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Medscape
18 hours ago
- Business
- Medscape
Could Liquid Biopsy Guide Treatment in Cervical Cancer?
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels in patients with cervical cancer before and during treatment were prognostic of disease progression and survival in a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 CALLA trial. The findings 'support the future utility of…ctDNA analysis to help guide treatment decisions for locally advanced cervical cancer,' said lead study author Jyoti Mayadev, MD, a radiation oncologist at Moores NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor of radiation medicine and applied sciences at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla, California. Mayadev reported the results at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 annual meeting. They were published simultaneously in the Annals of Oncology . The previously published CALLA trial showed that patients receiving adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced cervical cancer did not have improved progression-free survival (PFS) with the addition of concurrent durvalumab compared with placebo. The trial included 770 patients with previously untreated stage IB2-IIB node-positive or IIIA-IVA any node-status locally advanced cervical cancer who were randomly assigned to receive durvalumab (1500 mg intravenously once every 4 weeks) plus CRT (n = 385) or CRT alone (n = 385). CRT, consisting of external beam radiotherapy with intravenous cisplatin or carboplatin, was delivered once weekly for 5 weeks, followed by image-guided brachytherapy. Exploratory Analysis Methods and Results A preplanned exploratory analysis sampled ctDNA levels in a subset of 186 patients to determine if ctDNA could serve as a biomarker for treatment response. The study used an ultrasensitive tumor-informed ctDNA assay, personalized for each patient, to test plasma at baseline, cycle 3 day 1 (immediately post-CRT), and cycle 6 day 1 (3 months post-CRT), explained Mayadev during her presentation at the meeting. ctDNA was detected in 99% of baseline samples, with no difference across the treatment arms, she reported. Immediately after treatment, detectable levels decreased to 35.5% in the durvalumab/CRT arm and 39.8% in the CRT-only arm. By 3 months after treatment, levels declined further to 23.4% and 36.4%, respectively, demonstrating a 13% lower rate of detectable ctDNA in the durvalumab/CRT arm at this timepoint. The study showed that ctDNA levels were prognostic of both PFS and overall survival (OS), regardless of treatment arm. Among patients in whom ctDNA was detectable immediately posttreatment, 68% subsequently progressed, and among those without detectable ctDNA, 83% had not progressed by the time of data cutoff, for a positive predictive value of 61%, a negative predictive value of 83%, and a sensitivity and specificity of 68% and 78%, respectively. ctDNA Detected 5.5 Months Before Radiographic Progression The median lead time from ctDNA detection on the ultrasensitive assay until radiographic or clinical evidence of progression was 5.5 months, ranging from 1.5 to 16.5 months. Looking specifically at PFS and OS, patients with ctDNA levels were prognostic of PFS and OS for patients in both treatment arms at all timepoints measured. In the durvalumab/CRT arm, low vs high ctDNA at baseline conferred a hazard ratio of 0.60 for PFS and of 0.63 for OS. In the CRT-only arm, low vs high ctDNA conferred hazard ratios of 0.62 and 0.85 for PFS and OS, respectively. Similarly, detectable ctDNA levels immediately posttreatment compared with undetectable levels identified patients at a higher risk for progression and death, regardless of treatment arm. With detectable ctDNA as the reference, PFS and OS hazard ratios were 0.23 and 0.20 in the durvalumab/CRT arm and 0.15 and 0.18 in the CRT-only arm, respectively. Having no ctDNA detected 3 months after treatment cessation reduced the risks for progression and death by at least 95% for patients in both treatment arms, Mayadev said during her presentation. Multivariate analysis showed that detection of ctDNA immediately posttreatment conferred a hazard ratio of 5.27 ( P < .001) for PFS, independent of disease stage at baseline or treatment allocation, she said. 'Our study found that persistent ctDNA levels posttreatment strongly correlated with an increased risk of relapse and were likely reflective of residual disease that, in some instances, went undetected by other means,' wrote Mayadev and co-authors in their paper. 'On average, ctDNA was detected 5.5 months before radiographic progression. In clinical practice, this could allow for proactive treatment management to potentially improve patient outcomes — for example, earlier consideration of adjuvant therapies, such as immunotherapy or systemic therapy, or a switch to a novel therapeutic regimen. In cases of recurrence, tracking ctDNA levels in real-time could also help assess response to salvage therapy, providing a dynamic tool for optimizing therapeutic decisions.' 