Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@matt.kaeberlein
Check out the Bryan Johnson video: youtube.com/watch?v=bax8to_s07Q
Last month, entrepreneur and venture capitalist Bryan Johnson released a Youtube video detailing his trip to Prospera, Honduras to receive follistatin gene therapy from the Minicircle Gene Therapy clinic. Bryan describes Minicircle's gene therapy as "a pioneering technology with the potential to improve muscle and strength, slow the speed of aging, and many more benefits".
In this episode, Matt reacts in real time to his first watch of Bryan's video and responds to Nick's questions about various topics that come up along the way. He provides a primer on gene therapy and its potential as a longevity intervention, discusses the clinical evidence for follistatin's effects on humans and model organisms, and goes through several things one might want to consider when deciding whether to partake in a new therapy. He also gives his honest take on "offshore medicine"—medicine performed in countries that lack the regulatory oversight of the United States Food and Drug Administration—and discusses potential mechanisms for safely offering experimental therapies in the United States.
Follistatin is a glycoprotein that functions as a potent inhibitor of several members of the TGF-beta superfamily, particularly activin and myostatin. It is involved in various physiological processes, including muscle growth and development, reproduction, and inflammation. By binding to these proteins, follistatin prevents them from interacting with their receptors, thereby regulating their activity.
0:00 Introduction
1:09 The Bryan Johnson video begins
1:30 A primer on gene therapy
3:44 Why is this therapy being done on a "secret island" and not in the US?
6:28 Matt's advice to a grad student who asked about Minicircle
8:22 Making the technology scalable
10:18 Could mRNA technology such as that used in the COVID-19 vaccine be useful for longevity interventions?
11:35 A "built-in kill switch"?
14:43 When might a kill switch work?
16:12 Is this a marketing pitch?
17:40 Changes in biological age
18:28 Telomere lengthening: good or bad?
Follistatin and short-lived controls
24:14 The most impactful longevity interventions
26:48 () + a primer on follistatin
29:25 Might limiting myostatin increase your likelihood of suffering an injury?
30something Why would someone do this?
37:37 Body composition changes Bryan Johnson observed six months on
42:24 Biological age changes Bryan Johnson observed six months on
44:26 Going through the comments on Bryan Johnson's video
49:08 Wrapping up
Producers: Tara Mei, Nicholas Arapis
Video Editor: Jacob Keliikoa
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on the Optispan podcast is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not meant to be, nor should it be construed as, personalized medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is established by your use of this channel. The information and materials presented are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We strongly advise that you consult with a licensed healthcare professional for all matters concerning your health, especially before undertaking any changes based on content provided by this channel. The hosts and guests on this channel are not liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages or adverse effects that may arise from the application of the information discussed. Medical knowledge is constantly evolving; therefore, the information provided should be verified against current medical standards and practices.
More places to find us:
Twitter: twitter.com/optispanpodcast
Twitter: twitter.com/optispan
Twitter: twitter.com/mkaeberlein
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/optispan
https://www.optispan.life/
Hi, I'm Matt Kaeberlein. I spent the first few decades of my career doing scientific research into the biology of aging, trying to understand the finer details of how humans age in order to facilitate translational interventions that promote healthspan and improve quality of life. Now I want to take some of that knowledge out of the lab and into the hands of people who can really use it.
On this podcast I talk about all things aging and healthspan, from supplements and nutrition to the latest discoveries in longevity research. My goal is to lift the veil on the geroscience and longevity world and help you apply what we know to your own personal health trajectory. I care about quality science and will always be honest about what I don't know. I hope you'll find these episodes helpful!
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@matt.kaeberlein
Check out the Bryan Johnson video: youtube.com/watch?v=bax8to_s07Q
Last month, entrepreneur and venture capitalist Bryan Johnson released a Youtube video detailing his trip to Prospera, Honduras to receive follistatin gene therapy from the Minicircle Gene Therapy clinic. Bryan describes Minicircle's gene therapy as "a pioneering technology with the potential to improve muscle and strength, slow the speed of aging, and many more benefits".
In this episode, Matt reacts in real time to his first watch of Bryan's video and responds to Nick's questions about various topics that come up along the way. He provides a primer on gene therapy and its potential as a longevity intervention, discusses the clinical evidence for follistatin's effects on humans and model organisms, and goes through several things one might want to consider when deciding whether to partake in a new therapy. He also gives his honest take on "offshore medicine"—medicine performed in countries that lack the regulatory oversight of the United States Food and Drug Administration—and discusses potential mechanisms for safely offering experimental therapies in the United States.
Follistatin is a glycoprotein that functions as a potent inhibitor of several members of the TGF-beta superfamily, particularly activin and myostatin. It is involved in various physiological processes, including muscle growth and development, reproduction, and inflammation. By binding to these proteins, follistatin prevents them from interacting with their receptors, thereby regulating their activity.
0:00 Introduction
1:09 The Bryan Johnson video begins
1:30 A primer on gene therapy
3:44 Why is this therapy being done on a "secret island" and not in the US?
6:28 Matt's advice to a grad student who asked about Minicircle
8:22 Making the technology scalable
10:18 Could mRNA technology such as that used in the COVID-19 vaccine be useful for longevity interventions?
11:35 A "built-in kill switch"?
14:43 When might a kill switch work?
16:12 Is this a marketing pitch?
17:40 Changes in biological age
18:28 Telomere lengthening: good or bad?
Follistatin and short-lived controls
24:14 The most impactful longevity interventions
26:48 () + a primer on follistatin
29:25 Might limiting myostatin increase your likelihood of suffering an injury?
30something Why would someone do this?
37:37 Body composition changes Bryan Johnson observed six months on
42:24 Biological age changes Bryan Johnson observed six months on
44:26 Going through the comments on Bryan Johnson's video
49:08 Wrapping up
Producers: Tara Mei, Nicholas Arapis
Video Editor: Jacob Keliikoa
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on the Optispan podcast is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not meant to be, nor should it be construed as, personalized medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is established by your use of this channel. The information and materials presented are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We strongly advise that you consult with a licensed healthcare professional for all matters concerning your health, especially before undertaking any changes based on content provided by this channel. The hosts and guests on this channel are not liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages or adverse effects that may arise from the application of the information discussed. Medical knowledge is constantly evolving; therefore, the information provided should be verified against current medical standards and practices.
More places to find us:
Twitter: twitter.com/optispanpodcast
Twitter: twitter.com/optispan
Twitter: twitter.com/mkaeberlein
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/optispan
https://www.optispan.life/
Hi, I'm Matt Kaeberlein. I spent the first few decades of my career doing scientific research into the biology of aging, trying to understand the finer details of how humans age in order to facilitate translational interventions that promote healthspan and improve quality of life. Now I want to take some of that knowledge out of the lab and into the hands of people who can really use it.
On this podcast I talk about all things aging and healthspan, from supplements and nutrition to the latest discoveries in longevity research. My goal is to lift the veil on the geroscience and longevity world and help you apply what we know to your own personal health trajectory. I care about quality science and will always be honest about what I don't know. I hope you'll find these episodes helpful!
