FIELD NOTES 003: What Happens in the Air Doesn't Stay in the Air

From red-eye rituals to GLP-1 deep dives—what I’m watching, reading, and rethinking this week in health and longevity

Aug 04, 2025

I’m writing this on a red-eye to Italy to meet my family. Barely made the flight - because of course I decided that the new Smitherseen restaurant was worth risking a 10 PM boarding time for. (It was. Get the buckwheat pancake with an ounce of caviar pictured below.)

I’m not big on plane routines, but with the number of flights and time zones I’ve moved through lately, I swear by two things:

Electrolytes: We lose nearly 7 ounces of water per hour in-flight from the dry cabin air alone. Think of it less as hydration and more as system stability. You need it.
Chlorophyll: It helps increase red blood cell count and oxygen delivery—especially useful in low-humidity, low-oxygen environments like airplanes. It also supports detox and reduces inflammation—perfect for landing less puffy.

And for those of you who really struggle with jet lag, I couldn’t recommend FlyKitt more - created by a very smart founder, Andrew Herr. I’ll write more about the kit soon, but yes: me landing with a coffee (with sugar - yes, sugar!) is something I stole from that protocol. It really works.

THIS WEEK’S DOWNLOAD

Aka things I stumbled across—some new, some just new to me.

Ozempic Might Turn Back the Clock on Your Biological Age – New Scientist
New research suggests GLP-1s like Ozempic may reduce biological age, as measured by epigenetic clocks. While early, the findings hint at aging benefits beyond weight loss—potentially slowing tissue-specific decline.
Medicare & Medicaid Plan to Cover GLP-1s – Washington Post
The U.S. government announced a 5-year pilot to expand GLP-1 access under Medicare and Medicaid. If successful, it could reframe these drugs from luxury wellness tools to public health instruments.
“Ozempic Teeth” Are Real – Advisory Board
Dentists are reporting oral health side effects linked to GLP-1s: dry mouth, enamel erosion, and increased dental issues. Likely tied to appetite suppression and dehydration—reminding us these aren’t risk-free.

My Take: GLP-1s are spreading fast—clinically, culturally, and now institutionally. They're being positioned as more than weight loss drugs: potential tools for cardiovascular risk, inflammation, and even aging itself.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Most of the data is early. Long-term outcomes? Still unknown. And side effects—from nausea to nutrient depletion to, yes, “Ozempic teeth”—are real.
This is exciting science, but not a silver bullet. And as always: source, supervision, and context matter. The right drug, wrong hands, or wrong reason can undo the benefit. Let’s watch—but with curiosity, not hype.

PODCASTS WORTH YOUR TIME

The Diary of a CEO – “Vitamin D Expert: The Fastest Way to Dementia & The Dangerous Lie You’ve Been Told About Sunlight”, Published: July 17, 2025 Guest: Dr. Roger Seheult
This episode reframes vitamin D not just as a supplement but as a proxy for lifestyle quality. Dr. Seheult explains why people who take vitamin D and stay healthy may be benefitting more from how they live - sunlight and movement, than from the supplement itself. Also covers red light therapy, circadian health, and how our indoor lives are quietly eroding cognition.

My Take: This one reminded me it’s not about the molecule - it’s about the method. Getting vitamin D from sunlight (or at least red light) comes with layered benefits. Dr. Seheult makes a strong case that how you get your vitamin D might matter more than whether you take it.
It’s also a reminder to treat your health like a live experiment. Even Huberman says he goes off all supplements once a year for a month or so to see what’s really doing the work (quick clip he just did here). That’s the mindset: don’t optimize blindly.

Mighty Pursuit Podcast – “Harvard Neuroscientist: A.I. Is Reprogramming Your Brain — But It’s Nothing Like Social Media”, Published: July 22, 2025
Dr. Srini Pillay breaks down how AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare—but also poses subtle risks to our well-being. One of the most overlooked? The erosion of real human interaction. He compares it to a form of soft isolation, noting that meaningful conversation and collaboration are essential for cognitive and emotional health—much like how solitary confinement impacts the brain.

My Take: From both an accuracy and neuroplasticity perspective, the art of human conversation is irreplaceable. I love ChatGPT - but I treat it like one tool in a much bigger toolbox. The real breakthroughs often happen in conversations and debates with friends and colleagues. They challenge my assumptions, deepen my thinking, and build understanding in ways AI simply can’t.
As Dr. Pillay says in the pod: AI can’t read a room (and let’s be honest -sometimes, neither can I ;)). So let’s remember to step away from the screen this week and get into some thoughtful, maybe even heated, arguments. It’s good for your brain.

THE SCIENCE BIT

Proteomic Atlas of Aging – Cell, Published: July 26, 2025
Researchers analyzed 516 samples across 13 human organs to create the first cross-tissue aging atlas. They found that aging accelerates sharply around age 50 - and that blood vessels (especially the aorta) age earlier than most other tissues. A new plasma-based proteomic clock could let us track aging organ-by-organ.

My Take: Last week I talked inflammation. This week, we get the map. This comes from the team who coined “inflammaging”, and they’re showing how aging starts in your vasculature - long before symptoms show up elsewhere. It’s molecular aging with a GPS. And yes—you can relax a little. Most organs don’t accelerate until around 50 ;)

Low-Grade Inflammation & Disease Risk – Nature Aging, Published: July 25, 2025
A cohort of over 435,000 UK Biobank participants found that elevated CRP levels were linked to sharply higher risks of diabetes (+105%), dementia (+78%), heart failure (+41%), and cancer (+21%)—even when measured a decade before diagnosis.

My Take: We’ve known inflammation drives aging - but this makes it measurable. CRP, which I flagged last week, now has even stronger evidence behind it. It’s cheap, accessible, and a crystal ball for long-term risk. If you’re not testing CRP, you’re flying blind.

VCs, M&A, AND STRATEGY SHIFTS

The business of aging continues to mature.

NewLimit raises Series B to advance liver rejuvenation: Backed by top-tier VCs, NewLimit is developing an mRNA-based platform to reprogram aging liver cells—signaling growing confidence in organ-specific reprogramming as a core longevity strategy.
Sanofi acquires Blueprint Medicines for ~$9B
The deal gives Sanofi access to Ayvakit and a robust immunology pipeline, reinforcing Big Pharma’s appetite for biology-first biotech even in a tighter funding climate.
Montana expands Right-to-Try law to create experimental treatment hub
New legislation allows approved clinics to offer experimental therapies—even to non-terminal patients. Longevity biotechs are already exploring the state as a launchpad for early access.
🔗 MedPath

My Take: NewLimit is building the science. Montana is building the runway. One is working on reprogramming aging cells; the other is rewriting the rules so those therapies can reach people faster. Together, they hint at what’s next: a future where longevity breakthroughs aren’t just theoretical—they’re actionable, testable, and maybe even state-sanctioned.