Understanding science Archives - Peter Attia https://peterattiamd.com/category/understanding-science/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:48:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://peterattiamd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-apple-icon-32x32.png Understanding science Archives - Peter Attia https://peterattiamd.com/category/understanding-science/ 32 32 A common nasal decongestant appears to be ineffective, so what alternatives exist? https://peterattiamd.com/nasal-decongestants/ Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=32368 Despite a long history of use for decongestion, oral phenylephrine may soon disappear from cold and allergy medications due to a lack of efficacy.

The post A common nasal decongestant appears to be ineffective, so what alternatives exist? appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> How can the process of drug development be improved? https://peterattiamd.com/drug-development/ Sat, 15 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=32314 Insights as to why so many drug candidates fail to make it through the development pipeline, and how certain strategies might help

The post How can the process of drug development be improved? appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> A nuanced and multifaceted approach to longevity research https://peterattiamd.com/beyond-randomized-controlled-trials/ Sat, 18 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=31885 While randomized controlled trials remain the gold standard, understanding their limitations is crucial for advancing longevity science

The post A nuanced and multifaceted approach to longevity research appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> Research Worth Sharing, December 2024 Edition https://peterattiamd.com/research-worth-sharing-december-2024/ Sat, 21 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=31292 Type 2 diabetes in youths, extending organ viability, preventative ovary removal, “dark genome” therapeutics, and vascular impacts on physical decline

The post Research Worth Sharing, December 2024 Edition appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> #329 ‒ Special AMA: Peter on exercise, important labs, building good habits, promising longevity research, and more https://peterattiamd.com/specialama/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=31196 In this special episode of The Drive, Peter tackles a wide range of listener questions submitted over the past year. The discussion spans essential topics such as exercise—covering grip strength, traveling workouts, and why Peter doesn’t consider exercise an ideal weight-loss strategy—and the top biomarkers everyone should track. He also explores promising new longevity research,…

The post #329 ‒ Special AMA: Peter on exercise, important labs, building good habits, promising longevity research, and more appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> When caution becomes concerning: the relationship between health anxiety and mortality https://peterattiamd.com/health-anxiety-and-mortality/ https://peterattiamd.com/health-anxiety-and-mortality/#comments Sat, 14 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=31214 Health awareness exists on a spectrum in which both extremes can be damaging to health and well-being

The post When caution becomes concerning: the relationship between health anxiety and mortality appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/health-anxiety-and-mortality/feed/ 2 A rational look at a sensationalized sugar study https://peterattiamd.com/sugar-restriction-in-early-life/ https://peterattiamd.com/sugar-restriction-in-early-life/#comments Sat, 07 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=31019 A recent study has triggered alarm over the finding that restricting sugar in the first 1000 days of life protects against diabetes and hypertension in later life, but this conclusion hardly constitutes reliable advice

The post A rational look at a sensationalized sugar study appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/sugar-restriction-in-early-life/feed/ 7 Oldies-But-Goodies, December 2024 Edition https://peterattiamd.com/email-roundup-december-2024/ https://peterattiamd.com/email-roundup-december-2024/#comments Sat, 30 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=30729 A collection of past newsletters on topics including hearing loss prevention, a randomized trial on exercise and lifespan, using a cognitive bias to improve goal achievement, air pollution, and the impact of dietary protein on muscle protein synthesis

The post Oldies-But-Goodies, December 2024 Edition appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/email-roundup-december-2024/feed/ 6 #326 – AMA #65: Red light therapy: promising applications, mixed evidence, and impact on health and aging https://peterattiamd.com/ama65/ https://peterattiamd.com/ama65/#comments Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=30417 “Most people who are proponents of red light therapy point to cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) as the main target, and therefore the mediating effect of the biologic impact of red light.” —Peter Attia

The post #326 – AMA #65: Red light therapy: promising applications, mixed evidence, and impact on health and aging appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/ama65/feed/ 14 #325 ‒ Peter’s key takeaways on bone health, calorie restriction and energy balance, dopamine and addiction, gene editing, and testosterone therapy safety with a prostate cancer diagnosis | Quarterly Podcast Summary #3 https://peterattiamd.com/qps3/ Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:45:29 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=29848 “I suspect that that will be the challenge of the next decade or two. It'll be less about what is technically possible and more about what is ethically defensible.” —Peter Attia

The post #325 ‒ Peter’s key takeaways on bone health, calorie restriction and energy balance, dopamine and addiction, gene editing, and testosterone therapy safety with a prostate cancer diagnosis | Quarterly Podcast Summary #3 appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> Radical extension of the human lifespan, science fiction or reality? https://peterattiamd.com/lifespan-extension/ https://peterattiamd.com/lifespan-extension/#comments Sat, 09 Nov 2024 12:00:58 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=28606 Humanity may be reaching the limits of lifespan extension that are possible through treatment of chronic disease, but the door is still open for future advances in aging biology itself

The post Radical extension of the human lifespan, science fiction or reality? appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/lifespan-extension/feed/ 1 #323 – CRISPR and the future of gene editing: scientific advances, genetic therapies, disease treatment potential, and ethical considerations | Feng Zhang, Ph.D. https://peterattiamd.com/fengzhang/ https://peterattiamd.com/fengzhang/#comments Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:45:13 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=28051 “One of the promises of gene editing is that it can provide a single treatment that is a cure for the disease.” —Feng Zhang

The post #323 – CRISPR and the future of gene editing: scientific advances, genetic therapies, disease treatment potential, and ethical considerations | Feng Zhang, Ph.D. appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/fengzhang/feed/ 2 Beyond the headlines: evaluating exercise as an equivalent to medication for the treatment of depression and anxiety https://peterattiamd.com/exercise-versus-medication-for-depression-and-anxiety/ Sat, 19 Oct 2024 11:00:52 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=27205 Popular media has circulated news of a study allegedly showing that exercise is preferable to medication as a treatment for anxiety and depression, but is this interpretation justified?

