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In this episode of Longevity by Design, our host, Dr. Gil Blander, sits down with Dylan Livingston, CEO at the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives, and Dr. Brenda Eap to explore how public policy shapes the future of aging research. Dylan and Brendan share how their team pushes for legislation that supports healthy lifespan extension, aiming to bring longevity science into the center of national health priorities.
Dylan and Brendan explain why policy advocacy is crucial for securing funding for research, reducing regulatory hurdles, and establishing a clear path for new therapies. They outline recent successes, including building bipartisan support in Congress and expanding access to experimental treatments in states such as Montana. Throughout their discussion, Dylan shows how effective communication, using stories and simple analogies, helps move longevity from the lab to lawmakers’ agendas.
The episode closes with practical advice for listeners. Dylan highlights the power of community, clear communication, and grassroots action as tools that help turn advanced science into real-world health gains.
Guest-at-a-Glance
Episode highlights:
[00:00:00]: Introduction
[00:01:00]: Overview of Longevity Policy and Research Funding
[00:02:00]: Backgrounds and Personal Journeys into Longevity Advocacy
[00:05:00]: Inspiration and Founding of Longevity Policy Organization
[00:07:00]: Scientific Training and Motivation for Policy Work
[00:09:00]: Mission and Approach of Longevity Advocacy Organization
[00:10:00]: Policy Advocacy’s Role in Advancing Longevity Research
[00:12:00]: Gaps in Funding and the Importance of Government Engagement
[00:13:00]: Experiences with Policy Events and Realizations about Advocacy
[00:14:00]: Early Accomplishments and Congressional Engagement
[00:15:00]: Building Bipartisan Support and the Longevity Science Caucus
[00:16:00]: Legislative Engagement and Policy Paper Development
[00:17:00]: State-Level Policy Wins and Expansion of Right to Try Laws
[00:19:00]: Rationale and Strategy for State-Level Focus
[00:21:00]: Plans for Geographic Expansion of Longevity Policy Initiatives
[00:23:00]: Political Climate and Opportunities with the Current Administration
[00:25:00]: Shifts in Federal Attitudes Toward Longevity and Healthspan
[00:27:00]: Demographics, Policy Momentum, and National Health Priorities
[00:29:00]: Prevention Versus Treatment: Shifting Policy Mindsets
[00:32:00]: Communicating Policy Opportunities to a Wider Audience
[00:34:00]: Ensuring Longevity Policy Remains Bipartisan
[00:35:00]: Intersection of Policy, Science, and Public Engagement
[00:37:00]: Funding and Regulatory Challenges in Longevity Research
[00:39:00]: Barriers in Clinical Trials and Policy Modernization
[00:40:00]: Strategies for Communicating Longevity Science to Policymakers
[00:44:00]: Framing Longevity for Policy Impact and Public Understanding
[00:48:00]: Future Vision and Milestones for Longevity Policy
[00:51:00]: How Individuals and Organizations Can Support Longevity Advocacy
[00:55:00]: Practical Longevity Advice and Episode Conclusion
Policy Action Drives Longevity Research Forward
Government policy is a powerful lever for advancing aging research and extending healthy lifespan. When lawmakers prioritize aging science, they unlock funding, foster collaboration, and create new opportunities for research and innovation. Advocacy efforts, like forming bipartisan caucuses and developing clear policy proposals, help aging research compete for resources alongside better-known health causes. As policy focus grows, so does public investment, industry engagement, and the pace at which new therapies move from labs to real people. Policy action doesn’t just affect scientists; it shapes what treatments and prevention strategies become available to everyone. Lasting progress in longevity science depends not only on technical breakthroughs but on a supportive policy environment that champions both research and access.
Clear Communication Makes Science Actionable
Turning complex science into clear, relatable language is key to bridging the gap between researchers, policymakers, and the public. Technical terms and acronyms can alienate decision-makers and slow progress. Using everyday analogies, like comparing aging to car maintenance, helps non-experts understand why longevity science matters and what’s at stake. When scientists and advocates focus on big-picture impacts, such as job creation or healthcare savings, they connect better with policymakers’ priorities. Visual tools, relatable stories, and concrete examples make it easier to build support for change. Effective communication doesn’t just inform; it empowers others to act, whether that means passing legislation, allocating funding, or making healthier choices.
