Healthy Longevity

Imagine flushing your engine oil and coolant to make an old car run like new; now imagine doing that for your bloodstream. That's the idea behind therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), a treatment for autoimmune and blood disorders that's now being explored as a tool to slow biological aging and clear the body of inflammatory buildup. In this episode of Healthy Longevity, Brad Younggren, MD, CEO and co-founder of Circulate Health, joins the show to unpack groundbreaking new research co-conducted with the Comite Center showing that TPE can measurably reduce microplastic levels in human blood. Younggren, a former U.S. Army combat physician who served in Iraq and was awarded a Bronze Star, walks through how his path from the battlefield to health tech led him to Circulate, what actually happens during a plasma exchange session, and why he believes rigorous data (not hype) should drive the longevity field forward. You'll learn… Circulate's newly published trial found that patients with high microplastic burden saw a significant reduction in circulating plastics after therapeutic plasma exchange. Microplastics don't just enter the body through plastic bottles and food containers. Inhalation and even certain stretchy clothing fabrics may be significant sources. Regional water sources may meaningfully affect a person's baseline plastic exposure. The federal government recently issued a $144 million grant (STOMP) to accelerate research into the health effects of micro and nanoplastics. Why Younggren believes blood-based PFAS testing may better reflect the body's true "forever chemical" burden than standard urine tests. How Younggren's early career, including pioneering one of the first FDA-cleared mobile ultrasound devices and championing telemedicine before it was mainstream, shaped his approach to bringing new medical technology to patients responsibly.

  If you've ever misplaced your keys or cell phone or forgotten the name of a friend you've known for decades, you've probably wondered, "is it early dementia?" Fear of cognitive decline is at an all-time high. A few years back, an AARP survey found that nearly half of adults over age 40 believe they will likely develop dementia. And Alzheimer's Disease International reports nearly 80% of the public is worried about the disease. Are you? Brain fog, memory loss, and dementia are among the seven common patterns of aging I write about in my new book, Invincible: Defy Your Genetic Destiny to Live Better, Longer, because so many people are concerned, and there are steps you can take today to minimize risk.  On today's podcast, I'm delighted to welcome one of the leading experts in the field of brain longevity--board-certified neurologist, Dr. Sheldon Jordan, who is visiting us from Santa Monica, California where he has the private practice—Neurological Associates, The Interventional Group. Dr. Jordan is also the founder of The Regenesis Project, a clinical research initiative focused on advancing brain health, neurological regeneration, and interventions that target the biology of aging and neurodegeneration. Disclaimer: This podcast has not been approved by the FDA. The information in this presentation is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

We return to Healthy Longevity for Part 2 of our discussion about brain health with special guest neurologist Shelly Jordan, MD.  In this segment, Drs. Comite and Jordan talk about inflammation in the brain, natural killer cells, the APOE4 gene variant, and advanced imaging techniques for predicting cognitive decline. Dr. Jordan also summarizes the practical steps you can take to optimize your brain power, including building muscle through resistance training, improving your sleep, managing your environment, even controlling the air you breathe, and avoiding ingesting microplastics that can make their way to the brain. 

Imagine taking your own stem cells from your hair follicles, preserving and banking them to rejuvenate your hair and skin when you start to notice those annoying signs of aging in the mirror. This is not science fiction; it's happening right now, and you will learn all about it in today's episode of Healthy Longevity from my guest biomedical engineer Drew Taylor, PhD, CEO of the regenerative medicine company Acorn Biolabs. 

