What if we could block a protein to stop runaway cell division?

Dana Farber laid the foundation for CDK-46 inhibitors, drugs that are increasing the

survival rate for many advanced breast cancers. Learn more at Danafarber.org slash everywhere.

Hello and welcome to The Exert. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Thursday, May 8th, 2025, and this is a special episode of The Exert.

In an era where aging is often framed as something to resist or reverse, Dr. Eric Topal offers a far more

empowering vision. What if the second half of our lives could be just as vibrant and healthy

as the first? In his latest book, Super Agers, an evidence-based approach to longevity,

the renowned cardiologist, researcher, and author

lays out a bold, data-driven roadmap to extending not just how long we live, but how well we

live. In addition to years of research, Dr. Topal has also been recognized by time as one of the 100

most influential people leading change

in the medical community. Dr. Topal, thank you for joining me.

Great to be with you, Dana.

In the book, you discuss the concept of health span versus lifespan. What's the difference

and which one should people focus on to improve longevity?

Well, we don't really want to live to 110 and be demented or have all such of other chronic

diseases. But on the other hand, if we could live well into our 90s and have no chronic

diseases, the big with three age-related ones, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative,

that would be the goal.

So I think most everyone would agree that health span overrides lifespan or longevity.

You argue that genes play a surprisingly limited role in healthy aging, despite decades of genomic research.

What was the most surprising thing you learned from your study?

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