In this episode of the Optispan Podcast, Dr. Andrew Steele breaks down why aging is the world’s leading cause of death — responsible for roughly 70% of mortality worldwide. He argues that aging is not an inevitable decline we must accept, but a biological process that can be understood, slowed, and eventually treated like any other medical condition. Through clear explanations and real-world statistics, Steele makes the case for treating aging itself rather than endlessly trying to cure age-related diseases one by one.

Key Points:

Most deaths worldwide stem from the biology of aging, not isolated diseases. Targeting aging directly is far more effective than treating illnesses one at a time. Steele argues that longevity science offers a realistic path to longer, healthier lives for everyone.

• Aging as the Dominant Global Killer: Steele explains that most deaths — from heart disease to cancer — stem from the underlying biological aging process, making it the biggest risk factor in medicine.
• Why Aging Drives Multiple Diseases: Rather than separate illnesses, age-related conditions share common cellular mechanisms such as DNA damage, senescent cells, immune decline, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Treating Diseases Individually Won’t Solve the Problem: Curing one disease at a time barely changes overall life expectancy, because another age-related condition quickly takes its place.
• Aging as a Medical Condition: Steele argues we should classify and treat aging like any other disease process, allowing science and policy to focus on prevention and repair rather than symptom management.
• Emerging Longevity Interventions: He highlights promising areas such as senolytics, rapamycin, metformin, gene therapies, and epigenetic reprogramming — each targeting core aging biology rather than end-stage disease.
• The Economic Logic of Longevity: Investing in aging research could save trillions by delaying disease, reducing medical costs, and improving workforce productivity.
• Ethical and Social Misconceptions: Steele addresses fears about overpopulation or extreme inequality, arguing that longer healthspans improve quality of life and allow more equitable access to healthy years.
• A Call to Action for Governments and the Public: He urges more funding, better public understanding, and a shift in healthcare priorities toward targeting the root causes of aging.