Want to perform better tomorrow at anything you do? Then get a good night's sleep tonight. "Sleep plays a critical role in restoration for humans; it is the housekeeping process for our physiology that allows us to restore and start the next day," says sleep expert Sahil Chopra, MD, today's guest on Healthy Longevity with Florence Comite MD.             Dr. Chopra is co-founder and chief medical officer for Empower Sleep, a virtual sleep care program that makes personalized multi-night sleep analysis and treatment accessible from home.             Nearly 40% of adults report falling asleep during the day without meaning to at least once a month. Also, an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans have chronic, or ongoing, sleep disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "If people don't sleep well, the likelihood of having cardiovascular disease … is higher, the possibility of cancer is six-fold higher," says Chopra. "Growth hormone levels are lower; cortisol dysregulation is higher. Circadian rhythms, if they are misaligned, result in a compromised metabolic state. REM sleep plays a critical role in emotional stability."             If you're suffering from brain fog or nodding off at your desk after lunch, you'll want to tune in to discover how to dramatically improve your health and health trajectory by improving your sleep habits.   You'll learn: * Sleep debt builds slowly, so you may not recognize what it's doing to you. * Why a one-night sleep study is not an effective way to diagnose a sleep disorder. * Sleep trackers like Empower Sleep's medical-grade ring and consumer models like the Oura Ring provide patients with real-time analysis of their sleep quality in their own bed without spending a restless night in a sleep lab wired to a machine. * Poor sleep is a gut punch, affecting the gut microbiome by disrupting the GI tract's normal nightly slow-down, which allows its epithelial lining to repair and recover. * Lack of sleep compromises the immune system. Studies show that sleep-deprived people (getting four to six hours of sleep) don't respond to vaccines as well as people who get adequate sleep (seven to eight hours). * During deep sleep stages, blood flow to the brain peaks through the glymphatic system, which clears the beta amyloid and tau proteins that are believed to play a role in Alzheimer's dementia. * What to do an hour before bedtime and within 15 minutes of waking to reset a healthy circadian rhythm. * Remedies for restless leg syndrome, including new technology that stimulates nerves in the legs to make the brain think that your lower limbs are moving. * And much more!   About Florence Comite, MD Dr. Comite began her medical journey at Yale University School of Medicine and continued at Yale with a residency in medicine. She completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology (multidisciplinary training incorporating pediatrics, gynecology, and andrology) at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She remained at the National Institutes of Health as a senior clinical research associate before joining the Yale faculty as an associate professor in endocrinology. During her 25-year faculty tenure, Dr. Comite founded and directed Women's Health at Yale. In 2005, she launched her bespoke medical practice, Comite Center for Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity, in New York City and subsequently expanded offices to Palo Alto and Miami Beach. Through her medical practice and decades of clinical research, Dr. Comite recognized that all humans have inherited a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism (a glucose disorder leading toward diabetes), which is accelerated by aging and the natural decline of the hormones testosterone and estrogen, which begins around age 30. Dr. Comite's podcast delivers the truth about your health—that age-related disease begins early in life at the cellular level. By slowing and even reversing the biological aging process, we can stay active and in great health for life. She interviews renowned physicians, researchers, and thought leaders offering surprising insights and practical tips that listeners can use to improve their own health trajectory.      

Longevity isn't just a roll of the genetic dice; it's something you can actively shape. By building a plan to expand your healthspan, you're investing in your future self, ensuring that as you age, you continue to feel strong, keep your brain sharp, and live life to the fullest. Being proactive is the point of longevity medicine, which takes the best parts of conventional healthcare and wellness and helps you play an active role in your health like never before, says Delphine Le Grand, an entrepreneur in the booming longevity space. Delphine is a bridge builder, fostering partnerships with early-stage companies and longevity physicians to bring personalized, preventative care models to market. Join my conversation with Delphine as we explore this "cultural moment" that longevity medicine is currently enjoying and how it will impact you. You'll learn: ·       The longevity medicine ecosystem is still in its infancy, but hang on for an explosion of technology, bioscience breakthrough, and more that will make living well beyond 100 years common. ·       The first step in building a plan to lengthen your healthspan to match your lifespan is to know your body and understand what it's telling you at the cellular level. ·       Bio data is important but knowing what to do with that information to improve your health is essential. And that's the piece of the puzzle that's missing—unless you know where to look. ·       The biggest breakthrough in reducing chronic cardiometabolic disease will come from reversing the carbohydrate metabolism disorder that affects 99 percent of human beings. ·       To improve your health tomorrow, discover what's holding you back from living in optimal health today. Is it poor sleep, unhealthy eating, insufficient exercise, or stress? Identify your nemesis and overcome it.   About Florence Comite, MD Dr. Comite began her medical journey at Yale University School of Medicine and continued her training there with a residency in medicine. She completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology (multidisciplinary training incorporating pediatrics, gynecology, and andrology) at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She remained at the National Institutes of Health as a senior clinical research associate before joining the Yale faculty as an associate professor in endocrinology. During her 25-year faculty tenure, Dr. Comite founded and directed Women's Health at Yale. In 2005, she launched her bespoke medical practice, Comite Center for Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity, in New York City and, subsequently expanded offices to Palo Alto and Miami Beach. Through her medical practice and decades of clinical research, Dr. Comite recognized that all humans have inherited a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism (a glucose disorder leading toward diabetes), which is accelerated by aging and the natural decline of the hormones testosterone and estrogen, which begins around age 30. Dr. Comite's podcast delivers the truth about your health—that age-related disease begins early in life at the cellular level. By slowing and even reversing the biological aging process, we can stay active and in great health for life. She interviews renowned physicians, researchers, and thought leaders, offering surprising insights and practical tips that listeners can use to improve their own health trajectory.   Next on Healthy Longevity with Florence Comite Aug. 19:  Dean Ornish, MD, world-renowned pioneer of lifestyle medicine, on practical steps to reverse chronic disease.

