so I’m going to spend a little bit of time telling you about myself but not so
time telling you about myself but not so
time telling you about myself but not so much about my science I’m going to tell
much about my science I’m going to tell
much about my science I’m going to tell you about my youth and one of the things
you about my youth and one of the things
you about my youth and one of the things that really distinguished my youth was
that really distinguished my youth was
that really distinguished my youth was that I got in to major medical issues
that I got in to major medical issues
that I got in to major medical issues when I was born I had a birth defect the
when I was born I had a birth defect the
when I was born I had a birth defect the doctors noticed it as soon as I came out
doctors noticed it as soon as I came out
doctors noticed it as soon as I came out and this led to a lot of surgeries and a
and this led to a lot of surgeries and a
and this led to a lot of surgeries and a lot of time in the hospital and about
lot of time in the hospital and about
lot of time in the hospital and about the age of seven they had been mostly
the age of seven they had been mostly
the age of seven they had been mostly repaired and I thought well now I’ve got
repaired and I thought well now I’ve got
repaired and I thought well now I’ve got that out of the way I can go on and have
that out of the way I can go on and have
that out of the way I can go on and have my normal life well then I got to the
my normal life well then I got to the
my normal life well then I got to the age 22 and I was driving down the
age 22 and I was driving down the
age 22 and I was driving down the highway on an interstate and a drunk
highway on an interstate and a drunk
highway on an interstate and a drunk driver hit me in a head-on collision and
driver hit me in a head-on collision and
driver hit me in a head-on collision and I did basically everything but die so I
I did basically everything but die so I
I did basically everything but die so I had a number of broken bones I broke
had a number of broken bones I broke
had a number of broken bones I broke both legs my nose was torn off I had a
both legs my nose was torn off I had a
both legs my nose was torn off I had a collapsed lung I had a ruptured
collapsed lung I had a ruptured
collapsed lung I had a ruptured diaphragm
diaphragm
diaphragm I was lucky the doctors put me back
I was lucky the doctors put me back
I was lucky the doctors put me back together and the first two weeks of this
together and the first two weeks of this
together and the first two weeks of this recovery process well I don’t really
recovery process well I don’t really
recovery process well I don’t really remember much of it to be honest with
remember much of it to be honest with
remember much of it to be honest with you there was a lot of surgeries I had
you there was a lot of surgeries I had
you there was a lot of surgeries I had 12 pints of blood transfuse at a
12 pints of blood transfuse at a
12 pints of blood transfuse at a ventilator there were drugs that had
ventilator there were drugs that had
ventilator there were drugs that had interesting hallucinogenic effects I
interesting hallucinogenic effects I
interesting hallucinogenic effects I guess that was one of the benefits but I
guess that was one of the benefits but I
guess that was one of the benefits but I don’t remember much of that but after
don’t remember much of that but after
don’t remember much of that but after that I started to get my senses back and
that I started to get my senses back and
that I started to get my senses back and everybody said well he doesn’t really
everybody said well he doesn’t really
everybody said well he doesn’t really have a lot of psychological issues out
have a lot of psychological issues out
have a lot of psychological issues out of this and I really didn’t and there
of this and I really didn’t and there
of this and I really didn’t and there was one thought that was going through
was one thought that was going through
was one thought that was going through my head the whole time it was
my head the whole time it was
my head the whole time it was essentially that no matter how bad it is
essentially that no matter how bad it is
essentially that no matter how bad it is in six months I’m gonna get better I’m
in six months I’m gonna get better I’m
in six months I’m gonna get better I’m gonna be walking again I’m gonna make a
gonna be walking again I’m gonna make a
gonna be walking again I’m gonna make a full recovery
full recovery
full recovery and it turns out I was lucky I did
and it turns out I was lucky I did
and it turns out I was lucky I did within a year I had pretty much doing
within a year I had pretty much doing
within a year I had pretty much doing whatever I wanted to do and the only
whatever I wanted to do and the only
whatever I wanted to do and the only thing I really had to remember this is a
thing I really had to remember this is a
thing I really had to remember this is a few scars here and a few scars down well
few scars here and a few scars down well
few scars here and a few scars down well maybe we’re not good enough friends for
maybe we’re not good enough friends for
