#086 - Richard Miller: There Is No "Mechanism" of Aging

#086 - Richard Miller: There Is No "Mechanism" of Aging

From Discovering Academia by Brent Valentine & Keller Kramer

November 25, 2025 · 1h 15m · Episode 88

About this episode

Professor Richard Miller discusses the biology of aging and the potential of anti-aging drugs.

Professor Richard Miller of the University of Michigan, a leading expert in the biology of aging, joins us to redefine what aging is and how we can slow it down. Discover the groundbreaking work of the Interventions Testing Program (ITP), which has identified over a dozen compounds—including the drug Rapamycin—capable of extending the healthy lifespan of mice by up to 30%. Miller reveals why this level of lifespan extension is considered ten times more effective than finding a complete cure for all adult cancers. We dive into his revolutionary concept of "Aging Rate Indicators" (the biological "speedometer") and how this new metric is essential for filtering promising anti-aging drugs in mere months, bypassing the need for decades-long clinical trials. Learn why the search for a single "mechanism of aging" is a flawed approach and why widely popular concepts like cellular senescence and telomeres are considered scientific "zombie ideas". If you're interested in the future of longevity and the science behind the most effective anti-aging drugs, this episode provides an unfiltered look at the cutting edge of biogerontology. For more information, please see our website…

People in this episode

Hosts: Brent Valentine, Keller Kramer

Guest: Richard Miller

Topics covered

  • biology of aging
  • anti-aging drugs
  • longevity
  • Interventions Testing Program
  • Aging Rate Indicators
  • biogerontology

Keywords

  • aging
  • longevity
  • Rapamycin
  • biogerontology
  • Aging Rate Indicators
  • Interventions Testing Program
  • anti-aging

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Michigan

Products: Rapamycin

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