215: 9 Hallmarks of Aging – with Dr. Nick Bitz

February 2, 2023/

The Hallmarks of Aging are nine distinct biological mechanisms that have been identified as major drivers behind the aging process. These hallmark systems include:

Genomic instability
Loss of proteostasis (the ability to maintain protein balance).
Deregulated nutrient sensing (metabolism changes with age).
Mitochondrial dysfunction (energy production decreases over time).
Cellular senescence—a state in which cells cease dividing after 40-60 divisions or when damage occurs.
And inflammation and microbiome disturbances, both of which can play significant roles in health decline due to aging.

In this podcast, we interview Dr. Nick Bitz, a Naturopathic Physician that specializes in Ayurvedic medicine.

He is a leading voice in the natural products industry and currently serves as Senior VP of Product Development at Neurohacker Collective.

His areas of expertise include nootropics, anti-aging medicine, biohacking, herbology, nutrition and dietary supplements.

What is Cellular senescence

Cellular senescence is a process by which cells in the body grow old and permanently stop dividing.

It is one of the nine hallmarks of aging, making it an important factor to consider when looking at strategies for slowing down or reversing the aging process.

Exercise, fasting, mimicking diets, low-calorie diets, immune system support, and analytics are all strategies that can be used to target cellular senescence.

Exercise has been shown to reduce biomarkers associated with senescent cells while fasting; mimicking diets can help boost cell repair through autophagy.

A healthy immune system will also facilitate more efficient removal of these lingering old cells from the body.

The connection between brain aging and senescent cells

Nick says: “As we age, it is important to pay attention to our brain health in order to maintain optimal cognition, mood and memory”.

Recent research has uncovered a connection between brain aging and senescent cells.

Senolytic activity within the brain can help reduce these senescent cells that get lodged in between the brain cells and promote regeneration for better functioning as we age.“

“Nutrients such as turmeric which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties can be used with a new lens to support this senolytic activity within the brain”.

Additionally, consumption of healthy fats on a daily basis helps support overall cognitive function since they are necessary for proper signaling among neurons in the body.”

In this podcast you will learn about: