My doctor vs chatGPT review my biomarkers
+ are barefoot shoes better?
Hey everyone. I hope it’s a sunny Friday afternoon where you are too. Today reminds me so much of one of my favourite quotes of all time.
In today’s news:
- is there any science behind barefoot shoes?
- dogs will soon have scientifically proven anti-ageing pills thanks to this start-up
- microplastics in our bodies - what can we do?
- I let AI and my doctor tell me about my biomarker results, here’s what they said (below paywall)
News
NYU professor did Bryan Johnson’s ‘Don’t Die Summit’ and didn’t like it. She isn’t the first to question how useful, viable or effective his manifesto is. Frustration with the bio-hacking and longevity scene is increasing, as scientists are getting tired of startup ageing tests like Tally, Tru and Glycanage, claiming to analyse your biomarkers for a retail price between $200 and $600. They point out that these tests are very unlikely to be accurate, but that they might also be pointless, with studies showing that extreme life extension will not happen in the 21st century. They say that if anything, we should not be focused on extreme life extension but rather on extreme health extension. I’m a big fan of this Korean longevity activist, who is more focused on physical fitness than supplements.
Even the Blue Zones are not safe from scientists who’ve had enough. Researchers have shown that claims of extreme old age now which the Blue Zones were based, were often false. On a completely separate note, I’m curious to know how much (and what) facial work Bryan Johnson has gotten done in the past 2 years.
I can't put my finger on it - he just looks slightly younger in 2025 (left) than he did in 2023 (right). Did he find a great plastic surgeon, or is his regimen actually starting to work? Time will tell. I’ve also been thinking about his documentary that recently launched on Netflix, in which he quite literally tells us that his obsession with his body is a way to distract himself from his mental health issues and his loneliness. His emotional struggle did not go unnoticed, with Reddit posts like this one, commenting that “immortality means nothing without love and connection.” So true. Ironically, loneliness increases your risk of premature death by 26%. Love > supplements.
Superpower, a longevity marketplace, is launching a biomarker tracking platform. They are coining themselves ‘the world’s most advanced digital health clinic’. I love the branding, the positioning and the promise. I just wonder what more they will tell me than ‘exercise!’ and ‘eat broccoli!’ and ‘buy this supplement with 15% off!’. They will be competing with Neko, founded by Spotify founder and Retro Biosciences, backed by Sam Altman from OpenAI. Curious to see how this competitive landscape will unfold. Longevity + AI is going to be one of the fastest growing trends in tech in 2027-2028, mark my words.
www.superpower.com SAYE launches barefoot sneakers that aren’t ugly. “The M89 Ground eliminates the layers that separate you from the world, leaving just a few millimeters between your feet and the ground.” There isn’t really a manifesto on the website like with Vivobarefoot, so I’m not sure how bare they actually feel. If you’re looking for serious commitment, Nat Geo made a list of best barefoot shoes here. But I think SAYE is onto something – taken the premise but made it less extreme.
So what does the science say? While Vivobarefoot has an entire scientific page on their website, it does seem to be sponsored by them and not third party verified. Reading through other scientific papers, I conclude:Barefoot shoes do not mimic barefoot walking. They are just wider, lighter and more flexible than traditional shoes.
This causes shorter strides, more evenly distributed pressure across the feet and a reduced vertical impact force. All good things.
The jury is still out on running in barefoot shoes, as it sometimes decreases and sometimes increases risk of injury.
I predict the mainstreamification of barefoot shoes in 2025-2026 as the ‘rewilding’ movement grows. Although I don’t think it will have much to do with hard science, rather a desire to return to nature and live a less hectic life. In that respect I think barefoot shoes are a more ‘mentally driven purchase’ than a physical one. Insert marketing opportunity. If you do want to test the waters, I recommend trying toe spacers. Studies are noting their beneficial effects on neurology and muscle workings. A certified treat. My entire body relaxes when I wear to sleep.
Arc’teryx will be launching a running shoe you can climb in. I like it.
Antiageing pills for dogs one step closer to becoming available to the public with FDA approval thanks to start-up Loyal. FDA approval? HUGE.
Bread bad, cheese better, pasta winner. It seems that with obesity numbers stabilising (Ozempic), the pressure on ultra processed foods has gone down.
The best way to read this chart is to consider the range of processing of food products. For example, you can buy very processed cereal or less processed cereal. But, snack bars on the contrary, have almost no range. They seem to always be extremely processed. This means that no matter how healthily a snack bar is marketed, it is very unlikely to actually be healthy.
Don’t buy snack bars. Study finds that new brain samples contain 50% more microplastics than they did in 2016. While the Economist asks whether we should worry, they conclude their article stating that microplastics are impossible to avoid and that they have more questions than answers. Ok? Aside from not heating up food in plastic containers, or drinking hot beverages from plastic cups, I’m usually too exhausted from working to live a seriously plastic-free life.
Like, how? The biggest sources of microplastics are macroplastics (e.g. bottles), tires, synthetic textiles (e.g. polyester), paint, personal care products and plastic pellets. And while we can avoid plastic and legislate through industrial policies – there is still billions of tonnes of plastic in landfill, waiting to be broken down into microplastics that will then become part of our ecosystem through different channels.
Things to avoid. 
There is currently billions of tonnes of macroplastics in landfills, waiting to become part of the food chain. Maybe I understand The Economist now. But after 20 years of research in microplastics with extremely clear outcomes, I think the scientific community could/should exert more pressure on the government to introduce bans, classifications and fines on production. But until then, it might be useful to understand how human beings absorb microplastics. Instead of thinking of all the products in the world we should be avoiding, maybe we can focus on the specific things we’re consuming and see if there’s an alternative next time we stock up. What do you eat, what do you breathe and what do you put on your body? Think about it next time you buy something.
RIP beer. Leaving you with a resource that helps you scan personal care products for microplastics. (I haven’t tried it yet but it looks promising.)