Trouble with arousal or orgasm? Low (or no) libido? Dryness and painful intercourse? Nearly half of all women will experience sexual dysfunction or intimacy issues like these at some point in their lives. Men suffer from some of these problems, too. But it doesn't have to be that way. Advances in sexual health medicine offer exciting new solutions for these common obstacles to a healthy (and hot) sex life. Today's Healthy Longevity guest is Carolyn DeLucia, MD, a former OBGYN, who's now helping thousands of women and men rekindle their sexuality at her practice, The Secret Orchid, in Hillsborough, NJ. Dr. DeLucia uses non-surgical techniques such as laser and sound-wave therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and hormone optimization to jumpstart libido, increase vaginal lubrication, achieve more intense orgasms, and improve overall self-confidence and satisfaction. Join me as we explore the new medicine of sexual pleasure.   You'll learn: ·       Today, women are much more open about their sexual health, thanks to social media, but there's far too much misinformation online (some of it dangerous, most of it useless). Get your advice from experts who understand the science and recognize that every human is unique. ·       Sexual health problems are more common than you might think. Sixty percent of women experience vaginal atrophy. A third of women suffer from urinary incontinence and 45 percent of them refrain from intimacy due to the shame. ·       Instead of doing thousands of Kegels every day, laser therapy and electromagnetic stimulation of the pelvic floor strengthen the muscles surrounding the bladder and improve urinary control. ·       In addition to boosting a woman's libido, testosterone cream applied to the back of the knee helps women put on lean muscle and lose fat. (An oral testosterone pill is currently being tested.) ·       Os and Ahhs: A PRP therapy called the "O-Shot," improves blood flow and lubrication, increases sex drive, heightens arousal, and makes orgasms more intense. The O-Shot involves taking a small amount of blood from the arm and processing it to concentrate platelet-rich plasma, which is injected into the numbed clitoris, labia, and G-spot. The result: improved blood flow and lubrication, increased sex drive, heightened arousal, and more intense orgasms. A similar PRP therapy, the "P-Shot," is available for male sexual dysfunction. ·       Part of helping women remain active and willing participants in their intimate lives is keeping their partner active, too. ·       An active sex life is terrific for building self-esteem and overall health.     About Florence Comite, MD Dr. Comite began her medical journey at Yale University School of Medicine and continued with at Yale with a residency in medicine. She completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology (multidisciplinary training incorporating pediatrics, gynecology, and andrology) at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She remained at the National Institutes of Health as a senior clinical research associate before joining the Yale faculty as an associate professor in endocrinology. During her 25-year faculty tenure, Dr. Comite founded and directed Women's Health at Yale. In 2005, she launched her bespoke medical practice, Comite Center for Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity, in New York City and, subsequently expanded offices to Palo Alto and Miami Beach. Through her medical practice and decades of clinical research, Dr. Comite recognized that all humans have inherited a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism (a glucose disorder leading toward diabetes), which is accelerated by aging and the natural decline of the hormones testosterone and estrogen, which begins around age 30. Dr. Comite's podcast delivers the truth about your health—that age-related disease begins early in life at the cellular level. By slowing and even reversing the biological aging process, we can stay active and in great health for life. She interviews renowned physicians, researchers, and thought leaders offering surprising insights and practical tips that listeners can use to improve their own health trajectory.

