3 Interesting Longevity Insights from Our AMA With Dr. Jack Jeng
The landscape of longevity and anti-aging medication is changing. It’s now easier and more accessible to live a healthier and longer life.
So what steps should you be taking to optimize your own longevity?
In a recent Hone Community AMA, Hone Health founder and CEO Saad Alam sat down with Hone’s Chief Medical Officer Jack Jeng, M.D., to talk about longevity, healthy aging, and the benefits of medications like NAD+, metformin, and glutathione.
Here, the three most interesting takeaways from the chat.
A Longevity Routine Starts with Healthy Habits, Then Meds
One question Dr. Jeng hears the most: What are the steps for putting together a healthy longevity routine?
First, start with the basics of exercise, a clean diet, more sleep, and reduced stress, Jeng says.
“If you’re not doing those things, you’re missing out on some of the most effective ways to improve your longevity,” he says.
Then look at your hormones. For men, that means testosterone. Studies show low T is a growing problem in the U.S. and 40 percent of men ages 40 and older have low T, Jeng says. When you improve your T levels, the health benefits towards healthspan and lifespan increase dramatically, he says.
Once healthy habits and hormones are under control, then start looking at anti-aging medications, including NAD+, metformin, and glutathione, Jeng says.
Metformin Isn’t Only for People with Diabetes
Metformin is an FDA-approved drug, most commonly prescribed for diabetes, but doctors can also prescribe metformin for off-label reasons, including weight loss and longevity, Jeng says. (If you’re curious about your eligibility for metformin treatment, go to Hone’s website and sign up to consult with a doctor).
The effect metformin has on weight loss is modest, says Jeng, and studies show around a five to ten pound difference. If longevity is your goal, metformin can prevent the onset of diseases, including cancer, and decrease your mortality while extending lifespan, Jeng says.
MORE ON METFORMIN
Your Body Won’t Stop NAD+ Production
One question from a Hone community member that caught our attention: “Will my body stop producing NAD+ if I supplement with it?”
Unlike your body’s natural testosterone production—which decreases with testosterone therapy—there’s no evidence that your body stops NAD+ production if you supplement with it, Jeng says.
“Part of it is because of how NAD+ is produced,” Jeng says. “It’s from the salvage pathways—which synthesize precursors like NMN into NAD+—where we receive the majority of our NAD. That salvage pathway is not changing based on your supplementation. You’re just increasing the amount of NAD that your body has access to.”
You can watch the full AMA with Dr. Jack Jeng—which covers more on NAD+, metformin, glutathione, and what’s next for Hone Health—by joining our Hone Community today. It’s easy, free, and full of great information around treatment and how to live a healthier, longer life.
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