#283 ‒ Gut health & the microbiome: improving and maintaining the microbiome, probiotics, prebiotics, innovative treatments, and more | Colleen Cutcliffe, Ph.D.
Release Date: 12/18/2023
#386 - Aging clocks—what they measure, how they work, and their clinical and real-world relevance
The Peter Attia Drive
In this episode, Peter takes a deep dive into the science and application of aging clocks, unpacking what they are, the differences between chronological age, biological age, and the pace of aging, and what epigenetic clocks may actually be measuring. He explores key research in the field, including a randomized controlled trial that tested simple lifestyle interventions against several commonly used aging clocks, as well as a study using brain MRI to assess the pace of aging and its relationship to dementia risk and mortality. Throughout the episode, Peter highlights the promises and...
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#385 - AMA #82: Applying the tools of longevity in the real world: disease prevention, DEXA scans, artificial sweeteners, injury recovery, stability training, habit formation, protein intake and mTOR activation, and more
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter answers listener questions across a wide range of topics, focusing on practical decision-making and real-world application. He explores how health priorities and strategies should evolve across different decades of life, which chronic diseases are most challenging to manage and how to think about risk hierarchies, and which emerging interventions—beyond exercise—show the most promise for dementia prevention. Peter also breaks down the utility of wearables and explains how to use and interpret DEXA scans effectively. He discusses the...
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#384 - Special episode — Obicetrapib: The CETP inhibitor with cardiovascular benefits and potential Alzheimer's prevention
The Peter Attia Drive
In this special episode, Peter takes a deep dive into obicetrapib, an investigational drug that has captured his attention and renewed interest in an entire class of therapies known as CETP inhibitors. He explains what obicetrapib is and how it works, revisits the history of CETP inhibitors and why earlier versions of these drugs failed—sometimes dramatically—and breaks down the key clinical trials designed to evaluate their impact on cardiovascular risk. Peter examines how obicetrapib influences major lipid biomarkers, including LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and discusses...
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#380 ‒ The seed oil debate: are they uniquely harmful relative to other dietary fats? | Layne Norton, Ph.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Layne Norton is a nutrition scientist and accomplished power athlete,who returns to The Drive for a conversation that departs from the show’s usual format. In this episode, Layne presents the evidence-based case that seed oils are not uniquely harmful under isocaloric conditions, while Peter steelmans the strongest versions of the opposing argument that seed oils are inherently harmful. They examine how scientific bias and evidence are evaluated, revisit the historical randomized controlled trials that shaped the seed oil controversy, and explore the mechanistic biology underlying LDL...
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#379 - AMA #79: A guide to cardiorespiratory training at any fitness level to improve healthspan, lifespan, and long-term independence
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter brings together his most up-to-date thinking on cardiorespiratory fitness into a single, practical guide designed to help listeners structure training for maximal impact on healthspan, lifespan, and long-term independence. He explains why cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the strongest modifiable predictors of longevity, clarifies what zone 2 training actually represents and how it differs from higher-intensity work, and addresses persistent confusion around exercise volume, intensity, and time constraints. The discussion covers how to...
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#378 ‒ Women’s health and performance: how training, nutrition, and hormones interact across life stages | Abbie Smith-Ryan, Ph.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Abbie Smith-Ryan is a leading researcher in exercise physiology whose work focuses on how training and nutrition influence body composition, metabolism, cardiovascular health, and women’s health across the lifespan, with particular attention on perimenopause and post-menopause. In this episode, Abbie explains how early exercise and play help build the foundation for bone health, muscle development, and cardiorespiratory fitness in girls, as well as how puberty and menstruation shape athletic performance, motivation, and recovery. She also explores how women can tailor training and...
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Building & Changing Habits | James Clear (#183 rebroadcast)
The Peter Attia Drive
James Clear is the author of the New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits. His extensive research into human behavior has helped him identify key components of habit formation and develop the “Four Laws of Behavioral Change.” In this episode, James provides insights into how both good and bad habits are formed, including the influence of genetics, environment, social circles, and more. He points to changes one can make to cultivate more perseverance and discipline and describes the profound impact habits can have when tying them into one’s self-identity. Finally, James breaks down his...
