Thank you for this thought-provoking article and the effort you put into dissecting the study—it was a fascinating read!
Your analysis reminded me of an analogy shared by a martial arts teacher during a seminar in the 90s.
He asked me, "Chris, how would you define the standard apple?" I was curious, as I had just asked him about longevity and what insights our art might offer on increasing healthspan.
Confused, I responded, "What? Why?"
He continued, "Health starts with defining the right goal. Imagine I give you a crate of rotten apples and ask you to define the perfect apple based on them. What would you say?"
Thinking I was clever, I replied, "Well, the average of rotten apples is still a rotten apple. So, that must be the perfect apple."
He smiled and said, "Now, imagine I give you a crate of fresh apples. Would your definition change?"
I laughed, realizing his point, "Of course, it would look like a perfect fresh apple. But what are you trying to say?"
He explained, "The problem with our healthcare system is that it often starts with the rotten apples—focusing primarily on disease and those who are already sick. These people become the baseline for what we consider 'normal.' But this approach is flawed because it starts with an incomplete dataset."
He paused before adding, "If you want to understand how to stay healthy, don’t look at the sick population first. Start with the healthy elderly—those who’ve lived long, vibrant lives—and ask yourself: What are they doing differently? Resemble their habits."
That perspective stuck with me, as it was the exact opposite of what I had been told growing up. It emphasized that finding the right north star for health means studying those who thrive, not just those who struggle.
Fast forward to your article: it all begins with the data. My concern is that many studies still rely heavily on datasets from healthcare systems, which primarily include people who are already sick or have unhealthy habits. This represents just a fraction of the population.
Is that really enough to draw meaningful conclusions about aging and healthspan?
Your analysis of this study brilliantly highlights how flawed methods and incomplete data can lead to misleading conclusions. When it comes to health, starting with the right perspective—and the right population—makes all the difference.
