Anti-Aging Medicine: What's Actually Backed by Evidence

Anti-aging medicine has moved from skincare counters into mainstream research, and patients increasingly ask us about it directly. It's worth separating what's promising from what's still marketing. Senolytics (drugs that clear senescent 'zombie' cells) and NAD+ precursors like NMN show real effects in animal studies, but human trial evidence on healthspan remains early and the long-term safety data isn't there yet — we don't recommend self-prescribing them. Metformin and rapamycin are being studied for longevity off-label, but current advice is to wait for trials like TAME to report before considering this outside an approved indication. The intervention with the strongest, most consistent human evidence is still the unglamorous one: regular resistance and aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, and a Mediterranean-style diet — the same pattern seen in long-lived 'Blue Zone' populations. On the nature side, there's good-quality evidence that time outdoors, including structured forest bathing (shinrin-yoku), measurably lowers cortisol and blood pressure and improves markers of immune function, which is a low-risk, evidence-supported addition to any longevity routine. If you're considering a supplement or peptide marketed for anti-aging, bring it to your next visit — some interact with existing medications, and we can help you weigh the actual evidence behind the claim.