Grassroots Involvement Fuels Real Change
Big advances in longevity research require more than top-down policy support, they need broad public engagement. Grassroots actions, like writing letters to representatives or joining advocacy groups, give regular people a direct hand in shaping health policy. These efforts add up, showing lawmakers that there’s real demand for progress in aging science. When citizens speak up, it raises the profile of longevity issues and helps secure resources for research and innovation. Even small actions, such as sending a letter, sharing information, or building a local community, can move longevity from niche interest to national priority. Change starts when people get involved, push for fair funding, and demand policies that help everyone live healthier, longer lives.
Building Bipartisan Momentum for Longevity Policy
The Alliance for Longevity Initiatives scored a key win by launching the first-ever caucus dedicated to longevity in the House of Representatives. This group gives aging research a voice on Capitol Hill and helps foster bipartisan support for policies that benefit everyone. As the caucus grows, it provides a foundation for new legislative ideas and ensures that a healthy lifespan remains a national priority. This effort highlights the importance of collaboration across political divides to advance science that can help every segment of society, regardless of background or beliefs.
“So, the first big thing that we got done as an organization we launched publicly in January 2022. The first goal of the organization was to form a caucus in the House of Representatives. So, a formal group of members of Congress that are aligned on the mission of longevity and able to be our spokespeople in the halls of Congress. We put that together in February of 2023. Nothing is bipartisan these days, but our caucus is. That speaks to the nature of the issue we're advocating for, no matter whether you're right or left, or whatever divisions we want to draw, this is a common universal human interest to live as healthy as possible for as long as possible.”
Expanding Experimental Access: The Montana Right to Try Law
Montana set a new standard by broadening its Right to Try law, making it possible for healthy, chronically ill, and terminally ill individuals to access experimental longevity treatments. This shift moves beyond the national law, which limits access to terminal patients, and signals a proactive approach to healthspan. The story shows how state-level action can open new doors for both patients and the longevity biotech ecosystem. By lowering barriers, Montana encourages clinics and innovators to set up shop and gives people more choices in how they approach aging and preventative care.
“What we did in Montana in 2023 we expanded who is eligible under Right to Try and what the framework looks like. If you are healthy, chronically ill, or terminally ill, you can try an experimental treatment. The whole ethos of the longevity field is proactive health, preventative health. People who are healthy should also have the right to try something if they believe it will be beneficial to their health.”
Tailoring Policy to the Realities of Longevity Science
Longevity research faces unique hurdles because it doesn’t fit neatly into existing policy categories like cancer or Alzheimer’s. This mismatch leads to funding and regulatory gaps that slow progress and push researchers to chase indications that don’t match their science. The challenge is to modernize and expand policies to reflect the full scope of aging biology, rather than shoehorning new therapies into outdated frameworks. Updating these policies would help more clinical trials succeed and ensure resources go where they’re most needed, accelerating real progress in healthy aging.
“I want to say that it’s really frustrating because I feel like the longevity field tries to fit in a mold that doesn’t fit right. We have to squeeze ourselves into the cancer realm or the Alzheimer’s, because that’s where the policy is, and that’s where the strongest policy exists. Our job is to modernize those policies, to broaden those policies, to fit longevity medicine into it. That’s what we’ve been working on, and it’s really important to see that.”
The Power of Community and Social Connection in Longevity
Personal health is not just about medicine or science, the community plays a crucial role. Strong social ties are a common thread in the world’s longest-lived populations, known as blue zones. These connections provide emotional support, reduce stress, and encourage healthy behaviors. Lifestyle changes like getting enough sleep, staying active, and building relationships can add years to life, often outpacing the benefits of any drug or supplement. The episode closes with a reminder that everyone can take charge of their own health by investing in friendships and community.
“My grandfather, like I mentioned at the beginning, turned 98 last July… credits his longevity to really one thing, and that’s his social network. I think it’s as important, if not more important, than the lifestyle and dietary aspects of this whole longevity puzzle. When you look at blue zones around the world, that is the one unifying factor. There are different diets, different lifestyles, but they all have strong social circles and networks. So make some friends, you longevity people.”
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