'This really is a good analysis showing how ctDNA is definitely a better prognostic marker than standard poor prognostic clinical factors such as nodal status and even updated FIGO staging for cervical cancer,' said Mark Einstein, MD, the discussant for the paper, who is professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City. However, he said the positive predictive value and sensitivity 'are good, but they're not great. The negative predictive value, though, is excellent, and this would reveal that the test might have some value as a negative predictive marker of recurrence rather than a positive predictive marker of recurrence.' But, the bigger question, he said, is 'what are we going to do with that information? If we actually do know that someone has a positive ctDNA, are we going to get into the situation that we are in with ovary cancer, with CA125 without measurable disease, where it just creates a lot of anxiety without necessarily restarting treatment? This could identify central disease before it actually becomes distant, which could lead to potentially curative surgical options, and it might put someone on increased surveillance in imaging, but I think we need to really look at this prospectively.' Also commenting on the study, Sarah Kim, MD, a gynecologic surgeon specializing in the treatment of ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, pointed out what she found useful and what additional questions need to be answered. 'Further studies need to be done to validate these results and determine the clinical utility in the setting of adjuvant therapy or recurrence,' she said in an interview with Medscape Medical News . 'I think these are important findings and potentially clinically impactful for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer,' said Kim. 'They support the use of ctDNA to detect minimal residual disease and/or the use of ctDNA as a prognostic marker, which is lacking in cervical cancer. We have seen similar results in patients with endometrial cancer, where the ctDNA increases prior to any detection of disease on imaging.' The trial was sponsored by AstraZeneca. Mayadev disclosed leadership roles with the American Brachytherapy Society and NRG Oncology; honoraria from AstraZeneca; consulting or advisory roles with Agenus, AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Merck, Primmune Therapeutics, and Varian Medical Systems; research funding from Varian Medical Systems; and travel, accommodations, and other expenses from Merck. Einstein disclosed a consulting or advisory role with Antiva Biosciences, Asieris Pharmaceuticals, and Merck, and research funding from Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and PapiVax Biotech, Inc. Kim had no disclosures.
The Verge
3 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Meta reportedly sidelined ‘Quest 4' designs for a goggles-like mixed-reality headset
Meta is pushing ahead with a lightweight headset that could come with a 'tethered compute puck' that powers the device, according to a report from UploadVR. Sources tell the outlet that Meta now aims to release the mixed-reality device by the end of 2026, while sidelining two Quest 4 headsets rumored to launch next year. The forthcoming Quest 4 headsets – called 'Pismo Low' and 'Pismo High' internally – were rumored to come in a standard and premium variant. Now that they might be canceled, another Quest headset may be years away. The company also abandoned plans for its high-end La Jolla headset last year, which would've arrived in 2027. The Information first reported on Meta's plans for a lightweight mixed-reality device, codenamed 'Puffin,' in August 2024, saying it looks like a 'bulky pair of glasses' and weighs just 110 grams. At the time, The Information reported that Meta would have to offload the processor and battery into a pocket-sized external pack to make the headset lighter. The device also reportedly won't come with controllers, allowing users to control it with their eyes and gestures instead. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth confirmed The Information's reporting to The Verge 's Alex Heath last year, saying the company recently moved into the 'discovery' phase of its development. As reported by UploadVR, Meta is currently considering several different display options at varying prices, but it 'hasn't yet settled on which it will ship.' The device will also run HorizonOS, similar to Meta's Quest headsets, but it could be primarily designed for productivity and entertainment rather than gaming, according to UploadVR.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Want to live to a healthy old age? Here's what a top doctor does based on hard science
