A new book by Eric Topol offers hope for treating age-related diseases, but its optimistic take on the state of medical research feels at odds with current funding cuts in the US. Despite these challenges, Topol’s comprehensive review covers cutting-edge approaches to tackling illnesses that cut human lives short, including advances in CRISPR gene editing and stem-cell techniques.
Topol argues that anything decreasing life expectancy and quality of life is a facet of ageing and should be addressed medically. He focuses on chronic diseases and highlights the benefits of GLP-1 agonists, which have positive effects on liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, and fertility. The author also touches on lifestyle factors such as outlook, social interactions, and mental health, emphasizing the importance of human interactions and medical progress.
The book provides a balanced view on diet and exercise, with advice that counters some popular longevity gurus’ messages. Topol notes that diagnostic tests that could accelerate treatments have not been adopted broadly due to high costs and lack of training changes.
Overall, Super Agers by Eric Topol offers an admirable review of cutting-edge approaches to tackling age-related diseases, despite the challenges posed by funding cuts in the US.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03225-y