This episode of Longevity by Design features Dr. Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, a physician–scientist investigating how DNA damage drives aging and how lifestyle, metabolism, and therapeutics may slow the process. The conversation highlights how everyday choices interact with cellular aging pathways, and how emerging longevity medicine aims to extend not only lifespan, but healthspan.

Key Points:

This episode explores how DNA damage contributes to aging and how lifestyle factors like diet, stress management, and exercise can help slow or offset this process. Dr. Scheibye-Knudsen describes the cellular mechanisms behind aging and discusses how both everyday habits and medical interventions may support longer, healthier lives.

• DNA Damage as a Root Cause of Aging: Dr. Scheibye-Knudsen explains that DNA damage accumulates naturally over time and disrupts cellular function, driving aging and chronic disease.
• Premature Aging Diseases Provide Clues: Studying genetic disorders where DNA repair is impaired helps scientists understand how aging works in everyone.
• Metabolism and Mitochondria Are Critical: Aging affects how cells process energy; mitochondrial decline is linked to fatigue, inflammation, and tissue deterioration.
• Ketones and Cellular Stress Responses: A surprising study in mice revealed that diets producing ketones may enhance cellular resilience and reduce aging-related decline.
• Lifestyle Can Influence Cellular Aging: Exercise, nutrient balance, sleep, and stress reduction can reduce DNA damage and improve repair mechanisms.
• The Aim Is to Increase Healthspan, Not Just Lifespan: The goal is to delay the onset of disease, so people stay healthier for longer rather than simply living more years.
• Longevity Medicine is Emerging: This new medical field focuses on preventing aging-related decline rather than treating each disease independently.
• Hope for the Future: Dr. Scheibye-Knudsen is optimistic that combining lifestyle strategies with targeted interventions will meaningfully extend healthy years of life.