Dr. Eric Verdin

our ability to repair DNA, to repair proteins, and so on, is also incredibly dependent on energy. So as energy supplies dwindle, our ability to make sufficient energy becomes limiting, then if you have the choice between repairing your DNA or actually walking, your body is going to favor the walking.

And so, so there's, there's, um, there are lots of common threads between all of these variables and, uh, I'm happy to dive into it.

And so, so there's, there's, um, there are lots of common threads between all of these variables and, uh, I'm happy to dive into it.

And so, so there's, there's, um, there are lots of common threads between all of these variables and, uh, I'm happy to dive into it.

Lots of drawers to open there. Yes. So when we think about energy, so let's backtrack. So, you know, we generate energy from essentially burning food in the presence of oxygen. Think about when you throw coals into a fire, if you blow air on it, you know, the fire will get more intense. So this is the same thing. We burn food.

Lots of drawers to open there. Yes. So when we think about energy, so let's backtrack. So, you know, we generate energy from essentially burning food in the presence of oxygen. Think about when you throw coals into a fire, if you blow air on it, you know, the fire will get more intense. So this is the same thing. We burn food.

Lots of drawers to open there. Yes. So when we think about energy, so let's backtrack. So, you know, we generate energy from essentially burning food in the presence of oxygen. Think about when you throw coals into a fire, if you blow air on it, you know, the fire will get more intense. So this is the same thing. We burn food.

carbohydrates, lipids or fats and proteins in the presence of oxygen to generate energy. And this process takes place at many places in the cell, but predominantly in the mitochondria, which, by the way, are sort of commensal bacteria which have become incorporated into our cells. So this is something, a fusion that happens billions of years ago. Quite interesting biology.

carbohydrates, lipids or fats and proteins in the presence of oxygen to generate energy. And this process takes place at many places in the cell, but predominantly in the mitochondria, which, by the way, are sort of commensal bacteria which have become incorporated into our cells. So this is something, a fusion that happens billions of years ago. Quite interesting biology.

carbohydrates, lipids or fats and proteins in the presence of oxygen to generate energy. And this process takes place at many places in the cell, but predominantly in the mitochondria, which, by the way, are sort of commensal bacteria which have become incorporated into our cells. So this is something, a fusion that happens billions of years ago. Quite interesting biology.

So these mitochondria are generating the ATP that we use as energy and also the NAD, which we use as an intermediate form of energy. And we can come back to this later. Now, it turns out that mitochondria numbers dwindle with aging. And their ability to generate energy dwindles with aging. And there are multiple variables that are causing this. Some are mutations in the DNA.

So these mitochondria are generating the ATP that we use as energy and also the NAD, which we use as an intermediate form of energy. And we can come back to this later. Now, it turns out that mitochondria numbers dwindle with aging. And their ability to generate energy dwindles with aging. And there are multiple variables that are causing this. Some are mutations in the DNA.

So these mitochondria are generating the ATP that we use as energy and also the NAD, which we use as an intermediate form of energy. And we can come back to this later. Now, it turns out that mitochondria numbers dwindle with aging. And their ability to generate energy dwindles with aging. And there are multiple variables that are causing this. Some are mutations in the DNA.

So the mitochondria have their own DNA, which is an ancestral bacterial DNA. They accumulate mutations. Their numbers decrease. The NAD levels, which is this critical intermediate dwindles as well. All of these factors lead to a progressive and worsening energy deficit as we age.

So the mitochondria have their own DNA, which is an ancestral bacterial DNA. They accumulate mutations. Their numbers decrease. The NAD levels, which is this critical intermediate dwindles as well. All of these factors lead to a progressive and worsening energy deficit as we age.

So the mitochondria have their own DNA, which is an ancestral bacterial DNA. They accumulate mutations. Their numbers decrease. The NAD levels, which is this critical intermediate dwindles as well. All of these factors lead to a progressive and worsening energy deficit as we age.

So there's a lot of interest in trying to understand how do we reverse this and how do we prevent this from occurring at the first place.

So there's a lot of interest in trying to understand how do we reverse this and how do we prevent this from occurring at the first place.

So there's a lot of interest in trying to understand how do we reverse this and how do we prevent this from occurring at the first place.

Yeah, so as I mentioned, there's loss of mitochondrial number, there's loss of mitochondrial function, and there's loss of mitochondria key metabolites like NAD. And so I think when I think about what can you do, it ranges from lifestyle intervention all the way down to some of the drugs that we're actually working on.