Outlive is more about "healthspan" - extending the # of years you're physically and mentally capable. Doesn't have to be extreme. Longevity without regard for vitality i.e. keeping people alive for years after they're no longer physically or mentally capable, is the paradigm Attia is trying to shake up. Good book - some low hanging fruit in there.
I listened to Attia on the Huberman podcast and agreed with most of what he had to say. The stuff about cholesterol is important and he is publicising what researchers have known for years, dietary cholesterol does not cause high blood cholesterol. Also cholesterol is not the big deal people think it is, 50% of people who have heart attacks have low cholesterol. "high" cholesterol over age 50 is associated with lower all cause mortality.
The real killer is overconsumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates. Some recent researchers are questioning the amyloid hypothesis of alzheimber's and think it is insulin resistence of the brain.
Eating well need not be oat hulls and wheat chaff. One can eat well and eat very tasty food. I have every intention of living well to 100
Most important thing is to live life. It is something I am learning to do now. I suffer from anxiety and medicate by being on my computer. How I broke free (a bit) was I started getting up from the computer and watching the sunset, then I bought a paddle board and now a few times a week I am on the water at sunset, I live in a community where I can talk to a lot of people (I used to have social anxiety). I live more and more, or at least I try to. I have good genes on both sides of the family and the most important thing for me is to live life. Jared, you honestly are an inspiration to me because you seem to live life to its fullest.
There is one thing about immortality that would be glorious - to experience the sweep of history. The usual literary device for this is the vampire, such as Kostova's THE HISTORIAN. If one could be completely detached from the affairs of the world and cast off the shackles of mortality, to know it is the journey and not the destination.
The first time a friend told me he thought we live too long I was shocked because I agreed - he had put into words a feeling I always had. Now I'm living with metastatic breast cancer and in some ways it is a relief. I am gathering courage to write about it. Thank you for this.
Thanks this essay. While I disagree with the conclusion, I do feel it’s a brilliant synopsis of the opposite view point.
I don’t follow Peter Atia and haven’t read the book but I do agree healthy longevity is viable and socially appropriate goal.
Why? Couple thoughts.
First, the way I think about it is, just health. Health despite age. Who doesn’t want to be healthy? Of course, the side effect of health is longevity. I don’t think health should be that controversial.
Second, as these technologies and therapies roll out that address the underlying causes of chronic age related diseases, governments will pay for them. There is recent precedent for this statement as the NHS is now paying for the GLB-1 inhibitors (skinny jabs).
So, I believe the premise that these treatments will only be available to the rich is misleading. Governments will pay for them and ironically - at least for for the government - they will get a good return on this investment. Eliminating the chronic diseases of aging (80% of healthcare costs) will literally save governments billions per year. Of course, the raccoons in charge will prob nuke these savings but let’s table that for our purposes here.
Finally. Compounding interest. Longer you live, in a healthy state with minimal healthcare costs, the more Benjamin’s you stack up - like Scrooge McDuck. I don’t need to explain that to you.
For those without savings that would benefit from extended periods of compound interest, the government savings from reducing 80% of related health care costs could be reallocated to helping those others out.
At the end of the day it’s about health and kindness. Of course, we can check out anytime and none of this should be mandatory.
Listening to Princess while I write this. So, if I wrote to much, it’s your fault. The music is just too good.
Agree 1,000% with you: We should not play God... and really, we don't have control over our life, we just like to delude ourselves into thinking we do. Like this guy, a famous fitness guru who could do 1,000 sit-ups in 10 minutes and died at the age of 54 in a car crash (https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=132500513). IMO, every time humans mess around with God's creation, we tend to royally f*** up. Extending our lives to 500 years? Growing babies in "breeding chambers" where they have no connection to a human being up until the moment of birth? Dimming the sun because "climate change"? Sure, what could go wrong. We're a species of arrogant dumbasses, and to presume that we will get things right on our own (because we're our own gods) is the height of hubris. You're completely right that this obsession with longevity is an atheist phenomenon. I know zero people of faith who are terrified of death but lots of atheists who are... to the degree that they are contemplating cryogenics, having their heads or full bodies frozen in the hopes that maybe 50 years after their death, someone will thaw them and fix what was wrong with them. As I see it, it's just a money-making Ponzi scheme: take terrified rich people's money and tell them some soothing story on how they will be revived and rejuvenated in the future. Yeah, right. The rest of us choose faith and hope for the mercy of God our Father. I much prefer that to an oversized fridge. On a different note: Amazingly prescient call on Dianne Feinstein, who, I just read, died today (Sept. 29).
I don’t particularly care if I live to be 100, but I very much care that every year I live should be in good mental and physical health. That is what Attia’s book is about. It so happens that the strategies required to live in a healthy state to the end, or very near the end, also potentially add to longevity. My review of the book is one of many that emphasizes this point about healthspan.
Outlive is more about "healthspan" - extending the # of years you're physically and mentally capable. Doesn't have to be extreme. Longevity without regard for vitality i.e. keeping people alive for years after they're no longer physically or mentally capable, is the paradigm Attia is trying to shake up. Good book - some low hanging fruit in there.
^^ this. Would highly recommend reading the book or at least listening to him on the Making Sense podcast if this is your take on longevity.
