The Problem With Longevity Science |
Longevity science faces some fundamental problems.
A randomized, controlled study tried to address some of those problems.
The results were revealing, showing that longevity science can only make inferences.
It doesn’t take much to find all sorts of claims online and elsewhere (books, podcasts, diets, advertising) promising wellness and longevity. So many products. So many medications.
What About the Science?
Recently, an article by Dr. F. Perry Wilson from Yale School of Medicine looked into longevity science. He highlighted two fundamental problems with the science.
The first one is that many of the investigations into longevity rely on observational data, hoping to find an indication that a given supplement, food, or exercise will positively correlate with a longer life span. Observational data relies on recall. Unfortunately, our ability to remember things accurately has been shown to be influenced by many potential distractions, rendering it an unreliable source of information.
Observations are often subjective. When we are putting something in our bodies, we never get a clear picture of how that something is affecting us. Bodies are complex, perceptions are complex, making it impossible to isolate how one substance or action is impacting them.
Secondly, creating randomized, controlled trials that are the gold standard in medical research has its own set of problems. They can be expensive to set up. Wilson mentions that organizations like the National Institutes of Health are not very interested in funding studies that focus on longevity. Their focus is mainly on disease diagnosis and treatment.
Disease investigations can often be concluded within five........