The Wellness Wire: Issue 14

⏳ The curse of living forever

When Eos, goddess of the dawn, begged Zeus to grant immortality to her mortal lover, Tithonus, she imagined an eternity of sunlit mornings and boundless youth. But her wish had a tragic flaw, she forgot to ask for eternal youth.

Tithonus aged relentlessly. As the decades blurred into centuries, his skin wrinkled like parchment, his limbs grew brittle as dry twigs, and his once-bright eyes dimmed to pale glass. He became a living ghost, trapped by time itself, whispering unheard pleas for release as dawn after dawn broke around him.

Tithonus had eternal life, but lost everything that made life worth living.

Today, billionaires and biotech entrepreneurs chase the promise of longevity, investing millions into treatments, technologies, and therapies designed to defeat ageing. But before we rush toward immortality, we should ask ourselves: Are we prepared to avoid Tithonus’s cruel fate, or are we doomed to repeat it?

🚀 The race to reverse ageing

Humans have always chased immortality. But where once we relied on prayers, potions, and myth, we now turn to science, technology, and billion-dollar investments.

Take Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur who spends millions each year meticulously engineering his body, attempting to rewind his biological clock to that of an 18-year-old. Or Dr Peter Attia, a pioneering doctor whose medical practice doesn’t wait for diseases to appear but actively seeks to prevent them, focusing on maximising healthspan rather than simply extending lifespan.

At the heart of longevity medicine lies a fascinating paradox: the most reliable method discovered so far to prolong life, calorie restriction, is also one of the hardest to sustain. Decades of research have shown that dramatically reducing calories can extend life in animals from worms to primates, yet for humans, perpetual hunger isn't realistic or desirable. After all, longevity is worthless if we lose the joy that makes life meaningful. Scientists now hope to sidestep this problem altogether. Drugs like rapamycin act as caloric restriction mimetics that might offer fasting’s benefits without the constant deprivation.

Beyond medication, some of the world’s sharpest minds are diving deeper, exploring new experimental methods to rewrite the rules of ageing. Consider epigenetic reprogramming, where researchers reset cells to younger biological states, reversing the marks time leaves on our bodies. Others are pioneering telomere extension therapies, aiming to rebuild and protect the fragile DNA caps that shorten with every passing year.

Cutting-edge predictive diagnostics promise to detect diseases years before symptoms surface, while AI-driven health optimisation platforms offer fully personalised roadmaps to lasting vitality.

Longevity medicine is no longer distant speculation; it’s here, now, reshaping our understanding of health and ageing. But as the possibilities expand, the question remains: will we ensure the years we gain are truly worth living?

🧪 Science vs sensationalism

Longevity has gone mainstream, but so has misinformation. From NAD+ IV drips to $2,000-a-day supplement stacks, A-listers have transformed the quest for longer life into a luxury lifestyle. Yet behind the glossy veneer of celebrity biohacks, the science is often thin and the results highly curated, just another perfect shot on their Instagram feed.

Many anti-ageing products are marketed with claims that are not substantiated by large-scale, long-term clinical trials. For instance, while certain natural compounds and supplements show potential anti-ageing effects in preliminary studies, comprehensive human trials are often lacking. And while cold plunges, ozone therapy, and exotic exosome infusions might sound cutting-edge, most remain firmly in the realm of speculation. In truth, you're likely better off taking a brisk daily walk and prioritising good sleep than copying the latest Silicon Valley trend.

Even seemingly harmless supplement overload can backfire dramatically. More isn’t always better. High-dose antioxidants, for example, can blunt the positive effects of exercise and have even been linked to increased mortality when taken excessively.

The longevity market is booming, but real science often gets drowned out by sensationalism, hype, and pseudoscience. So next time you spot that sleek AG1 vending machine or the newest miracle longevity elixir, pause and remember: longevity isn’t about chasing every trendy shortcut, it’s about sustainable, evidence-based habits that genuinely enrich your life.

🩺 Living, not just surviving

Bryan Johnson's bold motto is simple: "Don't Die." Yet, perhaps this approach misses something crucial. After all, the goal of longevity medicine isn't merely dodging death, it's embracing life. The real ambition isn't eternal existence; it's about maximising the quality of every moment we're granted.

Longevity is more than just adding candles to your birthday cake, it's about filling those years with energy, independence, and mental clarity. The true goal isn't just lifespan, but healthspan. That’s the period of life lived free from chronic disease, disability, and mental decline. Years filled with meaningful experiences, rich relationships, and vibrant health.

Beneath the flashy biohacks and exotic therapies, the real engine powering longevity is often quiet, simple, and overlooked: preventive medicine. Routine screenings, timely vaccinations, and early interventions catch health problems before they escalate, sometimes before they even start. From blood-pressure checks and cholesterol screenings to regular colonoscopies, these seemingly mundane actions quietly save countless lives.

In longevity, boring is powerful. Sustainable lifestyle modifications like balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, restful sleep, and stress management may not grab headlines, but they consistently prove far more effective than the latest, trendiest intervention.

🌅 Choosing health over immortality

In the ancient tale of Tithonus, we find a profound truth: eternal life means nothing without eternal health. Immortality without vitality is not a gift, it’s a curse. Yet, while humanity’s quest for longevity has evolved from myth to modern medicine, the lesson of Tithonus remains as relevant today as ever.

At Strove, we believe longevity isn't about escaping death; it's about making life richer, healthier, and more fulfilling. Rather than chasing elusive miracles, we champion the steady power of proven, science-backed principles: regular physical activity, mindful nutrition, restorative sleep, and meaningful stress reduction.

Strove serves as your operating system for preventive health. Our approach isn’t flashy; it's reliable, evidence-based, and designed to seamlessly integrate into your everyday life.

Who wants to live forever when the true measure of longevity isn't merely how many years we accumulate, but how fully and vibrantly we spend them? 

Don’t die?

No.

Start living.

🎥 Bonus resource

Dive deeper into healthspan with this fascinating Huberman Lab Podcast episode featuring longevity expert Dr Peter Attia. Learn practical strategies on exercise, nutrition, supplements, and hormones to help you live better, longer.

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