Exercise is the most important thing a person can to do extend their health span, longevity researcher Dr. Eric Topol says. DjelicS/E+/Getty Images via CNN Newsource Who among us wouldn't want to live a good life well into our 90s, especially if we could do it disease-free while still being as witty and spry as Betty White, as eloquent as Toni Morrison or as civically engaged as Jimmy Carter? But you'd need good genes to live that long, right? Not necessarily, according to Dr. Eric Topol, founding director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, and former chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. For almost 20 years, Topol has been studying a group of 1,400 Super Agers, or people who reached the age of 80 and beyond without developing one of three common, chronic, age-related conditions (cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative disease), as part of the Wellderly study. To his surprise, when his team conducted whole-genome sequencing on all the Wellderly study participants, the researchers found nothing genetic, across the board, that conferred an age and health advantage. Topol's new book, 'Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity,' explores the other factors at play and the science that backs them up. He examines lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and sleep. He also looks at new technologies including the following : polygenic risk scores that sift through a person's DNA to quantify disease risk; the new science of 'omics' (for example, proteomics to analyze the complete set of proteins expressed by a body) that can be used to produce organ clocks measuring how fast our individual organs are aging; and artificial intelligence to synthesize all available health data points. All these technologies show promise in helping more people, if not reach Super Ager status, then achieve a longer health span by either delaying the onset of disease or aggressively treating conditions to prevent progression and complications. Topol, who will soon turn 71, practices what he preaches. 'I hope to be (a Super Ager),' he told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, recently, on his podcast Chasing Life. 'If I can get another 10 or 15 years without an age-related disease, that'd be great. And I've really doubled down on the things that I can do to help get there.' Exactly which steps has the doctor-scientist who studies Super Agers taken to increase his odds of reaching their ranks? 'I made extensive changes from the research, once we learned that it isn't in your genes … to achieve healthy aging, free of cancer, free of cardiovascular disease and free of neurodegenerative disease,' Topol said. Lessons taken to heart: exercise, sleep and diet One of the biggest changes Topol said he made was to his exercise routine. 'I used to only do aerobic exercise, and as a cardiologist, that was my thing,' he said. 'Now I do balance training and strength training (as well). It's an extensive difference. … And so, I'm more strong and fit than I've ever been.' In fact, exercise is so important that Topol ranks it as No. 1 on the list for anyone who wants to get started on the path of a longer life. 'It's free. And if you're not doing anything, if you're a sedentary, then start with walks, brisk walks if you can, and keep increasing it,' he said. 'Challenge yourself (with) hills and pace … if you are working up a sweat, that's a really good sign.' (Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.) To get your upper body in shape, he recommends resistance bands, and to improve balance, he said to practice standing on one foot, then the other. 'These are all free or cost minimum,' he said, noting that with a few inexpensive items you can do your workout at home (like he does), no gym membership required. 'So work on that and then other things will start to fall in place. … If you exercise more, you'll sleep better, too.' Which brings us to the next major change Topol made. 'I realized how important (sleep) is because of 'glymphatics.' That was a new insight in the book: about deep sleep and getting these waste products out of your brain,' he said, referring to the recently discovered glymphatic system, which helps flush out waste products in the brain and central nervous system, much like the lymphatic system does for the rest of the body. 'I was a poor sleeper,' he confessed, so he worked 'extensively' on improving the different factors that could impact it. 'Things like … what do I eat? And when do I eat? Also hydrating, mostly early in the day … to have less interrupted sleep.' He added that for him fasting is 'detrimental' to his sleep, as are both exercising or eating a big meal too late in the evening. And, do not give short shrift to sleep regularity, Topol advised. 'I used to go to sleep all over the place (in terms of time), and now I'm very regimented, except for maybe one night a week,' he said, noting that this tweak was 'phenomenally effective' in levelling up his sleep game. As for diet, Topol (who hasn't touched red meat in 40 years but does eat fish) said he wasn't surprised the evidence showed that a plant-based diet with enough lean protein 'prevailed as the best.' 