Who wants to live to 150?

As we start a new month, I am going to kick things off with a review of the most recent book I have read.

Lifespan by David Sinclair, was the prefect tonic to get me through what was a miserable January, a masterful book, beautifully written in layman’s terms, which was very easy to follow.

David Sinclair is an Australian Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.

One of the leading innovators of his generation, he has been named by TIME magazine, as one of the “100 most influential people in the world”, and in the top 50 people, who are the most influential in the world, in the healthcare space”.

It is fair to say that he is one of the world’s most famous scientist’s and entrepreneurs, best known for understanding how we age, and how we can reverse it.

I came across David on a podcast before Christmas, and given the fact I am always trying to find a way to improve my own health and understand my own biochemistry a little better, I thought this would be a really interesting book to read.

The outcome being it was more than interesting, and my conclusion is that if you are interested in any way in your health or that of the people around you, then you got to read this book.

“We would die quite quickly without amino acids, the organic compounds that serve as the building blocks for every protein in the human body”.

At the heart of Sinclair’s views is the fact that he see’s ageing, and the fact we all get old, as a disease.

He classifies it as a disease, and his research shows that ageing contributes significantly to the other illnesses and diseases people develop, as we all get that little bit older.

Given the fact he is a scientist, the book goes into some scientific speak where Sinclair throughout, talks about many of the trials and research he has been involved with over the years, which include animals and mice in particular.

It’s fascinating for the reader, as he sets out in some of the lab work by him and his team, how they have been able to actually stop and start the ageing process in mice, and how all of this intellectual property, could be applied to humans allowing us to live well into our hundreds.

It really is a superb read, and completely changes my own perspective on the ageing process, and the fact that it also is a disease, but one we can all play our own part to slow down, and in some cases stop at times.

The book is written in a compassionate tone, and Sinclair returns to one of the key themes often, which is the importance of his own family.

He talks lovingly about his parents, and in particular his dad, who in his 80’s and by taking on board some of his son’s advice and practices, appears to be getting a new lease of life, with increased energy levels, health and motivation.

Sinclair is confident that in the not so distant future, it will be a regular occurrence that humans live to 150 years old.

He believes this is all possible, and not only that, but that humans will be able to experience a good quality of life and will be able to get to know their grandchildren’s children. If true, what an incredible gift that would be.

I am 43 years old, and if I live to 150, then I have another 107 years to go. If i knew my health and energy levels were going to be good, and I wasn’t a burden to those around me, this would be fantastic.

When I was a young boy, I only got to meet and see one of my grandparents, Granny Mc Caffrey, who was brilliant to me, and I learnt alot from her and benefitted greatly from that relationship.

She passed when I was maybe eleven or twelve, but those years spent with her were fantastic. I always wish I had the opportunity to meet my three other grandparents, to see how I would have got on with them, and what they might have been able to teach me.

My two kids today are lucky as they have the benefit of having 4 grandparents, which they relish and they love every opportunity they get to see them.

I know for a fact that by having the 4 grandparents still around, it greatly enriches the lives of my two kids, which is wonderful.

In Sinclairs book, he sets out the science of why he believes people will live longer, and also then some of his own advice around how we can also join the club.

It’s not a shock to me that he advises people to exercise, eat plant based foods, focus on good sleep, along with a range of other lifestyle approaches which will not only enrich your life, but allow you to live longer.

Yet again, it’s all about the environment we keep, and what I have learned now over many years of studying all of this kind of work, is that we are all products of our environment.

So if its a book you are looking for to give you some guidance, inspiration and hope on how you might live a little longer, healthier, happier life, LIFESPAN is that book.

Have a great month everyone,

CD ☘