I listened to Attia on the Huberman podcast and agreed with most of what he had to say. The stuff about cholesterol is important and he is publicising what researchers have known for years, dietary cholesterol does not cause high blood cholesterol. Also cholesterol is not the big deal people think it is, 50% of people who have heart attacks have low cholesterol. "high" cholesterol over age 50 is associated with lower all cause mortality.
The real killer is overconsumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates. Some recent researchers are questioning the amyloid hypothesis of alzheimber's and think it is insulin resistence of the brain.
Eating well need not be oat hulls and wheat chaff. One can eat well and eat very tasty food. I have every intention of living well to 100
Dr. Peter Attia is not just "some dude"
Yeah, this book is about you being more like Pat Sajak than Biden at around the age of 80 if that interests you.
The essay on how Jared discovered his faith will be a battering ram; can't wait.
Most important thing is to live life. It is something I am learning to do now. I suffer from anxiety and medicate by being on my computer. How I broke free (a bit) was I started getting up from the computer and watching the sunset, then I bought a paddle board and now a few times a week I am on the water at sunset, I live in a community where I can talk to a lot of people (I used to have social anxiety). I live more and more, or at least I try to. I have good genes on both sides of the family and the most important thing for me is to live life. Jared, you honestly are an inspiration to me because you seem to live life to its fullest.
Thanks - I laughed so hard at the Biden comment that I spit tea all over my computer. You owe me a keyboard.
There is one thing about immortality that would be glorious - to experience the sweep of history. The usual literary device for this is the vampire, such as Kostova's THE HISTORIAN. If one could be completely detached from the affairs of the world and cast off the shackles of mortality, to know it is the journey and not the destination.
The first time a friend told me he thought we live too long I was shocked because I agreed - he had put into words a feeling I always had. Now I'm living with metastatic breast cancer and in some ways it is a relief. I am gathering courage to write about it. Thank you for this.
I do feel like Jared didn’t really read the book as the point of the book is living a better life as you age, not necessarily living longer
Thanks this essay. While I disagree with the conclusion, I do feel it’s a brilliant synopsis of the opposite view point.
I don’t follow Peter Atia and haven’t read the book but I do agree healthy longevity is viable and socially appropriate goal.
Why? Couple thoughts.
First, the way I think about it is, just health. Health despite age. Who doesn’t want to be healthy? Of course, the side effect of health is longevity. I don’t think health should be that controversial.
Second, as these technologies and therapies roll out that address the underlying causes of chronic age related diseases, governments will pay for them. There is recent precedent for this statement as the NHS is now paying for the GLB-1 inhibitors (skinny jabs).
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/game-changer-weight-loss-injection-26418260.amp
So, I believe the premise that these treatments will only be available to the rich is misleading. Governments will pay for them and ironically - at least for for the government - they will get a good return on this investment. Eliminating the chronic diseases of aging (80% of healthcare costs) will literally save governments billions per year. Of course, the raccoons in charge will prob nuke these savings but let’s table that for our purposes here.
Finally. Compounding interest. Longer you live, in a healthy state with minimal healthcare costs, the more Benjamin’s you stack up - like Scrooge McDuck. I don’t need to explain that to you.
For those without savings that would benefit from extended periods of compound interest, the government savings from reducing 80% of related health care costs could be reallocated to helping those others out.
At the end of the day it’s about health and kindness. Of course, we can check out anytime and none of this should be mandatory.
Listening to Princess while I write this. So, if I wrote to much, it’s your fault. The music is just too good.
Enjoy the weekend
You called Diane Feinstein's death two days early. You must have the shine.
Agree 1,000% with you: We should not play God... and really, we don't have control over our life, we just like to delude ourselves into thinking we do. Like this guy, a famous fitness guru who could do 1,000 sit-ups in 10 minutes and died at the age of 54 in a car crash (https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=132500513). IMO, every time humans mess around with God's creation, we tend to royally f*** up. Extending our lives to 500 years? Growing babies in "breeding chambers" where they have no connection to a human being up until the moment of birth? Dimming the sun because "climate change"? Sure, what could go wrong. We're a species of arrogant dumbasses, and to presume that we will get things right on our own (because we're our own gods) is the height of hubris. You're completely right that this obsession with longevity is an atheist phenomenon. I know zero people of faith who are terrified of death but lots of atheists who are... to the degree that they are contemplating cryogenics, having their heads or full bodies frozen in the hopes that maybe 50 years after their death, someone will thaw them and fix what was wrong with them. As I see it, it's just a money-making Ponzi scheme: take terrified rich people's money and tell them some soothing story on how they will be revived and rejuvenated in the future. Yeah, right. The rest of us choose faith and hope for the mercy of God our Father. I much prefer that to an oversized fridge. On a different note: Amazingly prescient call on Dianne Feinstein, who, I just read, died today (Sept. 29).
Great article. What fun. Enjoyed every minute of it.
Love you, Jared! You are a fantastic writer. I recommend reading Peter’s book. It sounds like you have A LOT in common.
Bob Dylan wrote Forever Young, and it is the best ;)
I don’t particularly care if I live to be 100, but I very much care that every year I live should be in good mental and physical health. That is what Attia’s book is about. It so happens that the strategies required to live in a healthy state to the end, or very near the end, also potentially add to longevity. My review of the book is one of many that emphasizes this point about healthspan.
https://rationalwalk.substack.com/p/outlive-the-science-and-art-of-longevity