'What was interesting, though, is how toxic (and) pro inflammatory ultraprocessed foods were,' he said, adding that he does everything he can to minimize UPF — which he jokingly calls UFOs, or alien food . 'It's hard to get it to zero, but I've (made a) conscious effort.' Topol said he also increased his protein intake 'some,' due to his age and because he started strength training, 'but I don't go to toxic levels that are advocated by others, that have no evidence (and) that are pro-inflammatory.' He said he keeps protein to about 90 grams a day for his 180-pound (82-kilogram) frame, by adding nuts, legumes (including beans) and more fish, even canned tuna in water, to his diet. 'I generally eat a salad every night,' he said. 'Now I'm a little more conscious about having something with it. … But (it's) not the protein craze that's being advocated by some of the extremists.' Supplements, alcohol and stress What about supplements and vitamins? 'I don't rule out that they could help (if) you have a specific deficiency — if for some reason your vitamin D is very low, or your vitamin B12,' Topol said. But 'for healthy people who are not symptomatic (and) who take good care of themselves,' he said, 'there's no data to show that these provide any benefit' much less an antiaging one. 'I think they're a waste of money, and some of these supplements have potentially adverse effects,' he said. 'It's just infuriating because they're not regulated, so (marketers) can say anything, and people believe it and buy it.' When it comes to consuming alcohol, Topol said he keeps his drinking 'light,' to fewer than seven drinks per week, after which the risks start adding up quickly. He said it doesn't seem to affect his own sleep, but it might impact that of others, so he recommends watching out for that. Another top-of-the-list item: mental health and stress management. Topol mainly turns to exercise to help navigate both of these elements, but he said being out in nature is another often-overlooked route. 'The nature prescription is part of the book. There really is something to this,' he noted, adding that he takes advantage of San Diego's climate and location to do plenty of hiking and walking. 'It's good for mental health, it's good for stress and anxiety, just to be out in our environment.' It's never too late to start any or all of these lifestyle adjustments, Topol said. 'These diseases take 20 years at least (to develop). So, you get even more (bang) if you start in your 40s and 50s or 60s … but if you start when you're 70 (or) 80, you're still going to derive years of healthy aging, maybe not quite as many, but still,' he said. And because these common, chronic, age-related conditions — cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases — do take so long to fully manifest, Topol said we have time to intervene to change their trajectory. Medical technologies gaining traction But to fully leverage that latency period before the symptoms of a disease appear, it's important to be aware of personal risk, so people and their doctors (and society more broadly) can focus prevention and early detection efforts on the right people at the right time. 'Knowing one's risk — that's the next part, which is: we're going to prevent these three diseases in the future. We can now, and we're going to even get better at that,' Topol said. Topol said he learned from his polygenic risk scores that he's at high risk for coronary artery disease, despite not having a family history. So, he has focused on getting his LDL cholesterol down. 'I've gotten it low, and perhaps I got more aggressive about that. I've checked my other lipids, like Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]), so I feel like I've done everything I can to go into high prevent-mode for that.' Topol said wants to get his immunome (all the genes and proteins of his immune system) mapped, to measure how well his immune system is functioning. It's a measurement he believes will one day soon be commonplace for everyone. He already has data on 'every virus I've ever been exposed to and every autoantibody that I have.' He also plans on having his organ clocks measured, because different organs (such as the heart and brain) age at different rates, putting people at higher risk for certain diseases. 'I think it's going to be very helpful, because then I'll know (how) my heart organ clock correlates with my risk of heart disease. 'So those are some of the things I've done and/or I want to do,' he said. 'It's an extraordinary time in medicine, because we have a path to prevention,' Topol said, 'because of the way the science of aging (is developing), with these metrics like organ clocks and protein biomarkers and our genetics — all these layers of data — we are going to be able to prevent these diseases. And that's exciting. We've never done that before.'
