Health
'I'm a doctor — here's the wellness routine I follow for a longer, healthier life'
Humans may have reached their max life expectancy, according to a recent Harvard study — but that’s likely not going to stop them from trying to extend their years.
A recent poll found that 81% of respondents reported being “somewhat or very willing” to spend money to live longer — although many are unsure of where to start.
Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of AgelessRx in Detroit, Michigan, is committed to helping people live not only their longest, but also their healthiest lives.
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As a physician with a background in functional medicine, Zalzala worked to find and treat the root causes of symptoms and illness — which led him into the longevity space.
In 2019, he launched AgelessRx to try to “solve the puzzle of aging.”
Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of AgelessRx in Detroit, Michigan, shares his secrets to living a longer, healthier life. (Dr. Sajad Zalzala / AgelessRX)
Zalzala spoke on camera with Fox News Digital about the hallmarks of aging and what he sees as the most important components of a longer, healthier life.
The hallmarks of aging
While the aging process can look different for different people, researchers have identified some “common denominators” of cellular and molecular aging, which Zalzala shared with Fox News Digital.
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1. Genomic instability: This occurs when damaged DNA leads to diseases like cancer and weakens the body’s ability to heal, according to the doctor.
2. Telomere attrition: Shorter telomeres (DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome) are what cause visible aging signs like wrinkles and slower cell regeneration.
3. Epigenetic alteration: This is when environmental factors alter gene function, accelerating skin aging and metabolic issues, Zalzala said.
4. Loss of proteostasis: “Misfolded proteins contribute to age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s,” the doctor said.
5. Mitochondrial dysfunction: Reduced energy production leads to fatigue and muscle weakness, according to Zalzala.
6. Deregulated nutrient sensing: “Dysfunction in regulating metabolism and controlling energy production is a cause of why we age,” the doctor said.
7. Cellular senescence: With this phenomenon, cells stop dividing, causing aging signs like thinning skin and age spots.
8. Stem cell exhaustion: “Fewer stem cells result in gray hair and slower tissue repair,” Zalzala noted.
9. Altered intercellular communication: Poor cell communication weakens tissue health and immune responses, according to the doctor.
10. Disabled macroautophagy: This is a slowdown of the process that provides metabolites and energy to cells, according to ScienceDirect.
11. Chronic inflammation: As people grow older, an increase in inflammation is directly linked to the development of many diseases and effects of aging, experts agree.
12. Dysbiosis: This condition causes an imbalance in the microscopic organisms within the body, which can have negative impacts on health, per Cleveland Clinic.
Many of the hallmarks of aging can be addressed through behavioral changes, the doctor said. (iStock)
Many of these hallmarks can be addressed through behavioral changes, Zalzala said.
“A lot of things can be benefited by lifestyle,” he said. “For example, eating a highly processed diet, not exercising and being sedentary promotes inflammation, and that accelerates the aging process.”
5 cornerstones of health
The doctor shared some of his habits in each of the five “buckets” of healthy living.
1. Eating right
Zalzala follows a “Paleo-like” diet, which consists mainly of whole foods like vegetables, low-glycemic fruits and lean protein.
“I stay away from excessively processed foods, excessive sweets, and foods with too many starches or simple sugars,” he said.
“Eating a highly processed diet, not exercising and being sedentary promotes inflammation and accelerates the aging process.”
There’s a lot of debate about whether grains are healthy, Zalzala noted. He tends to avoid them.
“From a pure health perspective, I don’t think there’s much nutritional value in them,” he said.
When it comes to fruit, not all are created equal, according to Zalzala.
Zalzala follows a “Paleo-like” diet, which consists mainly of whole foods like vegetables, low-glycemic fruits and lean protein. (iStock)
“Bananas and grapes are high-glycemic foods — you want to stick to low-glycemic fruits such as berries and cherries.”
The doctor also abstains from drinking alcohol.
“Alcohol is not very good for longevity, and I would recommend limiting it,” he said. “More studies seem to show that there’s really no good level of alcohol consumption.”
2. Staying active
While Zalzala said he’s “not a huge exercise guy,” he does recognize the importance of physical activity in slowing down aging.
He uses a walking desk in his office for a couple of hours each day, and he does martial arts classes with his teenage son.
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The doctor also spends 20 or 30 minutes per day doing a mix of exercises, including riding a stationary bike, using a rowing machine and lifting free weights.
“I try to get a little bit of cardio and a little bit of weight resistance training each day,” Zalzala said.
3. Choosing the right medications
While Zalzala said he is “very comfortable” with medications, they should be prescribed carefully based on each person’s individual health goals.
One medication he regularly takes is metformin, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
While the aging process can look different for different people, researchers have identified some “common denominators” of cellular and molecular aging. (iStock)
Some studies have shown that metformin could help to promote longevity and better health outcomes, the doctor said.
“I started taking it mostly for prevention, as I’ve always struggled with my weight,” Zalzala said.
The doctor has also recently started taking rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug that has been heralded for its potential longevity-boosting properties.
“Having some way to measure and monitor sleep is very important.”
Zalzala also sometimes takes acarbose, an anti-diabetic medication that helps to regulate blood sugar.
“When I do eat starches and carbs, I try to take acarbose to limit some of the blood sugar spikes that can occur — and it also helps improve the microbiome,” he said.
While Zalzala said he is “very comfortable” with medications, they should be prescribed carefully based on each person’s individual health goals. (iStock)
Most recently, Zalzala started taking atorvastatin (Lipitor) to help keep his cholesterol at a healthy level.