The post Beyond the headlines: evaluating exercise as an equivalent to medication for the treatment of depression and anxiety appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> Research Worth Sharing, October 2024 Edition https://peterattiamd.com/research-worth-sharing-october-2024/ Sat, 12 Oct 2024 16:00:29 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=27037 Using biofeedback to reach weight loss goals, preventing falls with exercise, the impact of social support on stress eating, and an atlas of data on changes related to muscle aging

The post Research Worth Sharing, October 2024 Edition appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> Do humans age in distinct rapid bursts instead of gradually over time? https://peterattiamd.com/is-human-aging-gradual/ Sat, 05 Oct 2024 11:00:41 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=26783 A recent study makes use of multi-omics data to establish patterns of human aging, but results have dubious relevance on an individual scale

The post Do humans age in distinct rapid bursts instead of gradually over time? appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> #319 ‒ Peter’s key takeaways on liver health, heart rate variability, AI in medicine, klotho, and lactate metabolism | Quarterly Podcast Summary #2 https://peterattiamd.com/qps2/ https://peterattiamd.com/qps2/#comments Mon, 30 Sep 2024 08:45:49 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25847 “In humans, klotho is indeed a longevity gene. More klotho from the gene means longer life, better cognition. Take it away, shorter life, worse cognition.” —Peter Attia

The post #319 ‒ Peter’s key takeaways on liver health, heart rate variability, AI in medicine, klotho, and lactate metabolism | Quarterly Podcast Summary #2 appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/qps2/feed/ 6 #317 ‒ Reforming medicine: uncovering blind spots, challenging the norm, and embracing innovation | Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. https://peterattiamd.com/martymakary3/ https://peterattiamd.com/martymakary3/#comments Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:45:24 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25820 “One of the most important qualities of a physician is humility, knowing your limits, and having the self-awareness that you could be wrong.” —Marty Makary

The post #317 ‒ Reforming medicine: uncovering blind spots, challenging the norm, and embracing innovation | Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/martymakary3/feed/ 11 A study suggesting that exercise does not impact mortality offers little more than click-bait https://peterattiamd.com/does-exercise-impact-mortality/ Sat, 14 Sep 2024 11:00:39 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25840 Challenges to long-held knowledge makes for attention-grabbing headlines, but not necessarily good science. Excuse me while I scream.

The post A study suggesting that exercise does not impact mortality offers little more than click-bait appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> Back on the merry-go-round of bad science regarding meat consumption https://peterattiamd.com/meat-consumption-and-diabetes/ Sat, 24 Aug 2024 11:00:01 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25725 A new observational study has reported positive associations between meat intake and type 2 diabetes risk, but let’s repeat: correlation is not causation.

The post Back on the merry-go-round of bad science regarding meat consumption appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> #314 ‒ Rethinking nutrition science: the evolving landscape of obesity treatment, GLP-1 agonists, protein, and the need for higher research standards | David Allison, Ph.D. https://peterattiamd.com/davidallison2/ https://peterattiamd.com/davidallison2/#comments Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:45:11 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25662 “I think we really need a radically different public health paradigm.” —David Allison

The post #314 ‒ Rethinking nutrition science: the evolving landscape of obesity treatment, GLP-1 agonists, protein, and the need for higher research standards | David Allison, Ph.D. appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/davidallison2/feed/ 7 Oldies-But-Goodies, August 2024 Edition https://peterattiamd.com/email-roundup-august-2024/ Sat, 03 Aug 2024 11:00:52 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25577 A collection of past newsletters on topics including the influence of bias versus noise, problems with vitamin D literature, muscle mass and cognition, the effects of late-night snacking, and a case study in cardiovascular health

The post Oldies-But-Goodies, August 2024 Edition appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> #309 ‒ AI in medicine: its potential to revolutionize disease prediction, diagnosis, and outcomes, causes for concern in medicine and beyond, and more | Isaac Kohane, M.D., Ph.D. https://peterattiamd.com/isaackohane/ https://peterattiamd.com/isaackohane/#comments Mon, 15 Jul 2024 08:45:54 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25435 “What I'm excited about is the opportunity for new businesses and new ways of delivering to patients insights that are data-driven.” —Zak Kohane

The post #309 ‒ AI in medicine: its potential to revolutionize disease prediction, diagnosis, and outcomes, causes for concern in medicine and beyond, and more | Isaac Kohane, M.D., Ph.D. appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> https://peterattiamd.com/isaackohane/feed/ 1 Research Worth Sharing, July 2024 Edition https://peterattiamd.com/research-worth-sharing-july-2024/ Sat, 06 Jul 2024 11:00:28 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25412 Early detection of dementia via effective connectivity mapping, the geroprotective potential of pentadecanoic acid, bacteria that convert blood to ABO-universal, a novel target for cancer immunotherapy, and expandable intragastric capsules for treating obesity

The post Research Worth Sharing, July 2024 Edition appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]> Oldies-But-Goodies, May 2024 Edition https://peterattiamd.com/email-roundup-may-2024/ Sat, 25 May 2024 11:00:26 +0000 https://peterattiamd.com/?p=25184 A collection of past newsletters on topics including continuous glucose monitors, fish oil, nutritional epidemiology, fostering meaningful friendships, and traffic safety

The post Oldies-But-Goodies, May 2024 Edition appeared first on Peter Attia.

]]>