Medications & supplements

In our practice, we organize longevity tactics into five domains — one of which I call ‘exogenous molecules,’ a fancy way of talking about medications, supplements, hormones, or any other formulated molecule you put into your body. Although powerful, this tactic can be challenging to discuss as it is highly individual. So instead of telling you to “take X” or “never take Y,” I find it more beneficial to approach this tactic with a 3-part framework:
(1) What is the objective? The more clearly you can define your objective, the more clearly you can assess if this is the right tool for accomplishing that objective
(2) Is there a biomarker? How do you plan to customize, track, and adjust your treatment over time? If there is no biomarker to monitor as a measure of effectiveness, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the supplement or medication; it just means you may need to be more intentional around monitoring results in other ways.
(3) Does the risk outweigh the reward? Everyone has a different tolerance for risk. Some questions to consider when weighing risk vs. reward: What is the mechanism of action? How many patient years of use exist? What are the short-term and long-term risks of taking the medication? What are the risks of not taking the medication?
Below is a collection of past content discussing some common supplements, medications, and other treatments.

Risks

Guest Episode

Brain lipidology: understanding APOE, cholesterol homeostasis, Alzheimer's disease risk, and the effects of lipid-lowering therapies on brain health

Ep. #395 with Tom Dayspring, M.D.

Sleep

Podcast Episode

Sleep pharmacology: the role of medications in healthy sleep, the promise of emerging therapies, and the evidence for common sleep supplements

Ep. #394

Medications & supplements

Premium Article

Growth hormone for musculoskeletal system repair

Medications & supplements

AMA

#393 ‒ AMA #85: A guide to medications and supplements: determining what to take, what to skip, and how to know if they’re working for you

Risks

AMA

Family health history, preventing heart disease, metabolic health, strength training efficiency, dementia risk reduction, NAD supplements, and hydration

Ep. #390 (AMA #84)

Medications & supplements

Free Article

Disappointing results from the first rapamycin-plus-exercise trial

Medications & supplements

AMA

Peptides—evaluating the science, safety, and hype in a rapidly growing field

Ep. #387 (AMA #83)

Medications & supplements

Free Article

Updated cardiovascular guidelines—statin use in patients as young as 30

Ask Me Anything (AMA)

AMA

Applying the tools of longevity in the real world: disease prevention, DEXA scans, artificial sweeteners, injury recovery, stability training, habit formation, protein intake and mTOR activation, and more

Ep. #385 (AMA #82)

Risks

Podcast Episode

Special episode — Obicetrapib: The CETP inhibitor with cardiovascular benefits and potential Alzheimer's prevention

Ep. #384

Longevity

AMA

Biological aging tests, longevity training, emerging therapies, GLP-1 RAs, sun exposure, and more

Ep. #383 (AMA #81)

Longevity

AMA

Longevity optimization through strength benchmarks, VO₂ max targets, nutrition principles, brain health, supplements, GLP-1 RAs, wearables, and more

Ep. #382 (AMA #80)

Medications & supplements

Premium Article

GLP-1 Drugs Fail to Slow Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease

Medications & supplements

Free Article

Metformin misses the mark?

Medications & supplements

Premium Article

Navigating the complex relationship between statins, GLP-1, and glycemic control

Exercise

Guest Episode

Women’s health and performance: how training, nutrition, and hormones interact across life stages

Ep. #378 with Abbie Smith-Ryan, Ph.D.

Longevity

AMA

Longevity interventions, exercise, diagnostic screening, and managing high apoB, hypertension, metabolic health, and more

Ep. #376 (AMA #78)

Nutrition

Guest Episode

The ketogenic diet, ketosis, and hyperbaric oxygen: metabolic therapies for weight loss, cognitive enhancement, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, brain injuries, and more

Ep. #375 with Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D.

All other tactics, tolls, & treatments

Guest Episode

The evolutionary biology of testosterone: how it shapes male development and sex-based behavioral differences

Ep. #374 with Carole Hooven, Ph.D.

Medications & supplements

Free Article

Cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 drugs independent of weight loss

Risks

Guest Episode

Thyroid function and hypothyroidism: why current diagnosis and treatment fall short for many, and how new approaches are transforming care

Ep. #373 with Antonio Bianco, M.D., Ph.D.

Medications & supplements

Free Article

Warning label requirements on hormone replacement products are soon to be lifted

Medications & supplements

Guest Episode

Women’s sexual health: understanding desire, arousal, and orgasms, navigating perimenopause with contraceptives and hormone therapy, enhancing sexual comfort and satisfaction, and more

Ep. #371 with Sally Greenwald, M.D., M.P.H.

Longevity

AMA

Peter evaluates longevity drugs, aspirin for CVD, and strategies to improve muscle mass — promising, proven, fuzzy, noise, or nonsense?

Ep. #370 (AMA #76)