The Real Reason You Age (And How to Slow It Down) | Dr. Eric Verdin
Author: Dr. Mark Hyman
May 6, 2026
Duration: 1:12:53
We tend to think of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s as separate problems. But what if they all stem from the same underlying process?
On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with Dr. Eric Verdin, whose research, including work on compounds like urolithin A, is helping reshape how we think about aging and long-term health. We explore why aging may be the biggest driver of chronic disease and what that means for how you approach your health.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
We unpack:
• How your immune system becomes both overactive and less effective over time
• What chronic inflammation is doing inside your body and how to start bringing it back into balance
• Why cellular energy and mitochondrial health are key to repair and recovery
• How your microbiome shapes inflammation, immunity, and long-term health
• The daily habits that impact longevity most and where people get it wrong
This conversation reflects a shift in how we think about health, moving beyond treating disease to understanding what’s driving it in the first place.
View Show Notes From This Episode
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(0:00) Biological age vs. cholesterol in heart disease and chronic disease risk
(0:50) Introduction of Dr. Eric Verdin and his work
(1:23) Sponsor: Brain Shaping Academy
(1:51) Sponsor: Mitopure
(2:54) Sponsor: Seed
(3:48) Welcoming Dr. Eric Verdin and longevity framing
(5:42) The geoscience hypothesis and modifying age as a risk factor
(8:21) Early-stage interventions in aging and potential for life extension
(9:56) Longevity skepticism and practical steps for today
(11:20) Mitochondria, inflammation, and hallmarks of aging
(17:20) Mitochondrial DNA, inflammation, and immune system aging
(22:17) Innate vs. adaptive immunity and immune aging
(28:47) Strategies to combat immune aging
(33:07) Gut health, inflammation, and foundational elements of longevity medicine
(38:20) Social connections, sociogenomics, and cellular energy in aging
(46:29) Cellular repair systems and postbiotics
(50:33) Sponsor: Paleo Valley
(52:34) Sponsor: Big Bold Health
(53:23) Urolithin A, immune rejuvenation, and longevity interventions
(59:08) Longevity and functional medicine approaches
(1:02:27) Big data, AI, and the evolution of medicine
(1:04:26) Microbiome, diet, and gut health
(1:06:14) Measuring biological age and biological clocks
(1:09:37) Future of health monitoring and closing remarks
