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Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
How Stanford's longevity researcher reversed his biological age by 10 years
Longevity researcher Dr David Furman didn't just study ageing—he lived it in reverse. Ten years ago, life in a bustling California city had taken its toll. 'My life was pretty stressful,' Dr Furman admitted in an interview with Business Insider recently. Headaches were routine. Ibuprofen was a crutch. He suspected his fast-paced, urban lifestyle was doing more than just giving him migraines—it was speeding up his biological ageing. To test this, the head of Stanford's 1000 Immunomes Project for the last 13 years ran a series of blood tests on himself. What he discovered shocked him. Though his biological age was 39, the inflammation in his body told a different story: he had the inflammatory profile of a 42-year-old man. Faced with this sobering reality, he packed up his life and moved into the woods. In 2016, Dr Furman, his wife, and their two children relocated to a modest two-bedroom cabin tucked away in the San Gregorio forest of Northern California, just half an hour from Stanford. This was no glamping getaway. Their home had no plastic furniture, industrial cleaners, or WiFi. Chairs were absent. Even bright overhead lights were switched off by 7:30 p.m., replaced with the soft glow of candlelight. What began as an experiment turned into a transformative way of living. Over three years, his lifestyle began to reverse the toll that stress had taken on his body. Remarkably, he was able to de-age his biology by 10 years. Does science back this approach? According to Dr Manisha Arora, Director of Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital in Delhi, there is certainly a rationale behind his results. 'Dr David Furman's story is certainly fascinating. The idea that he could 'de-age' himself simply by moving to a more serene environment and making lifestyle changes is inspiring. However, it's important to view this as anecdotal evidence rather than a universally applicable solution,' says Dr Arora. The link between chronic stress and accelerated aging is well-documented. Stress increases cortisol levels, which over time damages cells, impairs immunity, and speeds up inflammation—all hallmarks of aging. Dr Arora explains: 'Living in a peaceful, natural setting can indeed lower cortisol levels, which has been linked to slower biological aging.' Furthermore, the professor's lifestyle overhaul wasn't limited to meditation and fresh air. The Furman family cut out processed food, ate clean, home-cooked meals, and embraced movement naturally through hiking and outdoor activity. 'Good sleep, a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and stress management are the four pillars of healthy aging,' Dr Arora continues. 'Adopting habits supporting these areas can reduce biological age markers like inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances.' Even the couple's practice of switching to candlelight in the evenings had physiological benefits. Reducing exposure to artificial light helps regulate circadian rhythms—important for deep, restorative sleep, another key to longevity. Dr Arora quickly acknowledges that not everyone can escape to the forest. 'While these practices are beneficial, implementing such a drastic lifestyle change may not be feasible for everyone. Completely avoiding electronics, plastics, or modern conveniences may not be practical or sustainable in today's fast-paced world.' But the bigger message from Dr. Furman's journey is this: environment matters. Even small, consistent shifts—like switching off screens earlier, eating fewer processed foods, or walking daily in green spaces—can help our bodies age better. 'The key takeaway,' Dr Arora says, 'is that making small, consistent lifestyle changes in the areas of stress, diet, sleep, and exercise can still have a meaningful impact on one's biological age and overall health.' DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Stanford longevity expert reverses his age by 10 years with one radical lifestyle shift
What would you do if your body was ageing faster than your birth certificate suggested? For Stanford University 's Dr. David Furman , a leading voice in the science of longevity , the answer lay not in pharmaceuticals or high-tech gadgets, but in nature — and a radical family experiment that turned their lives upside down. According to a report from The Mirror; in 2016, Furman found himself battling chronic migraines and the creeping toll of a stressful lifestyle in urban California. A pioneer of the 1000 Immunomes Project and an associate professor at Stanford, Furman decided to take a cellular deep dive into his own health. The revelations were troubling: though he was chronologically 39, his inflammatory age — a biomarker linked to disease and degeneration — clocked in at 42. As a scientist, he knew what that meant: a heightened risk of early ageing, cognitive decline, and chronic illnesses. As a father, he knew something had to change. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Life in the Woods: From Headaches to Healing Furman packed up his life, wife, and two children and moved into a minimalist two-bedroom cabin nestled in Northern California's wilderness. Chairs were banned, industrial cleaners were out, and electricity usage was pared back to the bare minimum. By 7:30 every evening, all overhead lights were turned off and the family lived by candlelight, eschewing screens and devices in favour of analog living. Their daily routine included foraging, organic eating , and fitness rooted in nature. Furman, for instance, began each day with 10 to 15 pull-ups, caught fresh fish from a nearby creek, and snacked on hand-picked berries. Meals featured nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods — raspberries, broccoli, and wild greens became the norm. The lifestyle wasn't just a retreat — it was a rigorous biological experiment, and Furman was both subject and scientist. The Stunning Results: Turning Back the Clock Three years later, Furman ran the same cellular test that once gave him a wake-up call. The results were staggering: his inflammatory age had dropped to 32. In other words, he had turned back the clock by a full decade. Gone were the migraines, replaced by sharper focus, sustained energy, and what Furman describes as 'a lot of productivity.' His academic output surged — he published three research papers in a single year, and felt, in his own words, 'better than ever.' Science Says: Nature Really Does Heal Furman's forest-bound lifestyle wasn't just a personal success story; it echoed a growing body of global research. A 2019 study on 'forest bathing' revealed that time spent in green spaces significantly improves health outcomes and mental wellbeing — even for those with chronic diseases or disabilities. The magic number? Just two hours a week in nature, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. These sessions didn't need to be in remote woodlands — urban parks and beaches had similar effects. What mattered was immersion and consistency. Dr. Mathew White, a wellness researcher at Exeter, underscored the findings: 'It didn't matter where in nature you went... 60 or 90 minutes didn't seem to have the same benefits. It really needed to be at least two hours a week.' Furman's journey is both inspiring and instructive — a testament to the power of nature, simplicity, and conscious living. While not everyone can relocate to the woods, his story invites us to rethink the architecture of our daily routines. Could reversing ageing be as simple as switching off your phone, walking in a park, and eating what the earth gives you? For Dr. David Furman, it wasn't a theory — it was his life. And it changed everything.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
