Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Harvard professor David Sinclair has a highly popular podcast where he promotes misinformation and hype about longevity science.
In this video, I briefly introduce Sinclair, discussing Jeff Fliers consistent criticism of Sinclair’s claims (here: harvardmagazine.com/2017/09/anti-aging-breakthrough, here: reddit.com/r/longevity/comments/syhn9q/jeffrey_flier_on_sinclair_i_crossed_the_line_by/, here: khn.org/news/a-fountain-of-youth-pill-sure-if-youre-a-mouse/, here: twitter.com/jflier/status/1495833104510038026, and here: twitter.com/jflier/status/1496651469335977987), as well as Charles Brenner’s recent thread on some of the core claims, central to David’s fame, that are probably false (here: twitter.com/CharlesMBrenner/status/1492902239312039938).
I then cover one recent inappropriate claim made on this podcast, where he says that a recent trial showed that growth hormone, DHEA, and metformin might confer “immortality” if repeatedly administered (see 1:15 here: podclips.com/c/a-combo-of-metformin-dhea-growth-hormone-reduces-biological-age-by-25-years?ss=t&ss2=8yp&d=2022-02-23).
This is a single-arm trial with no control group. It measured just one hallmark of aging. Reversing this hallmark of aging might not necessarily improve lifespan. Many other problems with this trial limiting our ability to make inferences about the impact of this treatment on aging can be found in the excellent blog post by Peter Attia, here: peterattiamd.com/190929/.
What’s more, there is a possibility that administration of growth hormone might accelerate aging, as seen in experimental models (see here: twitter.com/CharlesMBrenner/status/1496604051194073090 and here: science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.3001845).
It may make money to make exaggerated claims about science, but it is not responsible and harmful for public health. It also harms the reputation of Harvard. David Sinclair knows better and should stop misleading his followers in these ridiculous and potentially dangerous ways.
Harvard professor David Sinclair has a highly popular podcast where he promotes misinformation and hype about longevity science.
In this video, I briefly introduce Sinclair, discussing Jeff Fliers consistent criticism of Sinclair’s claims (here: harvardmagazine.com/2017/09/anti-aging-breakthrough, here: reddit.com/r/longevity/comments/syhn9q/jeffrey_flier_on_sinclair_i_crossed_the_line_by/, here: khn.org/news/a-fountain-of-youth-pill-sure-if-youre-a-mouse/, here: twitter.com/jflier/status/1495833104510038026, and here: twitter.com/jflier/status/1496651469335977987), as well as Charles Brenner’s recent thread on some of the core claims, central to David’s fame, that are probably false (here: twitter.com/CharlesMBrenner/status/1492902239312039938).
I then cover one recent inappropriate claim made on this podcast, where he says that a recent trial showed that growth hormone, DHEA, and metformin might confer “immortality” if repeatedly administered (see 1:15 here: podclips.com/c/a-combo-of-metformin-dhea-growth-hormone-reduces-biological-age-by-25-years?ss=t&ss2=8yp&d=2022-02-23).
This is a single-arm trial with no control group. It measured just one hallmark of aging. Reversing this hallmark of aging might not necessarily improve lifespan. Many other problems with this trial limiting our ability to make inferences about the impact of this treatment on aging can be found in the excellent blog post by Peter Attia, here: peterattiamd.com/190929/.
What’s more, there is a possibility that administration of growth hormone might accelerate aging, as seen in experimental models (see here: twitter.com/CharlesMBrenner/status/1496604051194073090 and here: science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.3001845).
It may make money to make exaggerated claims about science, but it is not responsible and harmful for public health. It also harms the reputation of Harvard. David Sinclair knows better and should stop misleading his followers in these ridiculous and potentially dangerous ways.