maybe we’re not good enough friends for that yeah but there’s some other ones as
that yeah but there’s some other ones as
that yeah but there’s some other ones as well so now I’m 50 and if you don’t
well so now I’m 50 and if you don’t
well so now I’m 50 and if you don’t believe me you can ask AARP they just
believe me you can ask AARP they just
believe me you can ask AARP they just notified me and I’m lucky I’m healthy
notified me and I’m lucky I’m healthy
notified me and I’m lucky I’m healthy but if I’m the average person the
but if I’m the average person the
but if I’m the average person the average male looking over the next 20
average male looking over the next 20
average male looking over the next 20 years I’ve got some things that are not
years I’ve got some things that are not
years I’ve got some things that are not so
so
so to look out for I’m going to start
to look out for I’m going to start
to look out for I’m going to start getting chronic diseases and by the time
getting chronic diseases and by the time
getting chronic diseases and by the time I’m 65 I’m going to have three or four
I’m 65 I’m going to have three or four
I’m 65 I’m going to have three or four different chronic diseases we’re talking
different chronic diseases we’re talking
different chronic diseases we’re talking about diabetes Alzheimer’s adult onset
about diabetes Alzheimer’s adult onset
about diabetes Alzheimer’s adult onset cancer cardiovascular disease I can go
cancer cardiovascular disease I can go
cancer cardiovascular disease I can go on and on and the problem here is that
on and on and the problem here is that
on and on and the problem here is that when you start getting those diseases
when you start getting those diseases
when you start getting those diseases you generally don’t make full recoveries
you generally don’t make full recoveries
you generally don’t make full recoveries anymore the doctors do their best they
anymore the doctors do their best they
anymore the doctors do their best they give you things to help you function as
give you things to help you function as
give you things to help you function as well as possible but it’s a slow decline
well as possible but it’s a slow decline
well as possible but it’s a slow decline and that’s really a depressing thought
and that’s really a depressing thought
and that’s really a depressing thought to look forward to and it’s not just
to look forward to and it’s not just
to look forward to and it’s not just depressing for the patients it’s
depressing for the patients it’s
depressing for the patients it’s depressing for the gerontologist that
depressing for the gerontologist that
depressing for the gerontologist that you’re going to someday see because they
you’re going to someday see because they
you’re going to someday see because they want to be the heroes they want to give
want to be the heroes they want to give
want to be the heroes they want to give you back your full function but that’s
you back your full function but that’s
you back your full function but that’s not really what happens with aging it’s
not really what happens with aging it’s
not really what happens with aging it’s depressing for the caregivers you know
depressing for the caregivers you know
depressing for the caregivers you know it made Philip Roth and one of his last
it made Philip Roth and one of his last
it made Philip Roth and one of his last novels say old-age isn’t the battle old
novels say old-age isn’t the battle old
novels say old-age isn’t the battle old age is a massacre well I don’t think
age is a massacre well I don’t think
age is a massacre well I don’t think it’s that bad
it’s that bad
it’s that bad but you know when you look back at the
but you know when you look back at the
but you know when you look back at the medical profession and how they treated
medical profession and how they treated
medical profession and how they treated me I was I got the best of healthcare I
me I was I got the best of healthcare I
me I was I got the best of healthcare I got great doctors they had used creative
got great doctors they had used creative
got great doctors they had used creative strategies and state-of-the-art
strategies and state-of-the-art
strategies and state-of-the-art technology and they saved my life twice
technology and they saved my life twice
technology and they saved my life twice that’s what we’re good at in the medical
that’s what we’re good at in the medical
that’s what we’re good at in the medical profession we’re good at acute problems
profession we’re good at acute problems
profession we’re good at acute problems and emergencies the u.s. is good at that
and emergencies the u.s. is good at that
and emergencies the u.s. is good at that but they’re not so good at the other
but they’re not so good at the other
but they’re not so good at the other side of it which is how do we keep you
side of it which is how do we keep you
side of it which is how do we keep you healthy in the first place how do we
healthy in the first place how do we
healthy in the first place how do we keep you from getting sick how do we do
keep you from getting sick how do we do
keep you from getting sick how do we do health care instead of sick care and if
health care instead of sick care and if