A longevity expert says he lowered his biological age by moving his entire family to the forest
A longevity expert has revealed how he managed to de-age himself by a decade simply by changing his address. Ten years ago, Dr David Furman, an associate professor and head of Stanford University's 1000 Immunomes Project, was living in a California city where he suffered migraines and relied on ibuprofen to dampen the pain. Claiming his life was 'pretty stressful', the anti-aging expert believed his body was aging in 'hyperdrive' and he knew his constant headaches were a sign of something more sinister. So, he decided to check if his theory was true and tested his blood for inflammatory markers. Much to his shock, he found while his biological age was 39, his body had the 'inflammatory age' of a 42-year-old man. Disappointed in his results, the scientist knew if he continued to live his life as it was, he would be more susceptible to premature aging, chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, as well as mental decline. To prevent this, Dr Furman decided to move to the woods in Southern California with his wife and two kids to improve their health. And with a few lifestyle and dietary changes, in the three years the family lived in the woods, the professor managed to de-age his body by 10 years. Reflecting on his initial diagnosis, Dr Furman told Business Insider: 'I freaked out. Any species that you put in a new environment will develop inflammation as a response to something foreign; we do not escape that reality.' In 2016, the expert and his family moved to a two-bedroom cabin close to a creek in parts of a nearby forest in the San Gregorio area of Northern California that was about a half-hour drive from Stanford. Their house had no chairs, no plastics and no industrial cleaning products. The couple also stopped using all electronics and turned off bright overhead lights at 7.30pm every night, instead lighting candles to start winding down for bed. Dr Furman recalled: 'We haven't evolved looking at a screen and having an electrical light and sitting in a chair.' Several studies suggest excessive screen time, particularly from phones, tablets, and computers can negatively impact cognitive function, decrease physical activity and damage retinal cells, as well as disrupt sleep. A 2021 Springer Nature study found increased use of screens among adults between 18 to 25 years old may harm learning, memory and mental health, as well as increase the risk of early neurodegeneration. A 2024 study in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association found adults who watched television for five hours or more per day had a 28 percent increased risk of developing brain-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Dr Furman would also complete a daily workout of 10 to 15 pull-ups before work every day, and on his days off, he would play in the dirt with his kids, fish for salmon in the creek and forage for berries. The anti-aging expert would also pack healthy lunches of salmon lettuce wraps with a side of blueberries for work - all of which have been proven to be full of magnesium, omega-3 and antioxidants that can help improve brain health. Dr Furman also opted to rely on fresh, organic foods like raspberries and broccoli to 'feed the microbiome' rather than take vitamins and mineral supplements - and a balanced microbiome has been associated with improved mental health and a decreased risk of cancer. Raspberries are known to be a great source of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C while broccoli is a rich source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and sulforaphane - a plant compound with potential cancer-fighting properties. Dr Furman reflected: 'I was feeling great, very energetic, and no more headaches.' His health wasn't the only thing that improved. Dr Furman told Business Insider: 'I was sharp, better than ever. Just a lot of productivity.' He had managed to publish three papers within a year - which was times more than his normal amount. After spending three years in the forest, Dr Furman decided to once again check his blood for inflammatory markers and see if his health had improved. Much to his surprise, the now 42-year-old scientist had managed to bring down his 'inflammatory age' to 32 - a whole decade younger than his actual biological age. And he may have the forest to thank. A 2019 study found 'forest bathing' -immersing yourself in nature - for at least 120 minutes every seven days promotes wellbeing. The research was carried out by the University of Exeter and it analyzed two-year's worth of data from more than 20,000 people who took part in the Natural England's Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey. Results - published in the journal Scientific Reports - revealed those who spent at least two hours a week in nature were more likely to report being in good health. This is compared to those who did not venture into the outdoors at all on a typical week. The study's forest bathers also reported having a higher psychological wellbeing. Even those with chronic illnesses or disabilities benefited from time outside. The scientists said two hours a week is a 'realistic target' for most, particularly when it can be broken up into several short visits over the seven days. Dr Mathew White, an environmental psychologist and senior health and wellness lecturer at the University of Exeter, said: 'You could go for a walk for two hours on a Sunday or you could go for four lots of 30 minute [walks] during lunchtimes during the week. 'And it didn't matter where in nature you went. It could be on the beach, it could be in an urban park or it could be in a woodland. 'Doing 60 or 90 minutes didn't seem to have the same benefits at all. It really needed to be at least two hours a week.' The results applied to both men and women, as well as across adults of all ages, occupations and ethnicities.
