Jet Lag Superdrug, 25% Dementia Drop, Coffee Brain Aging, Kratom Shakeup
Dave Asprey
Feb 13, 2026
Episode description
This episode covers:
• Mic-628 Could Reset Your Body Clock and Cut Jet Lag in Half
A new circadian drug candidate, Mic-628, has demonstrated the ability to shift the body’s internal clock and significantly reduce jet-lag recovery time in early human studies. In controlled simulations, participants experienced faster realignment of their sleep-wake cycles and improved daytime performance compared to standard approaches like melatonin and light timing alone. Dave explains how this compound targets a core clock pathway, why eastbound travel is biologically harder than westbound, and how pharmacologic chronotherapy could become a serious performance tool for frequent travelers and shift workers. He also connects circadian alignment to obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk, and cognitive decline, outlining what this breakthrough could mean if safety data continues to hold.
• Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top/
• Late-Life Depression May Signal Parkinson’s or Dementia
New research from Shanghai Jiao Tong University found that new-onset depression in older adults is strongly associated with increased risk of Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Dave reframes this finding as a brain health signal rather than a purely psychiatric issue, explaining how inflammation, microglial activation, vascular health, and neurodegeneration intersect with mood changes. He breaks down why sudden depression in someone with no prior history may warrant deeper cognitive testing, sleep evaluation, and metabolic screening instead of simply prescribing an antidepressant and moving on. This story highlights the importance of treating mood shifts as early biological data in a longevity framework.
• Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210040623.htm
• Speed-Training Brain Games Reduced Dementia Risk by 25 Percent
The long-running NIH-funded ACTIVE trial found that a specific speed-of-processing training program reduced dementia incidence by roughly 25 percent over two decades. Unlike memory or reasoning exercises, this visual processing speed protocol produced measurable long-term protection. Dave explains why reaction time and processing speed may be core capacities tied to cognitive resilience, and how structured brain-training programs descended from this research can be treated like strength training for the mind. Instead of vague advice to “stay mentally active,” this data supports building deliberate, trackable cognitive training into a midlife longevity plan.
• Sources:
– NPR summary:
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Recognize late-life depression as early warning for Parkinson's or dementia
New-onset depression in older adults may be a prodromal symptom, or an early warning sign, for Parkinson's disease or certain forms of dementia.
Master fundamentals to enhance biological performance
Your advantage is building a biology that works with fundamentals like sleep and strength, making new molecules an optional leverage instead of a crutch.
Avoid high-potency synthetic kratom derivatives for safety
High-potency synthetic kratom derivatives like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) are facing regulatory bans due to their amplified effects and adverse events.
Utilize Mike628 to reduce jet lag recovery time
A new drug candidate called Mike628 targets your core clock control pathway and has been shown to cut jet lag recovery time almost in half.
Focus on speed training to lower dementia risk
A 20-year study showed that only speed-of-processing training, not memory or reasoning exercises, meaningfully reduced the long-term risk of dementia.
Limit coffee to one to three cups daily for optimal brain health
The sweet spot for coffee consumption appears to be one to three cups per day for slower brain aging, as higher doses may flatten or reverse the benefit.
