Content Library Articles Longevity Journal

Age better by harnessing the power of sirtuins

September 17, 2019

Have you ever stopped to think about what you want aging to look like for your unique body?

It might be easy to automatically jump to a fantasy of never aging at all, but if we take time to set our actual standards for aging we’re more likely to reach them. For example, I want to be able to hike and ski with my kids decades from now; I want to stay sharp and physically able long past the age of 100.

While we have seen clear evidence in certain health and lifestyle choices to help us age well—like a diet rich in plants, exercise, and a loving community—we’re starting to learn even more about the biological mechanisms that we can harness to work in our favor.

Sirtuins are a great example of the emerging knowledge that can help us age optimally. These are proteins that can prevent disease and even reverse the signs of aging. What’s really cool is that sirtuins can be activated by certain compounds like resveratrol and NAD that we can get through certain foods or supplements.

Animal studies have shown that the right sirtuin-activating compounds can improve organ function, physical endurance, resistance to disease, and overall longevity. Sirtuins are also implicated in addressing diseases like cancer, neurodegeneration, and insulin resistance. This is sure to be an area we’ll hear much more about in the coming years.

My guest on last week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. David Sinclair, is an expert in sirtuins and anti-aging research. Using the latest science along with other proven methods for healthy aging, David was able to reverse his biological age by 20 years.

Throughout our conversation, we talk more about sirtuins, as well as senescent “zombie” cells, which produce inflammatory secretions that can damage tissues. They can also recruit healthy cells, making more senescent cells, creating somewhat of a zombie army that will accelerate aging and disease risk.

Luckily, habits like intermittent fasting and exercise can reduce senescent cells, as well as compounds like quercetin. We dig into more of the details of what we can do to fight senescent cells in this episode.

Dr. Sinclair and I also discuss additional supplements that can help the aging process, sauna therapy, and so much more. Aging doesn’t have to be a one-way street; learn how to start reversing the process to reach your own longevity goals, starting today.

I hope you’ll tune in.