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#377 ‒ Special episode: Understanding true happiness and the tools to cultivate a meaningful life—insights from past interviews with Arthur Brooks
The Peter Attia Drive
In this special episode of The Drive, Peter presents a curated “best of” conversation with bestselling author and previous guest Arthur Brooks, organized around four core themes: happiness itself, the forces that undermine it, the tools and practices that help cultivate it, and the courage required to live and love well. The episode brings together the most meaningful moments from two past interviews into a single, focused discussion that distills Brooks’ most insightful ideas and offers practical takeaways for building a life that's both successful and deeply happy. We discuss: ...
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#376 - AMA #78: Longevity interventions, exercise, diagnostic screening, and managing high apoB, hypertension, metabolic health, and more
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter tackles a wide-ranging set of listener questions spanning lifespan interventions, exercise, cardiovascular risk reduction, time-restricted eating, blood pressure management, hormone therapy, diagnostics, and more. Peter reveals the single most important lever for extending healthspan and lifespan, and explains how he motivates midlife patients using the Centenarian Decathlon framework. He discusses the importance of addressing high apoB and cholesterol even in metabolically healthy individuals with calcium scores of zero, how to manage high...
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#375 - Ketogenic diet, ketosis & hyperbaric oxygen: metabolic therapies for weight loss, cognition, Alzheimer’s & more | Dom D’Agostino, Ph.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Dom D'Agostino is a neuroscientist and professor at the forefront of metabolic therapies, including ketogenic diets, exogenous ketones, and hyperbaric oxygen. In this episode, Dom breaks down nutritional versus supplemental ketosis, defines meaningful ketone thresholds, and outlines practical ways to achieve ketosis. He explains how a ketogenic diet can support metabolic health and weight loss, and advises on how to maintain adequate protein and avoid common mistakes. Dom surveys the growing landscape of exogenous ketones—from salts and esters to 1,3-butanediol—and effective pairings...
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Colleen Cutcliffe is an expert in molecular biology and co-founder of Pendulum Therapeutics, a company working to develop treatments for a variety of diseases by targeting the microbiome. In this episode, Colleen delves into the complexity of the microbiome, how it is tested, and how it changes over time. She explores how probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics affect the gut and makes a compelling case that well-developed products have the potential not only to enhance gut health but also to positively influence overall metabolic well-being. Colleen emphasizes the significance of a high-fiber diet in sustaining a thriving gut microbiome, shares insights on minimizing microbiome damage during antibiotic use, provides tips for fostering and preserving a healthy gut, and much more.
We discuss:
- Colleen’s background and current focus [4:45];
- The basics of the microbiome [7:15];
- The study of the human microbiome [15:15];
- Categories of bacteria, and the implications on health of the rapid evolution of bacteria [19:45];
- Methods for measuring and understanding the microbiome, and key indicators of microbiome health [28:30];
- The important role of fiber for promoting gut health through the production of butyrate [38:30];
- The case for manipulating gut bacteria via fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) [45:00];
- Dynamics of the microbiome: the gut-brain connection and how antibiotics, nutrition, stress, and more impact the microbiome's diversity and function [50:15];
- Factors that influence the vaginal microbiome [55:15];
- The effect of gut microbes on obesity and challenges with fecal transplants in people [58:45];
- Beneficial strains of gut bacteria and strains commonly found in probiotics [1:01:15];
- The difference between a probiotic and prebiotic, and how CFUs are a measure of the “active ingredient” [1:09:45];
- Considerations about how probiotic strains are produced, and more on the meaning of CFU [1:14:15];
- Mitigating the effect of antibiotics on the microbiome [1:22:30];
- What do we know about the effect of artificial sweeteners on the gut microbiome? [1:30:00];
- Why Akkermansia is a keystone strain with implications for metabolic health and an individual’s response to dietary interventions [1:36:15];
- The essential steps necessary to develop a robust probiotic for optimal health support [1:45:45];
- How Akkermansia helps control blood glucose, and potential implications of Akkermansia in weight loss, diabetes management, and more [1:48:45];
- Pendulum Therapeutics’ commitment to rigorous product develop [2:06:30];
- Details about the probiotic “Glucose Control” and other probiotics developed by Pendulum Therapeutics [2:13:00];
- Further studies of Akkermansia that have been proposed or are underway [2:20:30]; and
- More.
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