😂 My Scale Thinks I’m 12—The Science of Aging Says Otherwise

So, here’s a fun one—my scale at home has been giving me a biological age of 12. Yes, 12 years old! I’m 47, so while I love the compliment, I’m not entirely convinced my metabolism got the memo! But what if there were more scientific ways to assess and influence aging?

That’s exactly what we explored in my latest conversation on my podcast with Marco Quarta, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Rubedo Life Science. We’re talking about regenerative medicine, reversing cellular decline, and the future of longevity therapeutics. What if aging wasn’t a one-way street? What if we could slow it down—or even reverse its effects? Marco and his team are working on exactly that.

🧪 The Science of Aging: What’s Really Happening?

Aging isn’t just about getting older; it’s about cellular decline. One of the biggest culprits? Senescent cells—often called zombie cells—which refuse to die and wreak havoc on our bodies, causing inflammation and age-related diseases.

Rubedo Life Science has developed a new approach to selectively eliminate these harmful cells while preserving the good ones. The result? Slower aging, reduced inflammation, and potentially a longer healthspan—meaning more years of good health, not just more years alive.

🧒 From Childhood Curiosity to Revolutionary Science

Marco’s journey into longevity science started at just five years old when he decided he wanted to cure aging (yes, really). That early passion led him to work under Nobel Laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini, research aging at Stanford, and launch multiple biotech companies focused on reversing cellular decline.

His current company, Rubedo, is now in clinical trials, starting with dermatology and expanding into chronic diseases like lung fibrosis and chronic pain.

🚀 The Future of Longevity: What’s Coming?

Marco envisions a world where aging can be tracked like pre-diabetes—where a simple test could reveal your risk of age-related diseases decades before symptoms appear, allowing for early intervention. Think about it: You go for a check-up, and instead of hearing, "You’re fine for now," you get proactive treatment to stop aging before it starts.

⚖️ What’s Holding Us Back?

While science is moving fast, regulations and public policies are playing catch-up. Aging isn’t yet classified as a treatable disease, meaning many breakthrough therapies struggle to move through the system efficiently. But change is coming, with organizations pushing for biomarker validation and faster clinical pathways for longevity treatments.

Track Your Biological Age – While full-fledged aging therapies aren’t here yet, tests like epigenetic clocks can help gauge your biological versus chronological age.
Reduce Chronic Inflammation – Marco emphasized that inflammation is at the core of aging, so prioritizing anti-inflammatory diets, stress management, and exercise is crucial.
Stay Ahead of Innovation – Longevity science is advancing fast. Following developments in senolytics (zombie cell killers), epigenetic reprogramming, and AI-driven drug discovery will keep you in the know.

🌍 The Big Picture: Aging as a Societal Crisis

Marco made one thing clear—this isn’t just about looking younger. It’s about preventing the global healthcare system from collapsing under the weight of an aging population. If we don’t act now, the number of people suffering from age-related diseases will be unsustainable.

💡 Final Thoughts

Aging isn’t as inevitable as we once thought. Science is showing us that the body’s natural deterioration can be slowed—and maybe even reversed.

Are we ready to embrace a future where getting older doesn’t mean getting sicker? Let’s continue the conversation. Hit Reply and let me know your thoughts!

Stay vibrant!

Peggy Van de Plassche is a seasoned advisor with over 20 years of experience in financial services, healthcare, and technology. She specializes in guiding boards and C-suite executives through transformational change, leveraging technology and capital allocation to drive growth and innovation. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, Peggy also brings unique expertise in navigating complex issues and fostering public-private partnerships—key elements in shaping the Future of Business. Her skill set includes strategic leadership, capital allocation, transaction advisory, technology integration, and governance. Notable clients include BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. For more information, visit peggyvandeplassche.com.

#aging #healthspan #biotech

🚀 The Future of Aging: Can We Reverse Time? A Deep Dive with Marco Quarta