There Is No Safe Gamble with High LDL Cholesterol
The article challenges the claim from the documentary *The Cholesterol Code* that “lean‑mass hyper‑responders” (LMHRs) on low‑carbohydrate, high‑fat diets can sustain extremely high LDL‑C without added atherosclerotic risk. It explains that LDL‑C is a proxy for apoB particle number, the true driver of plaque formation, and reviews two LMHR studies that lack proper controls, adequate follow‑up, and mechanistic validation. The piece argues that the proposed “lipid‑energy model” does not reconcile low triglycerides with elevated LDL‑C and that the causal link between apoB particles and cardiovascular disease remains robust across metabolic contexts.
Prostate Cancer: A PSA on PSA
Prostate cancer mortality is stalling as advanced‑stage diagnoses climb in the United States and Canada, a trend linked to the 2008‑2012 USPSTF move away from routine PSA screening. New evidence shows that refined PSA strategies—tracking PSA velocity and PSA density—combined...
#387 – AMA #83: Peptides—Evaluating the Science, Safety, and Hype in a Rapidly Growing Field
Peter’s AMA on gray‑market peptides demystifies a fast‑growing, often misunderstood segment of the wellness industry. He introduces a four‑point framework—mechanism, evidence, safety, and regulatory status—to assess any peptide claim. The episode walks through real‑world case studies such as SS‑31, melanotan‑II,...
Research Worth Sharing, April 2026 Edition
The April 2026 edition of “Research Worth Sharing” spotlights four breakthrough studies: paternal endurance exercise boosts offspring VO₂ max via sperm‑borne microRNAs; SARS‑CoV‑2 mRNA vaccination within 100 days of immune‑checkpoint inhibitor therapy cuts mortality in NSCLC and melanoma, especially in immunologically cold tumors;...
#386 – Aging Clocks—What They Measure, How They Work, and Their Clinical and Real-World Relevance
Aging clocks, built on DNA‑methylation patterns, aim to quantify biological age as a shortcut for long‑term health outcomes. Researchers view them as surrogate endpoints that could compress 20‑year anti‑aging trials into months, helping evaluate drugs or lifestyle interventions. However, the...
Thinking in Trade-Offs: A Necessary Antidote to Diet Tribalism
The episode examines the pervasive diet‑tribalism that claims any single eating plan is a flawless solution, arguing instead that all diets are trade‑off‑driven optimizations against the typical American diet, which is high in excess calories, refined carbs, and ultra‑processed foods....
Protect the Eyes, Protect the Brain—A Potentially Simple Lever for Dementia Risk
Neurodegeneration leading to dementia could affect up to 152 million people worldwide by 2050. A recent meta‑analysis of more than 540,000 older adults found cataract surgery reduces the risk of cognitive impairment or dementia by roughly 25 % compared with untreated cataracts,...
#385 – AMA #82: Applying the Tools of Longevity in the Real World: Disease Prevention, DEXA Scans, Artificial Sweeteners, Injury...
In this AMA episode, Dr. Peter Atiyah tackles a wide array of practical health questions, covering how health priorities shift across the decades, the hierarchy of chronic disease risk, and the most useful consumer health metrics. He discusses the role...
When Sophisticated Models Meet Questionable Premises
A recent Mendelian randomization (MR) study attempted to determine whether low‑calorie, vegetarian, or gluten‑free diets causally influence inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and acne. Using genetic variants from the UK Biobank as proxies for self‑reported...
#384 – Special Episode — Obicetrapib: The CETP Inhibitor with Cardiovascular Benefits and Potential Alzheimer’s Prevention
Obicetrapib, a next‑generation CETP inhibitor, has demonstrated potent LDL‑C, apoB, and Lp(a) reductions in a large phase III lipid trial. A pre‑specified biomarker sub‑study reported a marked attenuation of p‑tau217 progression, especially among APOE4/4 carriers, hinting at a potential Alzheimer’s‑related benefit....
An Intriguing Case of “Exceptional Resilience” Against Dementia
Researchers documented a 75‑year‑old man, Doug Whitney, who carries a highly penetrant PSEN2 mutation that typically causes early‑onset Alzheimer’s disease, yet he remains cognitively normal. Imaging revealed massive amyloid buildup but tau pathology confined to the occipital lobe, an atypical...
#382 ‒ AMA #80: Longevity Optimization Through Strength Benchmarks, VO₂ Max Targets, Nutrition Principles, Brain Health, Supplements, GLP-1 RAs, Wearables,...
In this AMA episode, host Peter Atiyah answers listener questions on practical longevity strategies, covering strength metrics (relative strength, grip, lower‑body power), starter exercise routines for time‑pressed beginners, and the role of complex movement for brain health. He emphasizes normalized...
Does Lowering Cholesterol Harm the Brain?
The brain houses about 20‑25% of the body’s cholesterol, yet it relies on local synthesis because circulating cholesterol cannot cross the blood‑brain barrier. Although some patients report transient brain fog on statins, large observational studies generally show neutral or even...
GLP-1 Drugs Fail to Slow Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease
Recent randomized trials testing GLP‑1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and liraglutide in Alzheimer’s disease patients found no measurable slowing of cognitive decline. Earlier post‑hoc and observational analyses had suggested roughly a 50 % reduction in dementia incidence, raising hopes of...