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Longevity by DesignAuthor: Gil Blander PhD
Longevity by Design is your go-to podcast for unlocking the secrets to a longer, healthier life. Hosted by Dr. Gil Blander, a renowned scientist and entrepreneur in the fields of aging, nutrition, and personalized health, this show dives into cutting-edge research and practical strategies for optimizing your healthspan and lifespan.In each episode, Dr. Blander sits down with leading longevity and health scientists to explore how we can live better, longer lives. From unpacking complex scientific concepts to sharing the latest advancements in aging research, Longevity by Design offers science-backed insights and actionable advice to help you add years to your lifeand life to your years.Dr. Blander is the founder and Chief Scientific Officer of InsideTracker, a healthspan company that leverages blood tests, DNA analysis, fitness tracker data, and other biomarkers to deliver personalized health recommendations. With a Ph.D. in biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science and postdoctoral research at MIT, Dr. Blander brings decades of expertise and passion to every conversation.Tune in to Longevity by Design and discover how to live a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life. Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Medicine, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Can Psychedelic Mushrooms Slow Aging?
Episode 105
Wednesday, 18 February, 2026
In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Louise Hecker, Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Together, they dive into Louise’s recent research exploring how psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may influence aging biology at the cellular and organismal level.Louise shares the story behind her curiosity about psilocybin, sparked by conversations with a friend and fueled by a lack of scientific answers. She explains how her team overcame regulatory hurdles to study the effects of psilocybin on human cells and aging mice. Their findings showed that psilocybin extended cellular lifespan and reduced hallmarks of aging, such as oxidative stress and DNA damage. In mice, regular dosing improved survival, reversed visible signs of aging, and affected organs beyond the brain.The conversation also covers the challenges of translating these findings into humans, the need for more research on dosing and safety, and the importance of funding in moving this field forward. Louise encourages listeners to stay curious, think beyond established paths, and keep an open mind as new questions and discoveries emerge in the science of aging.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Dr. Louise Hecker💡 What they do: Associate Professor of Medicine💡 Company: Baylor College of Medicine💡 Guest Company Website: https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/louise-hecker-175346Link to the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-025-00244-x Episode highlights:[00:00:00]: Introduction[00:00:18]: Scientific Journey and Focus on Aging[00:01:27]: Transition from Regeneration to Aging Research[00:02:53]: Decline of Regeneration with Age[00:03:43]: Motivation for Studying Psilocybin and Aging[00:04:13]: Initial Curiosity and Literature Review on Psilocybin[00:05:38]: Psilocybin’s Broad Clinical Applications[00:06:19]: Hypothesis: Psilocybin’s Lasting Effects Linked to Aging[00:07:14]: Defining Psilocybin and Its Effects[00:08:25]: Legal Status and Research Barriers[00:09:57]: Resurgence in Psilocybin Research and Regulatory Changes[00:10:40]: Experimental Design: Dosing and Model Selection[00:11:54]: Regulatory Hurdles in Acquiring Psilocybin[00:13:08]: Initiating Experiments and Early Findings[00:14:30]: Cellular Lifespan Extension Results[00:15:17]: Quantifying Cellular Effects and Replication[00:16:23]: Addressing Potential Cancer Concerns[00:17:10]: Hallmarks of Aging and Cellular Markers[00:18:44]: Telomere Length and DNA Protection[00:19:52]: Organ-Specific Effects and Ongoing Research[00:22:05]: Transition to Mouse Studies[00:23:44]: Designing the Mouse Longevity Study[00:26:28]: Results: Survival and Phenotypic Changes in Mice[00:28:36]: Translating Mouse Findings to Humans[00:30:09]: Next Steps: Dosing, Protocols, and Human Relevance[00:32:26]: Omics Profiling and Organ-Specific Protection[00:33:54]: Safety, Risks, and Human Studies[00:35:13]: Comparing Psilocybin to Other Longevity Interventions[00:37:00]: Implementation Challenges and Future Research Directions[00:40:00]: Advice for Biohackers and Caution on Self-Experimentation[00:42:29]: Funding, Research Priorities, and the Future of Psychedelic Research[00:43:58]: Rapid-Fire Questions: Aging Misconceptions and Research Priorities[00:46:11]: Social Connection and Long-Term Health[00:48:50]: Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts[00:51:26]: Outro and Farewell For science-backed ways to live a healthier, longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcastConnect with Gil on LinkedIn,