health care instead of sick care and if you want to do that effectively the best
you want to do that effectively the best
you want to do that effectively the best way to do it is to think about what are
way to do it is to think about what are
way to do it is to think about what are the risk factors for these diseases
the risk factors for these diseases
the risk factors for these diseases we’re scared of what are the risk
we’re scared of what are the risk
we’re scared of what are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and
factors for Alzheimer’s disease and
factors for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and cardiovascular
Parkinson’s disease and cardiovascular
Parkinson’s disease and cardiovascular disease let’s deal with those risk
disease let’s deal with those risk
disease let’s deal with those risk factors well I’m here to tell you that
factors well I’m here to tell you that
factors well I’m here to tell you that all of those diseases you’re scared of
all of those diseases you’re scared of
all of those diseases you’re scared of they have one thing in common is the
they have one thing in common is the
they have one thing in common is the biggest risk factor and that’s aging
biggest risk factor and that’s aging
biggest risk factor and that’s aging that and it’s not just you happen to get
that and it’s not just you happen to get
that and it’s not just you happen to get sick when you get old their physiologic
sick when you get old their physiologic
sick when you get old their physiologic changes with aging that enable you to
changes with aging that enable you to
changes with aging that enable you to get these diseases and not suggest that
get these diseases and not suggest that
get these diseases and not suggest that if we could go after aging we could
if we could go after aging we could
if we could go after aging we could prevent multiple diseases
prevent multiple diseases
prevent multiple diseases same time so what I’m here to tell you
same time so what I’m here to tell you
same time so what I’m here to tell you is that we’re on the brink of a medical
is that we’re on the brink of a medical
is that we’re on the brink of a medical revolution for the first time in human
revolution for the first time in human
revolution for the first time in human history I believe it’s going to be
history I believe it’s going to be
history I believe it’s going to be possible to target and slow the aging
possible to target and slow the aging
possible to target and slow the aging process and so that’s really what I’m
process and so that’s really what I’m
process and so that’s really what I’m focused on trying to do and we need to
focused on trying to do and we need to
focused on trying to do and we need to do it by the way about 25% of the
do it by the way about 25% of the
do it by the way about 25% of the population is going to be over the age
population is going to be over the age
population is going to be over the age of 65
of 65
of 65 I mean globally think of all the
I mean globally think of all the
I mean globally think of all the suffering from disease that entails and
suffering from disease that entails and
suffering from disease that entails and not just that think about the effects on
not just that think about the effects on
not just that think about the effects on our economy if we have that many people
our economy if we have that many people
our economy if we have that many people with high healthcare costs that are not
with high healthcare costs that are not
with high healthcare costs that are not working it’s going to be hard to pay the
working it’s going to be hard to pay the
working it’s going to be hard to pay the cost of that if we can keep people
cost of that if we can keep people
cost of that if we can keep people healthy long or extend health span not
healthy long or extend health span not
healthy long or extend health span not lifespan we can have a huge impact on
lifespan we can have a huge impact on
lifespan we can have a huge impact on both of those issues and it’s already
both of those issues and it’s already
both of those issues and it’s already possible in animals even up to primates
possible in animals even up to primates
possible in animals even up to primates we know how to extend lifespan by 20 30
we know how to extend lifespan by 20 30
we know how to extend lifespan by 20 30 40 percent and there are multiple
40 percent and there are multiple
40 percent and there are multiple interventions to do this everything from
interventions to do this everything from
interventions to do this everything from lifestyle to drugs to medical diets to
lifestyle to drugs to medical diets to
lifestyle to drugs to medical diets to supplements these are all candidates for
supplements these are all candidates for
supplements these are all candidates for slowing aging and my goal right now is
slowing aging and my goal right now is
slowing aging and my goal right now is to facilitate testing these things in
to facilitate testing these things in
to facilitate testing these things in humans how do we find out which ones
humans how do we find out which ones
humans how do we find out which ones work in humans and find ways to keep
work in humans and find ways to keep
