Latest news with #RAADfest
Daily Mail
31-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Two women put on ventilators after taking peptide shots at 'how to live forever' conference
Two women have been put on ventilators after receiving peptide shots at a medical convention focused on how to cheat death. The women, a 38-year-old from California and a 51-year-old from Nevada, who have not been named, were raced to hospital after taking the experimental injections at a booth at the conference in Las Vegas. Organizers of the Revolution Against Aging and Death Festival, otherwise known as RAADfest, say they are investigating the hospitalizations. The doctor who ran the booth where the women took the shots, Dr. Kent Holtorf, promotes himself as a specialist in 'age reversal', but did not have permission to practice medicine in Nevada, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. Holtorf told ProPublica that he rejects allegations that the peptide injections he gave the women caused them to suddenly fall ill, with the attendees reportedly suffering swelling tongues, accelerated heart rates and breathing problems. 'Of course, I want to get to the bottom of it. But almost assuredly it will come out that it was not the peptides,' he told the outlet. The episode comes as peptides have come under scrutiny following the political rise of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, an avowed supporter of the therapy as a solution to chronic disease. Holtorf said that he became convinced that the hospitalizations were not caused by peptides after plugging information about the incident into an AI app. He reportedly said that the AI gave him a 57-page report that 'basically says that it is impossible it was the peptides', but he added: 'I don't want to try and push the blame and say it wasn't us... We are reassessing everything we are doing.' While admitting he is not licensed to practice medicine in Nevada, Holtorf said that he hired a practitioner to write prescriptions and administer therapies for him at the booth where the women were injected. 'I knew what was going on but was not hands on,' he said. The RAADfest summit where the incident unfolded is focused on avoiding death and limiting aging, a concept popularized by figures such as Kennedy and 'biohacker' Brian Johnson. Images on social media from the event this year show speakers on stage and at booths with a grim reaper, including at one booth lauding the 'death of death.' According to a police report from the Review Journal, Holtorf ran a booth at the conference offering peptide shots despite only being licensed to practice medicine in California, and not Nevada. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police reportedly said that as many as seven people fell ill at the event, prompting investigations from the Southern Nevada Health District and the Nevada Board of Pharmacy. The two women who were taken ill were reportedly rushed by ambulance to the hospital, with one intubated by the time she reached the hospital. The other woman suffered side effects including loss of muscle control in her neck, inability to open her eyes and losing the ability to communicate with doctors, the police report said. Peptides are often used in modern medicine for a variety of health conditions, but combining them together can increase risks and are often not approved by medical bodies. The report noted that the women received different peptide combinations, both including at least one compound that poses significant risks when combined with others, according to the FDA. Holtorf insisted that he was 'freaked out' by the reactions because the symptoms didn't make 'any sense', and said he had not seen such reactions in 30 years. He added that it is hard to keep up with which peptide combinations are accepted and which are banned, saying there is 'so much gray area... people know they just get patients better.' James Strole, the organizer of RAADfest, told ProPublica that the two women spent several days in the hospital and are now recovering. He maintained that it is 'not clear the people got sick as a result of treatment from Dr. Holtorf', but was 'anxious' for the incident to be 'deeply investigated.' He added that RAADfest has not had anything similar occur in 10 years of running the conference, but this is the first year that Holtorf offered therapies. Despite the hospitalizations at his event, Strole insisted that peptides are considered 'generally safe' and he takes them himself regularly, but for everyone at his events, 'the big concern is safety.' 'We look at who is doing the administering, whether it's an injection or supplement. We look at the person and the company itself, what the efficacy is, how they operate, their safety measures. We look at all that,' he said.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dr. Aubrey de Grey Brings Cutting-Edge Science to RAADfest 2025: LEV Foundation Partners with Coalition for Radical Life Extension
