Egg consumption and Alzheimer’s, the blood biomarkers of centenarians, and be critical of whom you give authority to.

Last week I discussed a study that showed that egg yolk antibodies (IgYs) are highly effective at preventing the binding of the COVID spike protein, which can bind to cells, linger for years, and is the main culprit behind complications from a COVID viral infection and side effects from vaccination. 

This week I have more promising research on the benefits of egg consumption. 

A paper published in July 2024, titled, Association of Egg Intake with Alzheimer’s Dementia Risk in Older Adults: The Rush Memory and Aging Project, sought to see if there was a correlation between egg intake and risk and incidence of Alzheimer’s Dementia. 

This study, based on the Rush Memory and Aging Project, investigated the relationship between egg consumption and the risk of Alzheimer's dementia in older adults. It involved 1024 participants with an average age of 81.38 years and followed them for about 6.7 years. During this period, 280 participants (27.3%) were diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia.

The study found that consuming more than one egg per week was linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's dementia. Further analysis of brain autopsies from 578 deceased participants revealed that higher egg intake was also associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease pathology in the brain. The researchers also discovered that dietary choline, a nutrient found in eggs, accounted for 39% of the protective effect of eggs against Alzheimer's dementia.

In conclusion, the study suggests that eating eggs frequently may lower the risk of Alzheimer's dementia and the development of Alzheimer's pathology in the brain. This protective effect is partially attributed to the presence of choline in eggs.

I’m noticing a trend in my research…it’s probably worthwhile to eat more eggs, as the short and long term benefits could be profound. I typically eat eggs a couple of times per week, however, I will probably start increasing that to 4 or 5 times per week personally.

Next we have a study type I really like. It’s a long term study (35 years) that tried to draw common correlations in the bloodwork of those living to be 100 years of age, and those living much shorter. 

This paper titled, Blood biomarker profiles and exceptional longevity: comparison of centenarians and non-centenarians in a 35-year follow-up of the Swedish AMORIS cohort, discusses a study that compares blood biomarker profiles of centenarians and non-centenarians. The researchers and authors of the paper aimed to:

1. Describe and compare biomarker profiles at similar ages (between 64 and 99) among individuals who became centenarians and their shorter-lived peers.
2. Investigate the association between specific biomarker values and the chance of reaching age 100.
3. Examine the homogeneity of biomarker profiles in centenarians earlier in life.

The study followed participants in the population-based AMORIS cohort with blood-based biomarker information measured during 1985-1996, using Swedish register data for up to 35 years. The researchers examined biomarkers related to metabolism, inflammation, liver, renal (kidney) function, anemia, and nutritional status.

The study found that higher levels of total cholesterol and iron, and lower levels of glucose, creatinine, and several other biomarkers, were associated with reaching 100 years. Centenarians generally showed homogenous (consistently similar) biomarker profiles and displayed more favorable biomarker values from age 65 compared to those who died before 100.

Let’s unpack these findings a bit more. 

The core findings revealed that individuals who reached 100 years of age exhibited distinct biomarker profiles compared to those who died earlier. Specifically, centenarians, even decades prior to reaching 100, tended to have:

• Higher levels of total cholesterol and iron: This suggests that contrary to some assumptions about cardiovascular risk, higher cholesterol in these individuals was associated with longevity. 
• Lower levels of glucose: This shows an ability to more effectively regulate blood sugar, and is representative of overall cellular metabolic health. 
• Lower levels of creatinine, uric acid, and liver enzymes: These lower levels indicate better metabolic and organ function, suggesting a robust physiological state.
• Generally more favorable biomarker values from age 65: Centenarians displayed more optimal levels of various biomarkers, indicating a healthier baseline well before reaching extreme age.

Final Thoughts

The study highlighted a relative homogeneity in biomarker profiles among centenarians, suggesting a consistent pattern of healthy physiological parameters. 

Essentially, those who lived to 100 demonstrated consistently better health markers earlier in life when compared to those who did not. These findings suggest that certain biomarker profiles might contribute to or reflect a pathway to exceptional longevity.

The most valuable takeaway from this finding is that it showed at an early age, you wanted to consistently see certain biomarkers. These findings could provide a true framework for blood biomarkers you can easily test for and monitor at an age much earlier than 65; and take measures to improve these biomarkers knowing they generally lead to a longer lifespan. 