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Forty-five UBS Financial Advisors in Southern California and Hawaii Named to Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors List
SAN DIEGO, NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. & HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UBS Wealth Management US announced today that 45 financial advisors based in the Southern California and Hawaiian areas of the firm's Pacific Desert market have been named to the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for 2025. Of the advisors, 24 are based in UBS's Orange County offices; 17 are from San Diego County area offices; one is in Riverside, and three are in Honolulu. 'These incredibly skilled wealth advisors earned this recognition due to their client focus and dedication to providing personalized wealth management,' says Justin Frame, Pacific Desert Market Head at UBS. Share Newport Beach-based advisor Mark Binder was also recognized as one of the top 250 advisors nationally on the Forbes America's Top Wealth Advisors list for 2025. 'These incredibly skilled wealth advisors earned this recognition due to their client focus and dedication to providing personalized wealth management,' says Justin Frame, Pacific Desert Market Head at UBS. 'Our Pacific Desert advisors are committed to helping clients achieve their financial goals by providing comprehensive wealth management solutions and best-in-class service. I applaud them for this terrific achievement.' The Southern California and Hawaii UBS advisors named to the list are: Honolulu: Lori Hamano Matthew Megorden Dan Shiu Orange County, CA: Sasha Kottmeier, Irvine Chris Price, Irvine James Chiate, Irvine Tony Guinane, Irvine Mark Binder, Newport Beach David Levine, Newport Beach Chris Pitzak, Newport Beach Steve Weber, Newport Beach Jim Axelson, Newport Center Michael Miremadi, Newport Center Thomas Podmajersky, Newport Center Barry Porter, Newport Center Lynne Sebastian, Newport Center Marc Foster, Newport Center Blake Foster, Newport Center Panfang Fu, Newport Center Brian Gooding, Newport Center Jeffery Hamilton, Newport Center Ed Levin, Newport Center Jim Riley, Newport Center Nicholas Villasenor, Newport Center Natalie Barron, Seal Beach Lisa Chapman, Seal Beach Gino Stumpo, Seal Beach Riverside, CA: Scott Morris San Diego County: Jeffrey Adams, Carmel Valley Tom McMullen, Carmel Valley Steven DeMatteo, Carmel Valley Luke Ervin, Carmel Valley Brian Donaldson, La Jolla Alex Howell, La Jolla Scott Sugarman, La Jolla Andy Galewski, La Jolla Braydon Hamilton, La Jolla Stephen LaFata, La Jolla Chris Radici, La Jolla Brad Hyldahl, Rancho Bernardo Candice Gleeson, San Diego Tom Krumenacker, San Diego Bryan Thompson, San Diego Courtney Liddy, San Diego Blair Cannon, San Diego The 2025 Forbes America's Top 250 and Best-In-State Wealth Advisors collectively oversee $16.7 trillion in assets. The rankings, compiled by SHOOK Research, use a combination of quantitative metrics and qualitative insights, including in-depth interviews with firm-nominated candidates. For the full lists and methodologies, visit: and Notes to Editors: Photos available upon request About UBS UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 6.1 trillion dollars of invested assets as per fourth quarter 2024. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). © UBS 2025. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. Although neither UBS Financial Services Inc. or its employees pay a fee in exchange for these ratings, UBS may hire RJ Shook to be a speaker for events. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For press use only.
