Why Do We Age? Dr Bradley Elliott on Biomarkers, Muscle, and What Longevity Science Still Doesn’t...
Dr Bradley Elliott — physiologist, university lecturer, and a trustee and Communications Lead at the British Society for Research on Ageing — joins host Daphna for a refreshingly honest conversation about what longevity science actually knows and what we still cannot explain. This episode cuts through the certainty. We talk about biomarkers and biological age, why many measurements may be tracking effects rather than causes, we discuss extracellular vesicles and the surprising limit of science. Dr Bradley discusses some of his papers and related research, and our conversation challenges much of the conventional wisdom in the longevity space. What we cover: -Why we still do not know what fundamentally causes ageing — and why every “root cause” often leads to something deeper -What biomarkers really measure, what they can and cannot tell you, and which markers are most worth tracking right now -Biological age vs chronological age: where the concept is useful, and where it gets overclaimed -Why muscle is one of the most underrated “health organs” in ageing — and what it supports beyond strength -Exercise for longevity: the evidence-based basics, plus what matters most for consistency and adherence -“It is not too late”: what studies in very old adults suggest about strength gains later in life -Extracellular vesicles: the hidden communication system between cells, and why it is getting so much attention -Wearables: why they can still be useful even when the numbers are not perfectly accurate This is a fascinating episode with someone who knows how to communicate science and make it relatable Links to Dr Bradley Elliot: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-u... https://bsra.org.uk/bradley-elliott-2/ https://www.bradelliott.online/ Papers & Research Referenced • Perri et al. (2025) — Delphi review identifying 14 biomarkers of ageing for use in human research (co-authored by Dr Elliott) ' https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39708... • Lady V Barrios-Silva et al. — Activin subfamily peptides and prediction of age and physical function (undergraduate-led research, University of Westminster) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30178... • Dr Yvoni Kyriakidou (PhD) — Exercise-induced muscle damage in young and old men; extracellular vesicle characterisation post-exercise https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34650... • Dr Niharika Duggal (University of Birmingham) — Masters athletes and immune function; older athletes vs. age-matched non-athletes https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29517... • Stephen Harridge (King's College London) — Resistance training in 90+ year olds; gains in muscle strength and mass in the oldest old https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10398... • Science paper on genetic contribution to longevity — updated estimate shifting genetic contribution to ~50% (noted with editorial by Dr Elliott) https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/s... https://theconversation.com/what-new-... https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/ If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you took 60 seconds to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It genuinely helps more people find the show and means we can keep bringing you honest, science-backed conversations like this one. Thank you https://beyond-longevity.co.uk/ Chapters: 00:00 Why We Age 01:52 Meet Bradley Elliot 03:07 From Sports Science 05:32 Defining Ageing 07:03 Mechanisms And Theories 09:29 Biomarkers Explained 13:02 Delphi Biomarker List 16:59 Myostatin Study Story 21:25 Actionable Biomarkers 26:07 Wearables And Accuracy 27:38 Endocrine Fingerprints 30:11 Muscle And Healthy Ageing 33:21 Athletes And Immunity 34:26 Muscle Mass And Healthspan 36:36 Exercise Dose Guidelines 39:42 Resistance Training Plateau 40:42 Lifestyle Versus Genetics 42:42 Muscle Damage Study 44:44 Extracellular Vesicles Explained 46:49 Young Blood Controversy 50:08 Dream Research With Omics 56:55 What People Misjudge 58:43 It’s Never Too Late 01:02:41 Rapid Fire And Wrap 01:04:31 Final Takeaways