Renowned biogerontologist Dr. Aubrey de Grey to curate specialized scientific programming at world's leading longevity conference, combining breakthrough research with practical applications. "RAADfest is the leading longevity conference for a general audience. I'll be bringing the same high calibre of science I always do. The event promises to be momentous." --- Dr. Aubrey de Grey, President of the LEV Foundation LAS VEGAS, July 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Aubrey de Grey, a biomedical gerontologist who received his BA in computer science and Ph.D. in biology from the University of Cambridge, will headline RAADfest 2025 in a collaboration between the LEV Foundation and the Coalition for Radical Life Extension. Taking place July 10-13, 2025, at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, this partnership marks the first time Dr. de Grey will curate scientific programming for RAADfest alongside the event's established offerings. Dr. de Grey, founder of the SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) research framework, brings over two decades of work in damage repair approaches to aging. His LEV Foundation recently completed studies involving 1,000 middle-aged mice, extending their lives by four months through combination therapies. This research represents progress toward what he terms "longevity escape velocity" in humans. His approach to working across organizations like the Healthspan Action Coalition and Alliance for Longevity Initiatives reflects his collaborative approach to advancing the longevity field. "This is not just an event; it's a movement," said James Strole, Director of the Coalition for Radical Life Extension. "By joining forces with the LEV Foundation and incorporating the visionary work of Dr. Aubrey de Grey, we are taking a historic step forward in the fight against aging." The enhanced 2025 program will feature Dr. de Grey's signature approach to presenting complex scientific concepts alongside RAADfest's traditional focus on practical applications and clinical protocols. Attendees will gain access to cutting-edge research on cellular regeneration, mitochondrial repair, senescent cell elimination, and combination therapy approaches that form the backbone of modern rejuvenation science. The event's established non-commercial platform ensures that Dr. de Grey's scientific presentations remain focused on research advancement rather than product promotion. Dr. de Grey's participation extends beyond individual presentations to encompass strategic programming that reflects his broader vision for accelerating the entire longevity field. His collaborative approach—supporting credible radical efforts across diverse organizations rather than building competing institutions—will be evident throughout the expanded scientific track designed to serve both practicing clinicians and PhD-level researchers. The 2025 program will include specialized sessions on Dr. de Grey's seven-category SENS framework, updates from the LEV Foundation's robust mouse rejuvenation studies, and strategic discussions about achieving the critical breakthroughs needed to trigger widespread acceptance of radical life extension research. Interactive panels will explore how damage repair approaches translate from laboratory settings to clinical applications, addressing the practical concerns of healthcare providers and individual longevity advocates. Registration is now open for RAADfest 2025. Complete event details, speaker announcements, and registration information are available at About Dr. Aubrey de Grey Dr. Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist, President and Chief Science Officer of the LEV Foundation. He received his BA in computer science and Ph.D. in biology from the University of Cambridge. His SENS research framework identifies seven categories of aging damage and corresponding repair strategies. Dr. de Grey is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the American Aging Association, and sits on the editorial and scientific advisory boards of numerous journals and organizations. He has worked with organizations across the longevity field including the Healthspan Action Coalition, Alliance for Longevity Initiatives, and Afro Longevity. About the LEV Foundation The LEV Foundation (Longevity Escape Velocity Foundation) is a nonprofit organization founded by Dr. Aubrey de Grey to accelerate the development and deployment of rejuvenation biotechnology. The Foundation focuses on damage repair approaches to aging and conducting combination therapy studies that demonstrate significant life extension in laboratory settings. LEV Foundation's robust mouse rejuvenation studies represent the cutting edge of longevity research, with recent work achieving meaningful life extension in middle-aged mice through coordinated therapeutic interventions. Learn more: About the Coalition for Radical Life Extension The Coalition for Radical Life Extension is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, uniting, and activating people who support radical life extension and super longevity. Founded on principles of unbiased education and community building, the Coalition is best known for producing RAADfest, the world's largest global event dedicated to the science, advocacy, and practical application of human life extension technologies. Learn more: About RAADfest RAADfest (Revolution Against Aging and Death) is the world's most comprehensive event focused on the science and advocacy of human life extension. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, RAADfest has established itself as the premier destination for cutting-edge longevity research, clinical protocols, and community engagement. The event's unique blend of scientific rigor, practical application, and celebration of life empowers attendees with actionable strategies for extending healthspan and lifespan. RAADfest's non-commercial platform ensures transparent, research-based education without product promotion conflicts. 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