UNCONVENTIONAL LONGEVITY
Why it’s needed
The usual course in life is a slow decline in our later years. While most of us want to live long lives, we are just as fervent, if not more, about being in good health for as long as possible.
This period of time when we feel healthy has been termed the “healthspan,” so we can say we want to extend not only the lifespan but also the healthspan.
Conventional medicine runs into a problem in this sense, because most chronic illnesses are treated with medications, and many people who are on several medications actually don’t feel very healthy. So extending the healthspan may be about preventing or reversing the diseases of old age.
In many cases there are no medications that prevent a certain disease, or those that are effective have significant side effects. Lifestyle change is often key, and though it can be difficult, it’s also preferable for some people.
What functional medicine offers
Functional medicine is characterized by a focus on getting to the root cause of illness. A single medical issue (say joint pain) can have different underlying causes, such as inflammation, or omega 3 deficiency, or excess iron. But two people with omega 3 deficiency don’t necessarily both have joint pain. Low omega 3s results in many different possible symptoms.
So seeking underlying causes can be very tricky. And yet, if you don’t have the right underlying cause, how can you restore the person’s health?
Thankfully, there is a “system” for tackling root causes, and this is what I offer in this Functional Longevity Program.
Systematic but Individualized
The functional medicine approach follows a strategy, but each step is modified to fit the individual person.
Some of you will recognize that these are the steps I also take with people who have chronic symptoms. Indeed the approaches are similar, because the root-cause orientation aims to optimize the person, and intends for symptoms to disappear as a result of the person becoming a healthier version of themselves. The difference between working on a chronic medical problem, and optimizing healthspan, is likely to be in the number of different deficiencies and toxicities detected and requiring treatment. I am anticipating similar testing, but fewer needed supplements, a shorter elimination diet, and a narrowed focus on suboptimal results.
More information on the difference between conventional and functional thinking around longevity can be found here.
The programs
I am offering two options.
Both options include:
How the options differ:
Option 1 includes lab testing:
Option 2 involves patients paying for their labs:
The usual course in life is a slow decline in our later years. While most of us want to live long lives, we are just as fervent, if not more, about being in good health for as long as possible.
This period of time when we feel healthy has been termed the “healthspan,” so we can say we want to extend not only the lifespan but also the healthspan.
Conventional medicine runs into a problem in this sense, because most chronic illnesses are treated with medications, and many people who are on several medications actually don’t feel very healthy. So extending the healthspan may be about preventing or reversing the diseases of old age.
In many cases there are no medications that prevent a certain disease, or those that are effective have significant side effects. Lifestyle change is often key, and though it can be difficult, it’s also preferable for some people.
What functional medicine offers
Functional medicine is characterized by a focus on getting to the root cause of illness. A single medical issue (say joint pain) can have different underlying causes, such as inflammation, or omega 3 deficiency, or excess iron. But two people with omega 3 deficiency don’t necessarily both have joint pain. Low omega 3s results in many different possible symptoms.
So seeking underlying causes can be very tricky. And yet, if you don’t have the right underlying cause, how can you restore the person’s health?
Thankfully, there is a “system” for tackling root causes, and this is what I offer in this Functional Longevity Program.
Systematic but Individualized
The functional medicine approach follows a strategy, but each step is modified to fit the individual person.
- Optimize nutrients: test and replace relevant ones
- Optimize the gut biome, intestinal barrier function, nutrient absorption, and inflammation. I use the elimination diet with or without a fasting-mimicking diet. This is tailored to the needs of the individual, also the tolerance of the individual for changing their diet
- Glucose regulation: if there’s a question of high or low glucose, or high insulin resistance, get information on which foods may be especially impactful; but also various diets can improve insulin resistance
- Optimize hormones: thyroid, DHEA, pregnenolone, and consider estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone
- Learn and practice some stress reduction tools, like The Tapping Solution, meditation, metta meditation, non-sleep deep rest, and others. Find what reliably improves, or worsens, your HRV by using a CHRVM (I just made that up, but there is one watch that gives you continuous heart rate variability monitoring)
- Circle back and repeat the abnormal labs, and decide on supplementation for the months to come
- Test for toxins and chronic infections and address them
Some of you will recognize that these are the steps I also take with people who have chronic symptoms. Indeed the approaches are similar, because the root-cause orientation aims to optimize the person, and intends for symptoms to disappear as a result of the person becoming a healthier version of themselves. The difference between working on a chronic medical problem, and optimizing healthspan, is likely to be in the number of different deficiencies and toxicities detected and requiring treatment. I am anticipating similar testing, but fewer needed supplements, a shorter elimination diet, and a narrowed focus on suboptimal results.
More information on the difference between conventional and functional thinking around longevity can be found here.
The programs
I am offering two options.
Both options include:
- initial visit to review history, pre-existing tests, and answer questions (1 hour)
- review the preventive testing done to date, and order needed standard preventive testing based on risk factors
- Other modalities we may use to get information: Sleep Cycle app, Oura ring, Whoop, Apple Watch or Fitbit, DEXA body composition scan, continuous glucose monitor, Garmin watch with Body Battery feature
- follow up visit (45 minutes) to recommend supplements and other practices
- we do not pay for supplements but you will have access to a 25% discount through Fullscript
- another follow up visit (45 minutes) to review steps implemented, and to plan the next round of testing (1 year later, for example)
- weekly emails to keep you on track with your unconventional longevity program
How the options differ:
Option 1 includes lab testing:
- basic testing for nutrients (Genova’s NutrEval), food tolerance (Vibrant), hormones, insulin resistance, lipids, toxins, chronic viruses (we pay for all initial testing, but not follow up testing; there are usually no discounts for pre-existing testing); also CNS VS online cognitive testing every 6 months.
- cost: up front payment $4200, 6 monthly payments of $725, or 12 monthly payments of $375
Option 2 involves patients paying for their labs:
- we keep track of what tests are needed, and arrange testing but patient pays for testing; this allows patients to use insurance where applicable, to use recent testing already obtained, and/or to choose to skip certain tests. Please note that some of the testing can’t be covered by insurance, as insurance requires that the standard of care in conventional medicine confirm the testing is “necessary” for the care of the patient. However this option does give additional control over the cost of the program.
- payment options: up front payment $2500, 6 monthly payments of $430, or 12 monthly payments of $230