Now, what I found most noteworthy about this paper’s findings when taking the above into account is that higher levels of cholesterol actually correlated with much longer lifespan than lower cholesterol levels. This of course contradicts traditional thinking in the medical community. 

This is actually a subject I will be writing more about in the coming weeks as I think it’s very important to get out, There is growing research showing that cholesterol is a critical nutrient to our health, and is not something we should be concerned about with respect to any correlation with increased risk of heart disease. 

I also think the mounting modern research showing that cholesterol is good, sheds a light on the research of the past, the funding behind it, and the potential motives of the funding behind it. But more on that in the coming weeks.
 
Higher levels of iron seem to be critical for long term health, which most likely means red blood cell health and oxygen transporters in the blood are critical for long term health and longevity, which makes sense. 

Eating more grass fed red meat, which not only carries high levels of iron, but also other blood boosting nutrients in proper ratios can definitely help with this. If on a plant based diet, leafy greens are going to be your best source of iron. 

Supplementing with beef liver capsules will probably be more effective than any straight iron supplement will be when it comes to boosting iron levels and overall red blood cell health, as beef liver contains heme-iron, which is effectively highly bioavailable pre-digested iron, as well as a host of other essential red blood cell boosting nutrients that an iron supplement will not. 

Finally, lower blood glucose levels are directly correlated with greater longevity. This indicates proper metabolic health at the cellular level, and metabolically efficient, fully vital cells do not turn into diseased cells. This is why Type II Diabetes pretty much increases your risk of all diseases, as an inability to metabolize and regulate blood sugar is an indication that all 40 trillion of your cells have poor metabolic health making them prone to cancer, Alzheimer’s and more. 

And, we know sugar causes premature aging on our cells, so if your blood (your life giving, nutrient delivery pathway for the whole body) consistently contains more glucose (sugar), then it is more consistently delivering that sugar to all of your organs. 

This was the focal point of my multi-week segment on GLP-1, the hormone at the center of the discussion with GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic™️, and why harnessing it naturally may do more than just help with weight loss. This 35 year study would back that sentiment up with long term research.

The origin of “authority”

One of the books I’ve been listening to recently is The 50th Law by Robert Greene.

There was a segment in a chapter that really hit me like a ton of bricks discussing the origin of the word “authority”. 

“Authority” comes from the word “author”, in relation to being an innovator, or one who moves the needle forward. In other words, one who is “authoring the way forward”. 

In this context then, “authority” was given to those who authored the way forward. 

In the Roman army, if a general ever got too entitled, and acted like their role, and thus, authority, was a given, they actually lost their role, because it was viewed that they lost sight of how they got to that position of authority to begin with, which was by being the author of the way forward for those who followed them. 

In short, authority was always meant to be something that was earned, and had to continually be earned, and was absolutely never given. 

I think this is a tremendous perspective shifter and something we can all apply in our own lives in multiple pathways. 

First, we can apply the true meaning of “authority” more accurately to those we choose to give authority to. 

We live in a society where it seems so much of authority is given, which is the opposite of the original intention. The word “expert” gets thrown around way too readily as a means of granting someone authority, and oftentimes these people, especially when it comes to matters of our health, are the antithesis of authorities. 

They are people with a vested interest in actually keeping truth and information locked down, and thus, they are trying to do the opposite of authoring the new way forward. 

This is what I hinted at above with respect to some of the dated research on cholesterol and those who still push it. 

Let’s work and get back to giving authority to people in our own lives who truly earn it. 

I think a lot about the podcasts I’m listening to and other media I consume. 

Are these people and/or the guests, people genuinely trying to author the way forward? If so, you are earning authority in my book. 

Secondly, think about people you may want authority over in your world. 

Are you trying to earn that authority? 

Trying to move the needle forward with whatever you are trying to achieve or gain authority in?

Or is that authority expected from you?

I think collectively, if we begin to be more critical of whom we personally give authority and our energy to, and focus more heavily on doing what we can to earn any authority we have from others, we would make this world a better place. 

You have my whole-hearted promise that I will work relentlessly to earn the heck out of any authority you may give to me.