#286 ‒ Journal club with Andrew Huberman: the impact of light exposure on mental health and an immunotherapy breakthrough for cancer treatment
Release Date: 01/22/2024
#301 - AMA #59: Inflammation: its impact on aging and disease risk, and how to identify, prevent, and reduce it
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter delves into the often misunderstood concept of inflammation. He first defines inflammation and differentiates between acute inflammation and chronic inflammation, the latter of which is linked to aging and a plethora of age-related diseases. Peter breaks down the intricate relationship between chronic inflammation, obesity, and metabolic health, and highlights the signs that might suggest someone may be suffering from chronic inflammation. From there, the conversation centers on actionable advice and practical steps one can take to manage...
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#300 - Special episode: Peter on exercise, fasting, nutrition, stem cells, geroprotective drugs, and more — promising interventions or just noise?
The Peter Attia Drive
In this special edition celebrating 300 episodes of The Drive, Peter discusses a variety of popular topics and health interventions and classifies them based on their level of evidence and relevance using the following categories: proven, promising, fuzzy, noise, and nonsense. Peter first delves into the topic of geroprotective molecules, covering rapamycin, metformin, NAD and its precursors, and resveratrol. Next, he explores the significance of metrics like VO2 max and muscle mass, as well as emerging concepts like blood flow restriction and stem cells. The conversation extends to...
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Special episode with Dax Shepard: F1 and the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death
The Peter Attia Drive
This is a special episode of The Drive with Peter’s friend and fellow car enthusiast Dax Shepard. In this podcast, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the death of Brazilian Formula One legend Ayrton Senna, Dax sits down with Peter to better understand what made Senna so special and why Peter remains an enormous fan. This conversation focuses on Senna’s life, the circumstances of his death, and his lasting impact and legacy on the sport of F1. We discuss: Peter’s interest in motorsports began as a child [2:30]; The drama and dangers of F1 [6:00]; What made Senna special...
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#299 ‒ Optimizing muscle protein synthesis: the crucial impact of protein quality and quantity, and the key role of resistance training | Luc van Loon, Ph.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Luc van Loon is an internationally renowned expert in skeletal muscle metabolism. In this episode, Luc starts with an exploration of the roles of insulin and triglycerides in endurance exercise, highlighting their impact on skeletal muscle metabolism, and he offers profound insights into the significance of protein in this context. He elucidates how different protein types and forms influence muscle protein synthesis rates, exploring the nuances of protein absorption, digestibility, amino acid quality, and their implications for performance and recovery. Delving deeper, he differentiates...
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#298 ‒ The impact of emotional health on longevity, self-audit strategies, improving well-being, and more | Paul Conti, M.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Paul Conti is an author and practicing psychiatrist who specializes in helping people heal from trauma. In this episode, Paul returns to The Drive to delve into the intricate relationship between emotional health, healthspan, and lifespan. He first challenges common assumptions about the inevitable decline of emotional health with age, providing strategies for conducting a comprehensive audit of internal emotional health. He establishes a framework for the foundation of good emotional health: a balance between the generative drive, the assertive drive, and the pleasure drive. Paul also...
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#297 - AMA #58: Iron: its role in health, testing methods, and strategies for preventing and managing iron deficiency
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter delves into the crucial yet often overlooked topic of iron and iron deficiency. He explores why iron is indispensable for the body, explains the repercussions of iron deficiency, and sheds light on the prevalence of this issue and who is most susceptible. Peter outlines strategies for increasing iron levels, covering dietary iron, supplementation, and infusion options, while also discussing the suitability of each approach for different individuals. Shifting gears, Peter tackles rapid-fire questions on creatine and sodium, as well as...
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#296 ‒ Foot health: preventing and treating common injuries, enhancing strength and mobility, picking footwear, and more | Courtney Conley, D.C.
The Peter Attia Drive
Courtney Conley is an internationally renowned foot and gait specialist. In this episode, Courtney delves into the intricate world of foot anatomy and functionality. She explores the complexities of the foot, discussing its anatomy, common injuries, and the importance of understanding its structure in preventing issues. She covers a range of foot ailments, factors contributing to them, treatment options, and prevention strategies. She delves into the significance of loading, balance, range of motion, and posture, emphasizing the crucial role of strength in preventing both injuries and...
