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.”

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.”

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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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Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, continues to make its way through the U.S., as Hawaii joins the list of affected states.

The Hawaiian Department of Agriculture (HDOA) reported last week that bird flu was confirmed in a backyard flock of various birds in Central Oahu.

At least 10 birds — including ducks, geese and a zebra dove — were reported dead on the property on Nov. 12 and were then sent for confirmatory testing.

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The department stated in a press release that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) causes “severe illness with a high mortality rate among affected birds.”

The presence of bird flu was detected through the National Wastewater Surveillance System, marking the first confirmed detection in Hawaii.

The HDOA has issued a quarantine order for the site of infection, requiring all birds on the property to be “depopulated and the premises cleaned and disinfected.”

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It is confirmed to be the same strain that has infected dairy cows and domestic poultry in U.S. mainland states, including California.

As of Nov. 18, California has confirmed 27 human cases of bird flu, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

The California Department of Food and Agriculture also confirmed bird flu in 335 dairy farms in Central California as of that same date.

“We can’t afford to give this virus more opportunities to spill over into humans.”

These outbreaks have affected more than one-fourth of California’s farms, per reports, boosting the national total in dairy herds to 549 in 15 states.

The CDPH confirmed on its website that the agency is monitoring bird flu in animals and people working closely with poultry and cows, and has distributed protective gear to these individuals.

Bird flu spread can occur by drinking raw milk; touching raw milk, cow or bird feces, and other contaminated surfaces; and handling sick or dead animals infected with the virus. (iStock)

Meanwhile, Arizona reported its first bird flu outbreak on Nov. 15 in poultry at a commercial farm in Pinal County.

The farmers spotted signs of illness in their poultry on Nov. 11. Officials confirmed that any eggs produced after the onset of illness have not entered the food supply.

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Experts believe the surge stems from the Pacific Flyway, where birds are heading south for winter. The potential of human infection is less of a threat, according to state agencies.

Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture reassured that Hawaiians are “unlikely to get sick” from bird flu at this time, as human illness is “uncommon.” Symptoms among humans infected in the U.S. have been mild, the agency added.

California’s Department of Public Health has warned that while human infections are rare, it can happen if the virus enters a person’s eyes, nose or mouth.

The CDPH confirmed that the agency is monitoring bird flu in animals and people who work closely with poultry and cows. (iStock)

People can also be infected by drinking raw milk; touching raw milk, cow or bird feces and other contaminated surfaces; and handling sick or dead animals carrying the virus.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans can include eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing, high fever, pneumonia and seizures, according to medical experts.

Expert calls for ‘decisive action’

Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, said he considers the increased H5N1 influenza cases “quite concerning.”

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“From ducks and geese in Hawaii and dairy cows in California to human cases in the U.S. and a severe human infection in Canada, it’s clear that the avian influenza outbreak is getting worse, not better,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“We can’t afford to give this virus more opportunities to spill over into humans — and the economic costs on the agricultural side are piling up.”

A researcher collects samples of wildlife where the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected at Chilean Antarctic territory in Antarctica. (Reuters/Instituto Antartico Chileno)

Scarpino suggested that the federal government must take “decisive action” regarding testing and serosurveillance (estimates of antibody levels) of missed infections and wastewater, as well as vaccinating dairy cows against the virus.

“We also need to ensure that farm workers are protected and should strongly consider offering them access to H5N1 vaccines,” he said.

“It’s clear that the avian influenza outbreak is getting worse, not better.”

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The expert added that it will be more difficult to differentiate bird flu cases from non-bird flu cases during the seasonal influenza season.

“We need investment from the federal government to ramp up public health laboratory test capacity and educate physicians and hospitals around the need to test influenza A positive samples for H5N1,” Scarpino said.

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Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, urged people to “stay away from any dead birds and sick birds, pigs or cows” as a preventive measure, and to keep pets away from wild animals.

“This H5N1 has proven extremely lethal in ferrets and primates, and many of the infected birds have been found dead,” Glanville told Fox News Digital. “Researchers have shown it to be capable of airborne transmission between mammals.” 

“Stay away from any dead birds and sick birds, pigs or cows,” an expert cautioned. (iStock)

Among the 52 Americans who have been infected with bird flu, Glanville noted that almost all of them were farm workers who had contact with cows or birds. 

“Historically, from 2003 to 2024, 261 H5N1 infections have killed about 50% of the infected, being very lethal but not easily transmissible from human to human,” he said.

“Scientists don’t understand why this current strain is causing only mild infections so far, or how many mutations it would take to make it human-human transmissible and more lethal.”