160: Molecular Secrets of Aging Told Through Worms with Dr. Heidi Tissenbaum

Dr. Heidi Tissenbaum, a molecular geneticist at UMass Chan Medical School, joins Buck Joffrey to explore what C. elegans worms have revealed about the biology of aging.

She explains how these simple organisms helped uncover key longevity pathways—like insulin/IGF-1 signaling and sirtuins—that also exist in humans.

The conversation dives into the balance between stress and resilience, the role of IGF-1 in muscle health and lifespan, and why she believes true longevity breakthroughs will require understanding how the body's systems communicate as a whole.