“I have a family history of heart disease, and I just couldn’t get my LDL cholesterol down with diet and exercise,” he said.
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The doctor occasionally takes NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is a coenzyme that helps to regulate metabolism.
“Aging or certain disease conditions can drain the body of NAD+, so I take it here and there when I feel drained and need an energy boost,” he said.
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“There’s been more and more data showing that keeping youthful energy levels can help with all sorts of things, so I take it as needed for mitochondrial support and also for general longevity.”
4. Supplementing for health
Zalzala has always been an advocate of supplements to promote healthier living.
“Over the years, I’ve tried a bunch of different supplements — I always like to try things on myself, see how I feel, see how it moves the marker.”
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Vitamin D is among the most important supplements, he said.
Studies have shown that vitamin D supplements can help to improve bone health, brain health and immune function, among other benefits.
Studies have shown that vitamin D supplements can help to improve bone health, brain health and immune function. (iStock)
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone produced in the adrenal gland, is another of his top picks. Some studies have shown that DHEA helps to reduce abdominal fat, improve insulin resistance and reduce inflammation in the arteries.
The doctor also takes Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant supplement, to counter the potential downsides of his heart medication.
“If you can’t get your sleep right, very few things matter, because it will throw off your metabolism and all your hormones,” the doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“As long as somebody is free of any major diseases, I think most supplements won’t do any harm and could have benefit if taken intelligently,” he said.
It’s important to talk with a doctor before starting a new medication, supplement or exercise program, the doctor emphasized.
5. Improving sleep hygiene
One of the most important and overlooked aspects of health, according to Zalzala, is sleep.
“If you can’t get your sleep right, very few things matter, because it will throw off your metabolism and all your hormones,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“So having some way to measure and monitor sleep is very important.”
If someone suffers from sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, it’s essential to talk to a doctor about ways to improve sleep, the doctor advised.
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A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
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Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
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“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
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Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
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A drug that has long been used to treat seizures has shown promise as a potential means of Alzheimer’s prevention, a new study suggests.
The anti-seizure medication, levetiracetam, was first approved by the FDA in November 1999 under the brand name Keppra as a therapy for partial-onset seizures in adults. The approval has since expanded to include children and other types of seizures.
Northwestern University researchers recently found that levetiracetam prevented the formation of toxic amyloid beta peptides, which are small protein fragments in the brain that are commonly seen in Alzheimer’s patients.
The medication was found to prevent the formation of amyloid-beta 42 in both animal models and cultured human neurons, according to the study findings, which were published in Science Translational Medicine.
The effect was also seen in post-mortem human brain tissue obtained from individuals with Down syndrome, who are at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
The medication was found to prevent the formation of amyloid-beta 42 in both animal models and cultured human neurons. (iStock)
“While many of the Alzheimer’s drugs currently on the market, such as lecanemab and donanemab, are approved to clear existing amyloid plaques, we’ve identified this mechanism that prevents the production of the amyloid‑beta 42 peptides and amyloid plaques,” said corresponding author Jeffrey Savas, associate professor of behavioral neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in a press release.
“Our new results uncovered new biology while also opening doors for new drug targets.”
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The brain is better able to avoid the pathway that produces toxic amyloid‑beta 42 proteins in younger years, but the aging process gradually weakens that ability, Savas noted.
“This is not a statement of disease; this is just a part of aging. But in brains developing Alzheimer’s, too many neurons go astray, and that’s when you get amyloid-beta 42 production,” he said.
The effect was also seen in post-mortem human brain tissue obtained from individuals with Down syndrome, who are at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)
That then leads to tau (“tangles”) — abnormal clumps of protein inside brain neurons — which can kill brain cells, trigger neuroinflammation and lead to dementia.
In order for levetiracetam to function as an Alzheimer’s blocker, high-risk patients would have to start taking it “very, very early,” Savas said — up to 20 years before elevated amyloid-beta 42 levels would be detected.
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“You couldn’t take this when you already have dementia, because the brain has already undergone a number of irreversible changes and a lot of cell death,” the researcher noted.
The researchers also did a deep dive into previous human clinical data to determine whether Alzheimer’s patients who were taking the anti-seizure drug had slower cognitive decline. They reported that the patients in that category had a “significant delay” in the span from cognitive decline to death compared to those not taking the drug.
“This analysis supports the positive effect of levetiracetam to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s pathology,” the researcher said. (iStock)
“Although the magnitude of change was small (on the scale of a few years), this analysis supports the positive effect of levetiracetam to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s pathology,” Savas said.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to find people who have genetic forms of Alzheimer’s to participate in testing, Savas said.
Limitations and caveats
The study had several limitations, including that it relied on animal models and cultured cells, with no human trials conducted.
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Because the study was observational in nature, it can’t prove that the medication caused the prevention of the toxic brain proteins, the researchers acknowledged.
Savas noted that levetiracetam “is not perfect,” cautioning that it breaks down in the body very quickly.
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The team is currently working to create a “better version” that would last longer in the body and “better target the mechanism that prevents the production of the plaques.”
“You couldn’t take this when you already have dementia, because the brain has already undergone a number of irreversible changes and a lot of cell death.”
The medication’s common documented side effects include drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, irritability, headache, loss of appetite and nasal congestion.
It has also been linked to potential mood and behavior changes, including anxiety, depression, agitation and aggression, according to the prescribing information. In rare cases, it could lead to severe allergic reactions, skin reactions, blood disorders and suicidal ideation.
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Funding for the study was provided by the National Institutes of Health and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
Fox News Digital reached out to the drug manufacturer and the researchers for comment.
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