work in humans and find ways to keep people healthy longer you know we’re on
people healthy longer you know we’re on
people healthy longer you know we’re on the brink of major scientific discovery
the brink of major scientific discovery
the brink of major scientific discovery this is a great time for science just
this is a great time for science just
this is a great time for science just this week we heard that seven new
this week we heard that seven new
this week we heard that seven new planets were discovered from a distant
planets were discovered from a distant
planets were discovered from a distant star that have earth-like qualities so
star that have earth-like qualities so
star that have earth-like qualities so that’s exciting but what’s really
that’s exciting but what’s really
that’s exciting but what’s really exciting is that the technology is
exciting is that the technology is
exciting is that the technology is coming online so that in the next decade
coming online so that in the next decade
coming online so that in the next decade it may be possible to really determine
it may be possible to really determine
it may be possible to really determine whether there’s life on those planets or
whether there’s life on those planets or
whether there’s life on those planets or not extraterrestrial life that’s one of
not extraterrestrial life that’s one of
not extraterrestrial life that’s one of the great questions of all time we’re in
the great questions of all time we’re in
the great questions of all time we’re in the brink of a green energy revolution
the brink of a green energy revolution
the brink of a green energy revolution and it’s going to happen whether a few
and it’s going to happen whether a few
and it’s going to happen whether a few politicians want it to or not and it’s
politicians want it to or not and it’s
politicians want it to or not and it’s going to happen globally and it’s going
going to happen globally and it’s going
going to happen globally and it’s going to change the world and I think slowing
to change the world and I think slowing
to change the world and I think slowing aging is on a par with those kinds of
aging is on a par with those kinds of
aging is on a par with those kinds of discoveries this is the biggest major
discoveries this is the biggest major
discoveries this is the biggest major medical advance of this century and it’s
medical advance of this century and it’s
medical advance of this century and it’s possible we already know that aging is
possible we already know that aging is
possible we already know that aging is malleable you can change aging it’s
malleable you can change aging it’s
malleable you can change aging it’s possible to do it now think about you
possible to do it now think about you
possible to do it now think about you the life trajectories that you typically
the life trajectories that you typically
the life trajectories that you typically have you’re born you grow up you go to
have you’re born you grow up you go to
have you’re born you grow up you go to school
school
school get a job maybe you meet a partner keep
get a job maybe you meet a partner keep
get a job maybe you meet a partner keep working have some kids switch jobs a
working have some kids switch jobs a
working have some kids switch jobs a couple times pretty soon you have
couple times pretty soon you have
couple times pretty soon you have grandkids and then you start thinking
grandkids and then you start thinking
grandkids and then you start thinking about what’s going to happen as you get
about what’s going to happen as you get
about what’s going to happen as you get older and maybe you start getting sick
older and maybe you start getting sick
older and maybe you start getting sick everybody this is ingrained as natural
everybody this is ingrained as natural
everybody this is ingrained as natural and everyone psyche because it’s thought
and everyone psyche because it’s thought
and everyone psyche because it’s thought to be a natural process but what if you
to be a natural process but what if you
to be a natural process but what if you could change that you know I want to see
could change that you know I want to see
could change that you know I want to see like the sixty year old person that just
like the sixty year old person that just
like the sixty year old person that just has a grandkid decided they want to join
has a grandkid decided they want to join
has a grandkid decided they want to join a rock band I think these things are
a rock band I think these things are
a rock band I think these things are possible if we can really slow aging I
possible if we can really slow aging I
possible if we can really slow aging I was doing a major medical debate a major
was doing a major medical debate a major
was doing a major medical debate a major debate an Oxford style debate recently
debate an Oxford style debate recently
debate an Oxford style debate recently in New York and the question you have a
in New York and the question you have a
in New York and the question you have a question in one of these debates and you
question in one of these debates and you
question in one of these debates and you have to argue for or against so the
have to argue for or against so the
