professor Nir Barzilai has been named president of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research.

Today we cover:

00:30 The Longevity Genes Project
05:17 Chronological Age vs Biological Age
08:57 Metformin and Longevity
13:41 Takeaways for Middle-Aged Women
22:47 Barriers to Aging Research
25:36 Exciting Prospects in Ageing and Longevity
39:02 Advice for Middle-Aged Women
46:36 Living Well Longer

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