CNN
28-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
Want to live to a healthy old age? Here's what a top doctor does based on hard science
Editor's note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life's mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here. Who among us wouldn't want to live a good life well into our 90s, especially if we could do it disease-free while still being as witty and spry as Betty White, as eloquent as Toni Morrison or as civically engaged as Jimmy Carter? But you'd need good genes to live that long, right? Not necessarily, according to Dr. Eric Topol, founding director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, and former chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. For almost 20 years, Topol has been studying a group of 1,400 Super Agers, or people who reached the age of 80 and beyond without developing one of three common, chronic, age-related conditions (cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative disease), as part of the Wellderly study. To his surprise, when his team conducted whole-genome sequencing on all the Wellderly study participants, the researchers found nothing genetic, across the board, that conferred an age and health advantage. Topol's new book, 'Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity,' explores the other factors at play and the science that backs them up. He examines lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and sleep. He also looks at new technologies including the following : polygenic risk scores that sift through a person's DNA to quantify disease risk; the new science of 'omics' (for example, proteomics to analyze the complete set of proteins expressed by a body) that can be used to produce organ clocks measuring how fast our individual organs are aging; and artificial intelligence to synthesize all available health data points. All these technologies show promise in helping more people, if not reach Super Ager status, then achieve a longer health span by either delaying the onset of disease or aggressively treating conditions to prevent progression and complications. Topol, who will soon turn 71, practices what he preaches. 'I hope to be (a Super Ager),' he told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, recently, on his podcast Chasing Life. 'If I can get another 10 or 15 years without an age-related disease, that'd be great. And I've really doubled down on the things that I can do to help get there.' Exactly which steps has the doctor-scientist who studies Super Agers taken to increase his odds of reaching their ranks? You can listen to the full episode here. 'I made extensive changes from the research, once we learned that it isn't in your genes … to achieve healthy aging, free of cancer, free of cardiovascular disease and free of neurodegenerative disease,' Topol said. Lessons taken to heart: exercise, sleep and diet One of the biggest changes Topol said he made was to his exercise routine. 'I used to only do aerobic exercise, and as a cardiologist, that was my thing,' he said. 'Now I do balance training and strength training (as well). It's an extensive difference. … And so, I'm more strong and fit than I've ever been.' In fact, exercise is so important that Topol ranks it as No. 1 on the list for anyone who wants to get started on the path of a longer life. 'It's free. And if you're not doing anything, if you're a sedentary, then start with walks, brisk walks if you can, and keep increasing it,' he said. 'Challenge yourself (with) hills and pace … if you are working up a sweat, that's a really good sign.' (Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.) To get your upper body in shape, he recommends resistance bands, and to improve balance, he said to practice standing on one foot, then the other. 'These are all free or cost minimum,' he said, noting that with a few inexpensive items you can do this at home, no gym membership required. 'So work on that and then other things will start to fall in place. … If you exercise more, you'll sleep better, too.' Which brings us to the next major change Topol made. 'I realized how important (sleep) is because of 'glymphatics.' That was a new insight in the book: about deep sleep and getting these waste products out of your brain,' he said, referring to the recently discovered glymphatic system, which helps flush out waste products in the brain and central nervous system, much like the lymphatic system does for the rest of the body. 'I was a poor sleeper,' he confessed, so he worked 'extensively' on improving the different factors that could impact it. 'Things like … what do I eat? And when do I eat? Also hydrating, mostly early in the day … to have less interrupted sleep.' He added that for him fasting is 'detrimental' to his sleep, as are both exercising or eating a big meal too late in the evening. And, do not give short shrift to sleep regularity, Topol advised. 'I used to go to sleep all over the place (in terms of time), and now I'm very regimented, except for maybe one night a week,' he said, noting that this tweak was 'phenomenally effective' in levelling up his sleep game. As for diet, Topol (who hasn't touched red meat in 40 years but does eat fish) said he wasn't surprised the evidence showed that a plant-based diet with enough lean protein 'prevailed as the best.' 