have to argue for or against so the questions is lifespans are long enough
questions is lifespans are long enough
questions is lifespans are long enough and you might not be surprised to know
and you might not be surprised to know
and you might not be surprised to know that I was on the against side of that
that I was on the against side of that
that I was on the against side of that argument and so we were having this
argument and so we were having this
argument and so we were having this argument and this ethicist who was
argument and this ethicist who was
argument and this ethicist who was debating me said you know I’m not sure
debating me said you know I’m not sure
debating me said you know I’m not sure we want a lot of older people around
we want a lot of older people around
we want a lot of older people around because older people are conservative
because older people are conservative
because older people are conservative they’re not progressive they’re not
they’re not progressive they’re not
they’re not progressive they’re not innovating anymore they’re not doing the
innovating anymore they’re not doing the
innovating anymore they’re not doing the new things that we need for society and
new things that we need for society and
new things that we need for society and you know I kind of had a negative
you know I kind of had a negative
you know I kind of had a negative reaction to that but I hadn’t really
reaction to that but I hadn’t really
reaction to that but I hadn’t really thought about it before so afterwards I
thought about it before so afterwards I
thought about it before so afterwards I went and really started to look at what
went and really started to look at what
went and really started to look at what the what the research on this is and it
the what the research on this is and it
the what the research on this is and it turns out that in questionnaires and
turns out that in questionnaires and
turns out that in questionnaires and things like that older people do tend to
things like that older people do tend to
things like that older people do tend to be more conservative but there’s a
be more conservative but there’s a
be more conservative but there’s a reason for it and it’s a very practical
reason for it and it’s a very practical
reason for it and it’s a very practical reason it’s that they feel like they
reason it’s that they feel like they
reason it’s that they feel like they have to live in the present because they
have to live in the present because they
have to live in the present because they don’t think they have that much future
don’t think they have that much future
don’t think they have that much future left if you start telling people when
left if you start telling people when
left if you start telling people when they’re 80 what happens if you had an
they’re 80 what happens if you had an
they’re 80 what happens if you had an extra 20 years of health in your life
extra 20 years of health in your life
extra 20 years of health in your life they start coming up with all kinds of
they start coming up with all kinds of
they start coming up with all kinds of creative thoughts this is a practical
creative thoughts this is a practical
creative thoughts this is a practical issue it’s not a physiologic issue it’s
issue it’s not a physiologic issue it’s
issue it’s not a physiologic issue it’s possible to change this now there’s this
possible to change this now there’s this
possible to change this now there’s this old saying that when if you’re young and
old saying that when if you’re young and
old saying that when if you’re young and you’re not a liberal you don’t have a
you’re not a liberal you don’t have a
you’re not a liberal you don’t have a heart but if you’re older and you’re not
heart but if you’re older and you’re not
heart but if you’re older and you’re not a conservative you don’t have a brain
a conservative you don’t have a brain
a conservative you don’t have a brain well I think we can change this because
well I think we can change this because
well I think we can change this because I think if we can really slow aging what
I think if we can really slow aging what
I think if we can really slow aging what we’re going to find is that we’re going
we’re going to find is that we’re going
we’re going to find is that we’re going to have creative experienced people that
to have creative experienced people that
to have creative experienced people that have a strong heart and a strong brain
have a strong heart and a strong brain
have a strong heart and a strong brain and they’re going to change the world
and they’re going to change the world
and they’re going to change the world they get older this is entirely possible
they get older this is entirely possible
they get older this is entirely possible it’s going to take effort it’s going to
it’s going to take effort it’s going to
it’s going to take effort it’s going to take some money and it’s really what I’m
take some money and it’s really what I’m
take some money and it’s really what I’m devoting myself to as a scientist going
devoting myself to as a scientist going
devoting myself to as a scientist going forward
forward
forward thank you
”
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