Morning, long-lifers. Here’s what’s new:

Sitting too long shrinks your brain — even if you’re a gym regular. Turns out, you can’t out-run your office chair — your brain still knows you spent all day bonding with your desk.

Even your Apple Watch is quietly judging you for “crushing” those steps between the couch and fridge.

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

This week in longevity:

• 🧬 Lost cleanup protein linked to skin aging

• 🏃‍♂️ Quick exercise bursts cut dementia risk 40%

• 🚴‍♀️ Peloton adds longevity workouts

• ⌚ WHOOP tracks aging speed with new health metric

• 🏆 $101M contest to reverse aging

• Plus, more longevity breakthroughs.

Read time: 5 minutes

THIS WEEK IN LONGEVITY

🚶‍♂️ Less sitting, sharper brain

Sitting too much may shrink your brain — even if you’re crushing your workouts. A 7-year study of older adults found that long hours in a chair sped up brain aging, especially in memory-related areas. The kicker? Most participants already met recommended exercise levels. Your morning jog won’t cancel out 13 hours on the couch.

What to know:

• Sitting linked to brain shrinkage: More sedentary time meant faster loss of brain volume in areas tied to memory and Alzheimer’s risk.

• Even active people were affected: 87% of participants met CDC exercise guidelines — but it didn’t protect their brains from the effects of sitting.

• Worse memory and thinking speed: More sitting was tied to poorer performance on tests of memory and processing speed.

• Some people were more vulnerable: Those with higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s saw even more brain decline from sitting.

• Brain scans told the story: Researchers used wearables and MRI over 7 years, finding clear patterns of thinning in critical brain regions.

Why it’s important: This flips the script on what we thought about “earning” sedentary time through exercise. Daily movement — even low-effort walking or standing — matters for your brain. Turns out, it’s not just what you do at the gym, but what you do between reps.

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🧬 The skin-aging fix might be a lost cleanup protein

Scientists have discovered that restoring levels of a little-known protein, p62 — which helps cells clean up waste — might help prevent skin cells from aging. Unlike other aging targets, p62 is something the body needs and loses with time. Think of it as essential maintenance, not a risky reboot.

What to know:

• p62 declines with age: This protein helps with cell cleanup (autophagy) and is found in lower amounts in older skin.

• Without it, skin ages fast: Mice lacking p62 developed thin, wrinkled, inflamed skin — even when young.

• Protects against damage: Cells with higher p62 levels resisted UV damage and became senescent (aged) more slowly.

• A gentler approach: Unlike other strategies that kill off damaged cells, boosting p62 may prevent them from aging in the first place.

• Still early days: No drugs or supplements target p62 yet, and we don’t know what long-term effects might look like.

Why it’s important: Skin aging isn’t just about vanity — it’s a visible sign of what’s happening inside our cells. This study offers a glimpse at a possible future where we slow aging by restoring what’s lost, not removing what’s broken. A tune-up, not a teardown.

💡 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

💰 Trilobio raises $8M to scale its robotic lab-in-a-box — no pipette left behind.

💰 BrightFocus Foundation awards $13M in aging research grants — mind and sight get a vital shot in the arm.

💰 Alchemab signs $415M licensing deal with Lilly for ALS antibody ATLX-1282 — resilience pays in full.

💰 HAYA Therapeutics lands $65M to advance RNA-guided fibrosis drugs — rewriting the dark genome, line by line.

 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

1. Estrogen-linked proteins power muscle repair
Salk researchers revealed that estrogen-related receptors help muscles grow mitochondria, the power plants that fuel movement. Activating these receptors may restore energy in people with aging-related or genetic mitochondrial disorders. Your muscles might not care about estrogen, but these receptors sure pack a punch.

2. New tool maps how fast your body’s aging
UW researchers created the Health Octo Tool, which uses eight metrics from exams and lab tests to estimate biological age. It outperforms traditional tools in predicting disability and death risk, offering a fuller picture of aging. Think of it as a Fitbit for your organs—smart, specific, and built for the long haul.

3. Missing mineral may speed up aging
A Berlin study found that low blood levels of selenium, a nutrient that helps protect cells and support immunity, were tied to faster biological aging. This strengthens links between selenium deficiency and higher risks of disease and death. Tiny but mighty—selenium might just be your aging insurance.

THE NEXT BIG THING

Pedal Past Your Prime

A new class series is coming—not just to sweat, but to stay strong as you age.

Peloton is adding Mobility & Strength for Longevity to its wellness lineup, blending movement and strength training to support functional health over time. It’s designed for anyone who wants to age better: older adults, returning athletes, and everyday users looking to move well for years.

New direction for Peloton or just a content experiment?

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

🧬 Lifespan Code: Israeli scientists found protein “tags” in long-lived animals that control aging through metabolism and DNA repair. They’re now testing if copying these changes in mice can safely extend human lifespan.

🧫 Gut Refresh: Repeated transfers of young gut microbiota improved coordination, metabolism, and gut barrier strength in aging mice. While lifespan gains weren’t significant, key aging markers were clearly rejuvenated.

🏃‍♂️ Brain Boost: Just a little high-intensity exercise—like brisk walking where you can’t sing—can cut dementia risk by up to 40%. A new study finds even small bursts improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and keep aging brains sharp.

🏆 Aging Race: XPRIZE Healthspan picked 100 teams from 58 countries to restore brain, muscle, and immune function. Backed by $101M, the contest now enters trials aiming to add 10 healthy years to older adults’ lives.

⌚ Vital Shift: WHOOP’s new 5.0 and MG wearables track aging pace, hormonal cycles, and detect heart issues like AFib. With medical-grade sensors and healthspan scores, WHOOP pivots from fitness to full-body longevity.

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.