'What was interesting, though, is how toxic (and) pro inflammatory ultraprocessed foods were,' he said, adding that he does everything he can to minimize UPF — which he jokingly calls UFOs, or alien food . 'It's hard to get it to zero, but I've (made a) conscious effort.' Topol said he also increased his protein intake 'some,' due to his age and because he started strength training, 'but I don't go to toxic levels that are advocated by others, that have no evidence (and) that are pro-inflammatory.' He said he keeps protein to about 90 grams a day for his 180-pound (82-kilogram) frame, by adding nuts, legumes (including beans) and more fish, even canned tuna in water, to his diet. 'I generally eat a salad every night,' he said. 'Now I'm a little more conscious about having something with it. … But (it's) not the protein craze that's being advocated by some of the extremists.' Supplements, alcohol and stress What about supplements and vitamins? 'I don't rule out that they could help (if) you have a specific deficiency — if for some reason your vitamin D is very low, or your vitamin B12,' Topol said. But 'for healthy people who are not symptomatic (and) who take good care of themselves,' he said, 'there's no data to show that these provide any benefit' much less an antiaging one. 'I think they're a waste of money, and some of these supplements have potentially adverse effects,' he said. 'It's just infuriating because they're not regulated, so (marketers) can say anything, and people believe it and buy it.' When it comes to consuming alcohol, Topol said he keeps his drinking 'light,' to fewer than seven drinks per week, after which the risks start adding up quickly. He said it doesn't seem to affect his own sleep, but it might impact that of others, so he recommends watching out for that. Another top-of-the-list item: mental health and stress management. Topol mainly turns to exercise to help navigate both of these elements, but he said being out in nature is another often-overlooked route. 'The nature prescription is part of the book. There really is something to this,' he noted, adding that he takes advantage of San Diego's climate and location to do plenty of hiking and walking. 'It's good for mental health, it's good for stress and anxiety, just to be out in our environment.' It's never too late to start any or all of these lifestyle adjustments, Topol said. 'These diseases take 20 years at least (to develop). So, you get even more (bang) if you start in your 40s and 50s or 60s … but if you start when you're 70 (or) 80, you're still going to derive years of healthy aging, maybe not quite as many, but still,' he said. And because these common, chronic, age-related conditions — cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases — do take so long to fully manifest, Topol said we have time to intervene to change their trajectory. Medical technologies gaining traction But to fully leverage that latency period before the symptoms of a disease appear, it's important to be aware of personal risk, so people and their doctors (and society more broadly) can focus prevention and early detection efforts on the right people at the right time. 'Knowing one's risk — that's the next part, which is: we're going to prevent these three diseases in the future. We can now, and we're going to even get better at that,' Topol said. Topol said he learned from his polygenic risk scores that he's at high risk for coronary artery disease, despite not having a family history. So, he has focused on getting his LDL cholesterol down. 'I've gotten it low, and perhaps I got more aggressive about that. I've checked my other lipids, like Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]), so I feel like I've done everything I can to go into high prevent-mode for that.' Topol said wants to get his immunome (all the genes and proteins of his immune system) mapped, to measure how well his immune system is functioning. It's a measurement he believes will one day soon be commonplace for everyone. He already has data on 'every virus I've ever been exposed to and every autoantibody that I have.' He also plans on having his organ clocks measured, because different organs (such as the heart and brain) age at different rates, putting people at higher risk for certain diseases. 'I think it's going to be very helpful, because then I'll know (how) my heart organ clock correlates with my risk of heart disease. 'So those are some of the things I've done and/or I want to do,' he said. 'It's an extraordinary time in medicine, because we have a path to prevention,' Topol said, 'because of the way the science of aging (is developing), with these metrics like organ clocks and protein biomarkers and our genetics — all these layers of data — we are going to be able to prevent these diseases. And that's exciting. We've never done that before.' We hope these insights help you extend your health span. Listen to the full episode here. And join us next week on the Chasing Life podcast when we dive into the mysteries of memory. CNN Audio's Eryn Mathewson contributed to this report.
