Longevity
LongevityLongevity gets a lot of buzz. Maybe people are drawn to the uncertainty—the gamble, the chance to beat the odds. I don’t know. For me, it’s enough to focus on something simpler: not losing function. Bryan Johnson, a venture capitalist and entrepreneur, has taken longevity to an extreme. He has reportedly swapped blood with his son and spends millions tracking and modifying the biological markers of aging. In doing so, Johnson has turned health into a kind of sport. Humans love games—especially ones with scoreboards. He co-created the Rejuvenation Olympics, a competition that ranks participants by how quickly they are aging. It’s open to anyone. Johnson currently holds the No. 1 spot, based on a blood test that claims to measure biological aging speed. Because he’s different, he draws criticism. Johnson calls himself a “rejuvenation athlete” and responds by pointing out that when LeBron James sleeps well, eats carefully, and follows strict recovery protocols, people admire his commitment. Yet Johnson’s efforts provoke skepticism because (he believes) people don’t understand the context. He has now launched a program called Immortals. More than 1,500 people applied for three spots—each costing $1 million annually for access to his methods. If you read my work, you know I also look to original research and clinical evidence for guidance—not unlike Johnson, minus the blood swapping and million-dollar monitoring. Where we differ is environment. Much of his protocol happens indoors, removed from sunlight, mud, wind, rain—the conditions that test and shape real resilience. I’m not saying one approach is right and the other wrong. It comes down to what you want. The difference between what LeBron does and what Johnson does is performance. Johnson’s goal is simple: don’t die. LeBron’s is to remain capable—still competing at the highest level. That’s the kind of longevity I’m after: performance longevity. I don’t want to simply exist, rising with effort from a power recliner. I want to hike, climb, and fly-fish in remote, roadless wilderness for as long as possible. What do you want? With some effort, you can build your own capability with your own protocol. You can discover what helps you age far better than the status quo. You don’t need anything exotic—just insight, mindset, and a plan. Drive grows from knowing your why. When that’s clear, effort shifts from obligation to desire. Nothing can stop you because what used to feel like exertion becomes rhythm. Flow. Longevity MarketingI get messages to join in the longevity buzz all the time: measure your telomeres, sign up for diagnostics that promise more information than I need or want. Here’s the latest. My local gym just added another layer of fluff to entice membership: a full 3D body scan. Their message is: You can now visualize your fitness progress. I understand why they need to do this. I know what I want, and I go after it every day. I don’t need a visual. My fitness comes to life in the wilds of roadless areas. From Last MonthI'll bet these outliers are not signed up for Immortals, 3D body scans or telomere measurement. They probably just go after what is possible full blast, not looking for anything other than performance. This 81-year-old is a world record holder—and he didn’t start training until age 66. His measured VO₂ max was 52.8, a level researchers reported they had never before seen in someone over the age of 80. With equal or greater power and age-defiance is Benjamin Karl, “The oldest individual gold medalist in Winter Olympics history.” What’s possible is not abstract. It’s biological and biological means responsive, adaptable, trainable. The Lancaster Fly-Fishing ShowI will be at the Lancaster Show Author’s Booth at 1:30PM on March 14, and presenting at 3:00PM. Stop by and introduce yourself! Resources and SupportNOTE: I am not paid to mention any resources. I do not have affiliate relations with corporations, individuals or businesses. What serves the body best is multidimensional training. What serves your life and your function best is multidimensional training. I encourage you to find diverse local programs in your library, gyms and yoga studios. I found a new yoga program near me that bills Medicare. You Tube also has a wide variety of options for multidimensional workouts you can do on your schedule. A U.S News excellent explanation of chronological and biological aging with general information that help show how well you are aging. Outdoor adventures serve as practice, performance, and a test of how I am aging. *Red fishing in an Arctic Blast My brief but focused book The Ageless Angler: A Guide to Fly-Fish More as You Age Read more on Substack. Gert in touch with your ideas, suggestions and comments. AARP’s Five Tests That Show How Well You Are Aging The British Journal of Sports Medicine, Successful 10-second one-legged stance performance predicts survival in middle-aged and older individuals. Gert in touch with your ideas, suggestions and comments. Forward this newsletter to anyone you know who may enjoy it. |
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Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Montana Muscle is your engine for aging well. It allows you to climb stairs, carry groceries, pick up the grandchildren hike trails, recover from a stumble, and remain independent. As we age, that engine slowly loses horsepower—but it doesn't have to. Muscle mass shrinks with age. We lose strength and power—all the things that fuel an active life. Beginning around age 35, most adults begin losing muscle at roughly 1–2 percent per year unless they actively work...
In the past, I shared with you research that shows the genetic contribution to health and longevity accounts for an estimated 25% contribution. As recently as 2026, another researcher quantified heritability at 50 %, mentioning that researching human life is challenging and full of confounding factors that are difficult to pin down. My personal experience (and maybe yours too) points directly to this challenge. I have outlived my dad and my older brother by 20-plus years. In addition, my...
One Thing to Age Better One of the most worthwhile efforts I make is cutting through the noise—the pseudo-fitness gadgets, miracle supplements and time-wasting trends. The problem is, most people don’t have the time or the patience to separate what works from what’s nonsense. So I do. At age 40, I needed medical clearance to qualify for arduous duty as a wildland firefighter. Because of my family history—my father died of a heart attack at 53—I was required to pass an exercise stress test. I...