Dr. Eric Verdin

So think about, you know, we're not going to change the fact that we're living in oxygen or that there is gravity and gamma rays surrounding us. But what had not been appreciated is the degree to which we resist these forces. For example, if you're lacking DNA damage repair, which is one of the consequences of gamma irradiation or UV irradiation,

you're going to live to about 20 years old and you're going to show in those 20 years a very accelerated form of aging. And so what people had not appreciated, again, is this idea of all of these repair mechanisms and how we can actually activate them. So what happened about 20, 25, 30 years ago is the identification of a whole series of mutations that could actually increase lifespan.

you're going to live to about 20 years old and you're going to show in those 20 years a very accelerated form of aging. And so what people had not appreciated, again, is this idea of all of these repair mechanisms and how we can actually activate them. So what happened about 20, 25, 30 years ago is the identification of a whole series of mutations that could actually increase lifespan.

you're going to live to about 20 years old and you're going to show in those 20 years a very accelerated form of aging. And so what people had not appreciated, again, is this idea of all of these repair mechanisms and how we can actually activate them. So what happened about 20, 25, 30 years ago is the identification of a whole series of mutations that could actually increase lifespan.

And so this ran counter to everything we had ever thought about biology. People thought about mutation that's typically deleterious. You get a mutation, you get a disease. And here were a number of mutations that were identified in animal models, in C. elegans, the little worm that we study, or in fruit flies or in mice, they could actually double your life expectancy.

And so this ran counter to everything we had ever thought about biology. People thought about mutation that's typically deleterious. You get a mutation, you get a disease. And here were a number of mutations that were identified in animal models, in C. elegans, the little worm that we study, or in fruit flies or in mice, they could actually double your life expectancy.

And so this ran counter to everything we had ever thought about biology. People thought about mutation that's typically deleterious. You get a mutation, you get a disease. And here were a number of mutations that were identified in animal models, in C. elegans, the little worm that we study, or in fruit flies or in mice, they could actually double your life expectancy.

So that really put the whole world of aging up on its head and highlighted the potential of identifying novel interventions, including lifestyle or drugs, that could actually significantly increase lifespan. Initially, of course, these findings were met with a lot of resistance. People thought, well, this is an exception. This is only applying to sea elegans or to fruit flies or mice.

So that really put the whole world of aging up on its head and highlighted the potential of identifying novel interventions, including lifestyle or drugs, that could actually significantly increase lifespan. Initially, of course, these findings were met with a lot of resistance. People thought, well, this is an exception. This is only applying to sea elegans or to fruit flies or mice.

So that really put the whole world of aging up on its head and highlighted the potential of identifying novel interventions, including lifestyle or drugs, that could actually significantly increase lifespan. Initially, of course, these findings were met with a lot of resistance. People thought, well, this is an exception. This is only applying to sea elegans or to fruit flies or mice.

But over the last 20 years, the work has really shown that there are a large number of genes and proteins that you could target and interfere with that will result in an increase in lifespan and healthspan. And we are right now at a stage where this is slowly percolating into humans.

But over the last 20 years, the work has really shown that there are a large number of genes and proteins that you could target and interfere with that will result in an increase in lifespan and healthspan. And we are right now at a stage where this is slowly percolating into humans.

But over the last 20 years, the work has really shown that there are a large number of genes and proteins that you could target and interfere with that will result in an increase in lifespan and healthspan. And we are right now at a stage where this is slowly percolating into humans.

And I predict the next 10 to 20 years are going to be transformative in our ability to bring all of this basic knowledge on the biology of aging to humans.

And I predict the next 10 to 20 years are going to be transformative in our ability to bring all of this basic knowledge on the biology of aging to humans.

And I predict the next 10 to 20 years are going to be transformative in our ability to bring all of this basic knowledge on the biology of aging to humans.

Yes, it is. You're completely right. This is a really exciting time. As a physician, and by training, I went to medical school, even though I did most of my career in research, I've always, you know, once a physician, always a physician. So I've always been intrigued by the relevance of what we're studying in these animal models to humans.

Yes, it is. You're completely right. This is a really exciting time. As a physician, and by training, I went to medical school, even though I did most of my career in research, I've always, you know, once a physician, always a physician. So I've always been intrigued by the relevance of what we're studying in these animal models to humans.

Yes, it is. You're completely right. This is a really exciting time. As a physician, and by training, I went to medical school, even though I did most of my career in research, I've always, you know, once a physician, always a physician. So I've always been intrigued by the relevance of what we're studying in these animal models to humans.

And it is truly an exciting time, this idea that something that we've always thought was ineluctable and over which we had little control. is becoming another tractable problem. The excitement that you see in the field is a reflection of this. One number that I like to remind people of is when we think about our own longevity, many of us have a fatalistic approach to it.