A new paper reframes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) not as symptom control, but as a potential geroprotective intervention capable of shaping the biology of aging in women. By positioning ovarian endocrine decline as an early, system-wide driver of aging—and emphasizing the importance of timing—it moves menopause medicine closer to geroscience. Yet it stops short of a true longevity-first model, revealing both meaningful progress and the limits of the current paradigm.

At the Global Longevity Summit in Geneva, I shared a panel with glycan biology pioneer Gordon Lauc and returned convinced we’re entering a new frontier in longevity medicine. Beyond estimating biological age like epigenetic clocks, glycan diagnostics reveal immune-driven inflammation and predict chronic disease risk years before symptoms appear. By decoding IgG glycosylation, we gain actionable insight into aging—and how to slow it.

A groundbreaking Nature Medicine study reveals that the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, may do more than prevent painful rashes—it could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. By curbing chronic inflammation from latent viral reactivation, the vaccine helps protect brain health, adding to growing evidence that immune resilience plays a key role in preventing neurodegeneration.

Three recent studies suggest that lithium, psilocybin, and ezetimibe—three very different drugs—may share a surprising longevity-enhancing mechanism: boosting telomerase activity and preserving telomere length. This emerging research links mood stabilizers, psychedelics, and cholesterol drugs to slower cellular aging and reduced Alzheimer’s risk, revealing a powerful case for repurposing existing drugs in longevity medicine.

We’ve spent years debating whether aging is a disease—but that’s the wrong question. The real challenge is recognizing when the diseases of aging begin to take root. Longevity medicine looks beneath the surface, using biomarkers to detect early physiological drift and intervene before symptoms appear. With tools to measure biological age, we can finally shift from treating disease to preserving vitality and extending healthspan.

A Harvard study reveals lithium orotate may be a breakthrough in protecting the aging brain. Unlike lithium carbonate, which requires high doses and carries toxicity risks, lithium orotate crosses the blood-brain barrier in microdoses. Early findings show it blocks amyloid and tau buildup, restores memory in mice, promotes neurogenesis, reduces inflammation, and may slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.