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#295 ‒ Roadway death and injury: why everyone should care and what you can do to reduce risk | Mark Rosekind, Ph.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Mark Rosekind is an expert on road safety and a policy leader with more than 30 years of experience enacting strategic, practical, and effective data-based solutions that enhance driver and pedestrian safety and health in complex environments. In this episode, Mark delves into the persistent issue of accidental deaths resulting from roadway accidents, a concern for those focused on longevity given its consistent risk throughout life. From exploring statistics on car crashes to identifying the demographics most at risk and the key locations of incidents, he uncovers various risk factors...
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#294 ‒ Peak athletic performance: How to measure it and how to train for it from the coach of the most elite athletes on earth | Olav Aleksander Bu
The Peter Attia Drive
Olav Aleksander Bu is an internationally renowned sports scientist acclaimed for his coaching prowess with elite athletes spanning a diverse range of sports disciplines. In this episode, Olav delves deep into the intricacies of VO2 max and its profound impact on performance. They explore the relationship between VO2 max and ATP production, energy efficiency, and power, as well as the impact of low-intensity training on VO2 max. The conversation extends to Olav’s experiences pushing the boundaries with high-performance athletes and the data driven interventions he uses to improve...
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#293 - AMA #57: High-intensity interval training: benefits, risks, protocols, and impact on longevity
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter delves into the topic of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), starting with addressing some common misunderstandings around this type of exercise and breaking down what HIIT truly entails. He examines the correlation between HIIT and VO2 max, a vital metric for overall health and longevity, and describes the beneficial impact of HIIT on longevity when incorporated properly. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of building a wide base of cardiovascular fitness, reveals the optimal protocols for incorporating HIIT into a balanced...
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Andrew Huberman, professor of neurobiology at Stanford University and host of the Huberman Lab podcast, returns for another special journal club episode. Andrew introduces an observational study investigating the influence of light exposure on circadian clock regulation and its link to mental health, while Peter covers a phase III clinical trial employing immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of metastatic cancer. They delve into the essential findings of their respective papers, elucidate the reasons for their enthusiasm, and tackle potential limitations and unanswered questions. Additionally, they provide valuable insights into their approaches for comprehending research studies, aiding listeners in independently navigating this process.
We discuss:
- The intricate relationship between light exposure, circadian rhythms, and mental health [3:30];
- The importance of low solar angle sunlight, and other types of light needed for optimal mental and physical health [12:00];
- Promising new lightbulb technology that simulates low solar angle sunlight [17:45];
- The significance of both darkness and the need for direct light exposure to the eyes, specifically [20:00];
- Some tips and advice regarding optimizing light exposure, blue blockers, and effects on circadian rhythm [22:15];
- Andrew presents a paper which suggests avoiding light at night and seeking light during the day is associated with better mental health [25:45];
- Examining the data: the negative impact of increasing nighttime light exposure and the positive effects of daytime light exposure [34:30];
- Statistical analysis: the importance of focusing not only on statistical significance but also clinical relevance, power analysis, error bar range, and more [45:45];
- Takeaways from the study of daytime and nighttime light exposure [49:45];
- The practicalities of minimizing light exposure and screen time at night, the use of sleep trackers, and overall challenge of modern, indoor lifestyles [55:15];
- Potential limitations of the light exposure study, reverse causality, and the complex interplay of variables in epidemiological studies [1:06:00];
- A tangent on diet soda and sugar substitutes as an example of reverse causality [1:13:15];
- Andrew and Peter’s take on the causality vs. correlation of light exposure to mental health, the damage of circadian disruption, and the interpretation of observational data [1:17:30];
- A primer on the immune system as background for the paper Peter chose [1:25:00];
- Background on cancer: causes, how it evades the immune system, and the logic behind immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy [1:35:45];
- Peter presents a paper on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in cancer patients [1:50:15];
- Unpacking the results of the checkpoint inhibitor trial [1:59:45];
- Other noteworthy observations, including the differing results between males and females [2:15:30];
- Adverse effects resulting from treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting CTLA-4 [2:20:00];
- Why melanoma is especially responsive to immunotherapy, and the remarkable success story of immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer [2:25:15];
- Why immunotherapy may be the most important hope we have for treating cancer [2:35:30];
- Avoiding melanoma: the sunscreen debate, sunburn as the biggest risk factor, and more [2:38:45]; and
- More.
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