    A decade ago, the idea of a drug that could tackle obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease sounded like pure science fiction. Today, thanks to peptides like Ozempic and Zepbound, it's a reality and a lifeline to the more than 90 percent of Americans who have metabolic disease. In this episode, Dr. Comite discusses GLP-1s and other "booster shots to preventive medicine" with Rudy Eberwein, MD, founder of A New You Wellness in Miami, who specializes in weight loss, hormone optimization, and longevity. This episode answers many of the questions you may have about improving your healthspan to match your lifespan. You'll learn… ·      * That Eberwein believes only 7 percent of the U.S. population is metabolically healthy and Dr. Comite has "never seen a completely healthy human being." ·       * Why doctors Comite and Eberwein believe GLP-1 medications are to healthcare in the 21st century as antibiotics were to saving lives in the 20th century. ·      * That obesity is not a result of a lack of willpower. ·      * About the medication combo that represents the "best one-two punch" against metabolic disease. ·      * About the "exposome," and how it negatively impacts health. ·      * Why Dr. Comite calls muscle "the organ of longevity." ·      * The fears of getting prostate cancer on testosterone therapy are unfounded. ·      * About "iron overload" and the "sweet spot" for iron and ferritin levels.     Upcoming: July 1:  Carolyn DeLucia, MD, a board-certified gynecologist specializing in women's intimacy on non-surgical techniques for improving sexual health. July 15 Brad Jacobs, MD, owner of BlueWave Medicine on wearables, meditation, and psychedelic-assisted therapies.   About Florence Comite, MD Dr. Comite began her medical journey at Yale University School of Medicine and continued at Yale with a residency in medicine. She completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology (multidisciplinary training incorporating pediatrics, gynecology, and andrology) at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She remained at the National Institutes of Health as a senior clinical research associate before joining the Yale faculty as an associate professor in endocrinology. During her 25-year faculty tenure, Dr. Comite founded and directed Women's Health at Yale. In 2005, she launched her bespoke medical practice, Comite Center for Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity, in New York City and subsequently expanded offices to Palo Alto and Miami Beach. Through her medical practice and decades of clinical research, Dr. Comite recognized that all humans have inherited a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism (a glucose disorder leading toward diabetes), which is accelerated by aging and the natural decline of the hormones testosterone and estrogen, which begins around age 30. Dr. Comite's podcast delivers the truth about your health—that age-related disease begins early in life at the cellular level. By slowing and even reversing the biological aging process, we can stay active and in great health for life. She interviews renowned physicians, researchers, and thought leaders, offering surprising insights and practical tips that listeners can use to improve their health trajectory.  

Not unlike your skin, your gums, the periodontal support tissues for your teeth, act as a frontline defense against bacteria and pathogens trying to enter your body. "If your gums are not healthy, you are not healthy," says biologic dentist and periodontal surgeon Alexander Volchonok, DMD, co-founder of TetraHealth Dentistry in New York City. In this episode of Healthy Longevity with Florence Comite, MD, you'll learn that the mouth is the window into the health of your entire body. Bleeding gums, a hallmark of periodontal disease, warn of dysbiosis of the mouth's microbiome  and have many downstream effects that can negatively impact the endocrine system, heart health, and even the brain. Open wide and join us on a fascinating exploration of biologic dentistry, an approach that focuses on the interconnectedness of oral health with the rest of the body. You'll learn… ·       Biologic dentistry uses high-tech diagnostic modalities to test saliva for markers of inflammation and to analyze the DNA of the oral microbiome. ·       High-definition scans can peer below the surface of the gum to the bone, uncovering hidden infections, that may be completely asymptomatic, early enough to prevent advanced disease. ·       Declining oral health is not inevitable with age; you can have a healthy mouth and gums for the rest of your life. ·       Plaques in the heart and blood vessels contain oral bacteria, which traveled there through the bloodstream from "leaky" gums. ·       Oral bacteria can upregulate inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and may play a role in Alzheimer's dementia. ·       Everyone should have a thorough oral screening and consider advanced screening and testing options. ·       The best way to take care of your teeth and gums, according to Volchonok: use an electric toothbrush and a water flosser (like the classic Waterpik).  

Would you want to know if cancer is in your health future? In many cases, detecting cancers early before they metastasize and when they are more easily treated is the key to survival and return to good health. Unfortunately, many aggressive cancers are identified in the later stages of progression, making treatment difficult and sometimes ineffective. Today, however, biomedical companies are racing to develop cancer screening technologies that may ultimately change the trajectory of cancer mortality. Leading that effort is GRAIL with its first-to-market Galleri multi-cancer early detection test, which is awaiting FDA approval. In this episode of Healthy Longevity, Dr. Comite discusses this pioneering test with Eric A. Klein, MD, a distinguished scientist at GRAIL and a long-time urologist and surgical oncologist.  You'll learn… ·       Currently, we can screen for only cervical, breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers.  ·       Standard screening tests only detect 14 percent of cancers. More than 80 percent of people who die of cancer succumb to cancers for which there is no screening. ·       While those current tests reduce mortality, we still lose more than 600,000 patients yearly in the U.S. to cancer. ·       Multi-cancer screening tests like Galleri fill an unmet need for finding the deadliest cancers before they become symptomatic. ·       Cancers growing in the body shed DNA into the bloodstream. These DNA fragments act like a fingerprint of cancer that the Galleri blood test can detect. ·       When a cancer fingerprint is found, the test can predict the type of organ or tissue it is linked to, which can help doctors home in on the most effective treatment. ·       1 in 200 people who take the Galleri test receive a false positive. More than 90 percent of those determined to have cancer will benefit by learning the origin of the cancer.