The Real Reason You Age (And How to Slow It Down) | Dr. Eric Verdin

Mark Hyman

May 6, 2026

Episode description

We tend to think of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s as separate problems. But what if they all stem from the same underlying process? On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with Dr. Eric Verdin, whose research, including work on compounds like urolithin A, is helping reshape how we think about aging and long-term health. We explore why aging may be the biggest driver of chronic disease and what that means for how you approach your health.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

We unpack:

• How your immune system becomes both overactive and less effective over time

• What chronic inflammation is doing inside your body and how to start bringing it back into balance

• Why cellular energy and mitochondrial health are key to repair and recovery

• How your microbiome shapes inflammation, immunity, and long-term health

• The daily habits that impact longevity most and where people get it wrong

This conversation reflects a shift in how we think about health, moving beyond treating disease to understanding what’s driving it in the first place.

View Show Notes From This Episode

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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Prioritize age over cholesterol to assess heart disease risk

Your age is seven times more important as a risk factor for heart disease than your cholesterol level.

#aging

#heart

Address aging as root cause of chronic diseases

The biological process of aging is the primary driver of chronic diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, which are secondary phenomena.

#aging

#chronic-disease

Address gut bacteria deficiency to benefit from pomegranates

About 60% of people lack the specific gut bacteria needed to produce the beneficial compound Urolithin A from foods like pomegranates.

#bacteria

#urolithin

Prioritize prebiotics and postbiotics for gut health

To improve gut health, it's more critical to focus on prebiotics (fiber) and postbiotics rather than just taking probiotic supplements.

#gut

#prebiotics

Preserve thymus health to enhance immune function after 50

The thymus gland, which is crucial for creating new adaptive immune cells, has mostly disappeared by age 50, impairing the ability to fight new infections.