What is the LEVITY surprise?

🤗 It’s a new format for my newsletter (don’t worry, the other ones will stay the same). I thought it’d be fun to include interesting stuff that might get overlooked in my regular posts.

🎁 And unlike those these will get sent at random times and random intervals. And you’ll never know what they’ll contain - that’s kind of the point. They will probably be a lot shorter than what you’re used to if you’ve read anything from me in the past.

🦾 What type of content can you expect? I don’t know. This time it’s Longevity Legends but it could be anything from Micro-insights and Biomarker of the Moment to Longevity Challenges (can you sit cross-legged and stand upright without using your hands as support?) and Futurist Corner.

🧩 All I can promise is that each time you open one of these, you'll find a little piece of the longevity puzzle waiting for you. A collectible. Maybe I should start selling NFTs as well. Have fun!

LONGEVITY LEGEND: Meet larger-than-life longevity scientist Roy Walford

He wanted to live to 120 - but might have accelerated his own death

Roy Walford was a pioneering scientist in the field of gerontology, born in San Diego in 1924. He is best known for his contributions to the study of aging and longevity, particularly through his research on calorie restriction as a method to extend lifespan. Walford's work was significantly influenced by the earlier research of Clive McCay, which demonstrated that a low-calorie diet could extend the lifespan of rats. Walford sought to expand on this work, studying the effects of calorie restriction on various biological functions, including DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and immune response. His aim was not just to extend life but to enhance the quality of health during aging, with an ambitious personal goal of living to at least 120 years. However, it did not work out quite that way.

Five things that solidify Roy Walford's larger-than-life persona:

Unconventional Lifestyle: Walford was known for his unconventional lifestyle, which included living in a red brick industrial loft in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, close to the ocean. He engaged in activities like acting, painting, and dancing jitterbug, defying the typical image of a scientist. Oh, and when he rode his motorcycle with a shaved head, walrus mustache, and leather jacket, he looked more like a gang member than a gerontologist.