Your weekly longevity insights are here.

Ozempic protects more than your waistline — it might be your brain’s new best friend.

At this rate, your prescription could come with a free crossword puzzle and a sudoku app.

Don’t keep longer. a secret—share it with your friends!

This week in longevity:

• 🪜 Stair climbing slashes risk of early death

• 🥕 Carrots linked to younger biological age

• 🧠 Missing enzyme speeds immune aging

• 🦶 Smart insoles track health via your steps

• 🧴 Peptide cream reverses skin aging signs

• Plus, more longevity breakthroughs.

Read time: 5 minutes

THIS WEEK IN LONGEVITY

🧠 Ozempic-like drugs may help protect your brain too

Drugs like Ozempic, originally used to treat diabetes, might also lower your risk of developing dementia. New research looked at how these glucose-lowering medications affect the brain and found that some may reduce chances of cognitive decline. With dementia cases expected to rise sharply in the coming decades, this is promising news for people with type 2 diabetes.

What to know:

• GLP-1 drugs show promise: Medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Ozempic) may lower the risk of all-cause dementia and cognitive decline by up to 45%.

• Two big studies agree: Researchers from Ireland and Florida analyzed data from nearly 560,000 people with type 2 diabetes using different types of glucose-lowering drugs.

• Not all drugs equal: GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is (another diabetes drug) showed brain benefits, but others didn’t reduce dementia risk.

• Dementia types matter: These drugs didn’t lower the risk for specific dementias like Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia in some studies—more research is needed.

• Who benefits: People with type 2 diabetes taking these newer heart-protective drugs may get brain benefits too—but effects might vary by drug.

Why it’s important: Dementia can sneak up slowly, and there’s no cure yet. But if a diabetes med can also keep your brain sharp, that’s a double win. As these drugs become more common, they might offer more than just blood sugar control—they could help protect memory and thinking too.

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🪜 Climbing stairs might actually help you live longer

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator could seriously boost your heart health—and even extend your life. New research shows that stair climbing cuts the risk of dying early by 24% and slashes the chance of dying from heart problems by 39%. And the best part? Even short bursts count, making this an easy habit to work into your day.

What to know:

• Big health impact: Stair climbing is linked to a 24% lower risk of early death and 39% lower risk of heart-related death.

• Quick wins count: Even short bouts—like a few flights—offer real heart benefits.

• Study stats: Data came from 9 studies involving over 480,000 people, aged 35–84, both healthy and with past heart issues.

• Simple and free: No gym required. It’s one of the easiest ways to get more daily movement.

• Who it helps: Everyone! Whether you’re healthy or have a heart history, stair climbing can benefit you.

Why it’s important: Most of us don’t get enough exercise, but we all pass stairs every day. Choosing stairs over the elevator is a small move that can pay off big in the long run. It’s free, fast, and doesn’t need a workout plan—just a little extra effort that your heart will thank you for.

💡 Want to break down a research article? Try this prompt in ChatGPT:
“Explain this in plain language. Avoid science terms. Keep it under 5 sentences. Then give 5 takeaways based only on this summary—no extra info or guesses: [Paste the article here]”

 MONEY MOVES IN LONGEVITY

💰 Science Corp. raises $104M to develop brain and retina implants for restoring vision and neural function — a major Neuralink rival.

💰 Seveno Capital launches with $70M to fund wellness retreats like A Cabin Company, focused on healthspan.

💰 M42 x Juvenescence team up to build AI-powered aging therapies targeting root causes of aging.

💰 HepaRegeniX gets €21.5M to advance a liver regeneration drug (HRX-215) that avoids tumor risks.

 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

1. Carrots May Help You Stay Biologically Younger
A new study using data from over 23,000 people found that higher blood levels of beta-carotene (a plant pigment found in carrots and sweet potatoes) are linked to a younger biological age. Researchers from China saw improvements in markers like DNA health and inflammation, especially in overweight and obese adults. While it’s not proof of cause, the findings add weight to the idea that diet can slow aging.

2. Missing Enzyme Speeds Up Immune System Aging
UCSD and UC Irvine researchers found that a drop in a key enzyme called ELOVL2 speeds up immune aging by blocking the growth of B cells (the white blood cells that make antibodies). ELOVL2 helps create DHA, a healthy fat that keeps cell membranes strong and flexible. Without it, both mice and older adults had fewer working immune cells, pointing to new ways to slow immune aging.

3.  Smart Insoles Turn Your Steps Into Health Data
Researchers from Ohio State and China developed solar-powered smart insoles that track how you move—no charging needed. The insoles use sensors and AI to spot walking patterns and pressure points that could help prevent foot ulcers and track diseases like Parkinson’s. They work after just six minutes in the sun, making daily health checks as easy as a walk.

NEXT-GEN LONGEVITY

A Clinic Treating Aging Like a Medical Condition

Lanserhof Sylt sits on a remote German island—but this isn’t a spa.

For €4,000 (plus lodging), guests fast, get diagnostics, oxygen therapy, and gut-focused treatments to lower inflammation and slow aging. Dr. Jan Stritzke says poor gut health and chronic inflammation drive early aging—and his team treats them as medical issues, not trends.

It’s intense (broths, teas, and chewing each bite 40 times), but reflects a growing belief: aging isn’t inevitable—it can be slowed.

QUICK HITS

🚀 Escape Velocity: Futurist Peter Diamandis says we’re nearing “longevity escape velocity” — where science adds more than a year to your life annually. His $111M Healthspan XPRIZE, with 620 teams, aims to reverse aging by 2030.

💊 Heart Helper: A major trial shows the new pill form of semaglutide cuts heart and stroke risk by 14% in people with type 2 diabetes. The once-daily oral option matches injection benefits, with easier access.

🧪 Enzyme Effect: UCSD and UC Irvine found that loss of enzyme ELOVL2 speeds immune aging by blocking B cell growth. It also raises risk for age-related blood cancers by altering key gene activity.

🧴 Skin Signal: A 12-week trial found a topical peptide cream (OS-01) improved skin and lowered aging markers in women aged 60–90. Users showed reduced inflammation and no biological aging, while the control group aged 0.75 years.

🧠 Chip Leap: A brain implant let a paralyzed woman livestream thoughts as speech using AI in just three seconds. Researchers say mind-controlled tech is nearing, with “brain Bluetooth” and memory implants expected within a decade.

WHAT WE’RE BOOKMARKING

📱 Social

🎧 Podcasts

📰 Articles

⚙️ Tools to Try

Thanks for reading.

See you in the next issue.

Anna

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.