Happy Thursday, Zapien — Here’s what we’re diving into in this week’s issue:

  • Skin Aging After 30: What to Actually Track Beyond Collagen – Discover how dermal thickness, elastin degradation, and cellular senescence reveal more about skin aging than collagen alone, and learn which biomarkers you can measure and optimize now.

  • Blood Testing Guide: What to Track and Why – A comprehensive guide to blood biomarkers that matter for longevity, covering foundational panels, optimal ranges, and how to interpret results without feeling overwhelmed.

  • Community highlights: Spermidine supplementation reality check, search for Europe’s best longevity experts, and Aware testing package optimization tips​​​​​​​​​​​​.

  • Dr. Ekta Yadav’s Health Stack – Physician-scientist and longevity medicine expert with 200+ research citations shares her personal health optimization protocol.

Forever,
Karol, Martin, Simon & Andy

Presented By

Community Discussion

Skin Aging After 30: What to Actually Track (Beyond Collagen)

Everyone talks about collagen, but Dr. Ekta Yadav argues we’re looking at the wrong metrics entirely.

The key insight? Your skin might look fine at baseline while your recovery capacity is already declining. She breaks down what actually matters: how many days it takes your skin to bounce back after trying a new product, whether sensitivity resolves as quickly as it did five years ago, and why your blood sugar patterns are secretly accelerating visible aging through glycation.

There’s also an uncomfortable truth about inflammation markers like hs-CRP and why “nothing happening” is often the best outcome.

Your 30s are the decade that sets your biological trajectory for the next thirty years, so knowing what to measure now changes everything.

Short Hack Long Life

Red Light Therapy for Skin Longevity (And How to Do It Without Wasting Money)

Red light therapy (660-850nm wavelengths) measurably improves skin aging markers—studies show up to 31% increase in pro-collagen levels, 36% decrease in wrinkle depth, and significant improvements in skin elasticity. Clinical research demonstrates that consistent red light exposure stimulates fibroblast activity, increases ATP production in skin cells, reduces inflammatory cytokines, and enhances mitochondrial function in dermal tissue.

The fix: Red light therapy works by penetrating 8-10mm into skin tissue, triggering photobiomodulation that activates cellular repair pathways. This increases blood flow to the skin, supports collagen and elastin production, and reduces oxidative stress. The practice requires minimal time investment (10-20 minutes daily) and can be done at home with properly vetted devices. Quality matters significantly—many consumer devices lack sufficient irradiance or use incorrect wavelengths.

The Protocol:

🧊 When: Daily sessions of 10-20 minutes, ideally morning for circadian rhythm support. Position device 15-30cm from face. Start with 10 minutes and gradually increase. Consistency matters more than session length—5x per week minimum for visible results within 8-12 weeks.

🎯 Specificity: Wavelengths matter—660nm (red) for surface skin, 850nm (near-infrared) for deeper tissue penetration. Look for devices with irradiance >40mW/cm² at treatment distance. Avoid devices that don’t specify wavelength and power output. LED panels work better than single-point devices for facial coverage.

🚫 Friction removal: Clean face before sessions (makeup/sunscreen blocks light penetration), wear eye protection if device is >100mW/cm², keep device clean, maintain consistent distance. Many fail because they use underpowered devices or inconsistent protocols.

📊 Tracking: Monitor skin texture changes, photograph weekly in consistent lighting, measure fine line depth if possible, track barrier recovery speed (how quickly irritation resolves), note improvements in overall radiance and skin tone evenness. Advanced: track collagen markers via skin imaging devices if accessible.

Blood Testing Guide

Your Health Journey Starts With Your Blood

✔ Know what to test and why—based on your goals and budget
✔ Get trusted lab options, at-home kits, and insurance tips
✔ Follow a simple step-by-step guide with checkboxes

WhatsApp Group Summary

The Spermidine Debate: What the Dosing Data Really Shows

Discussion: Member asked whether spermidine supplementation is worth the cost, noting Bryan Johnson uses it but studies show only very high dosages (40mg+) might have impact, and the body regulates blood levels anyway.

The verdict: Current clinical evidence doesn’t support strong effects of spermidine on cognition, systemic polyamine levels, or other validated health endpoints at standard doses. However, mechanistic data for calorie restriction mimetic effects (AMPK activation) is relatively strong. Community members who supplement view it as worthwhile from an experimental longevity perspective if cost isn’t prohibitive, though effects are hard to evaluate objectively.

Consider this: Spermidine falls into the “promising mechanistic rationale but limited human evidence” category. If you’re operating on tight supplement budgets, prioritize interventions with stronger clinical backing. If experimenting within your budget, the downside risk appears low.

Who Are Europe’s Top Longevity Voices?

Discussion: A member asked who the most influential longevity experts in Europe are—wondering who represents Europe’s equivalent to David Sinclair, Bryan Johnson, or Huberman. One member mentioned Andrea Maier as top of their list.

The verdict: The community reframed the question from “most influential” to “best” in terms of practicability for everyday application without sacrificing depth. Björn Kurtenbach was highlighted as someone who balances accessible, actionable protocols with scientific rigor. The distinction matters: influence doesn’t always equal practical utility for implementation.

Consider this: Europe’s longevity landscape operates differently than the US—less celebrity-driven, more research-institution focused. When seeking guidance, prioritize experts whose recommendations you can actually implement rather than those with the largest platforms. Ask yourself: does this expert provide protocols I can execute, or just aspirational content I consume?

Aware Testing Packages: Which Combinations Actually Work?

Discussion: A member asked which Aware testing package combinations others typically use, finding the package setup somewhat restrictive and wanting to know how the community navigates their options.

The verdict: Community members commonly combine the Longevity package with either Nutrition or Sports to get comprehensive coverage of main longevity markers plus iron and essential vitamins. Critical timing consideration: the Sports package takes 10 days for results, and Aware can’t provide partial results—meaning if you book Sports alongside other packages, you’ll wait the full 10 days for everything even if other panels are ready sooner.

Consider this: Package selection requires balancing comprehensiveness with turnaround time. If you need faster results, skip the Sports package and add it separately later. If timing isn’t critical and you want complete data in one draw, the Longevity + Sports/Nutrition combination maximizes biomarker coverage. Plan your testing schedule around when you actually need the data, not just when it’s convenient to draw blood.

Community Health Stack

Dr. Ekta Yadav, MD MBA Msc

From trauma surgery to cellular regeneration, Dr. Ekta Yadav bridges five medical specialties to decode skin aging at the molecular level.

Backed by 200+ research citations, she’s been featured in Forbes for making complex longevity science accessible and actionable.

Dr. Ekta`s Health Routine

Morning:
• Wake intentionally using the Hatch alarm clock (no abrupt alarms)
• Meditation (non-negotiable; often the first anchor of the day)
• Plant protein shake
• Fresh organic self-frozen strawberries
• Chia seeds
• Ka’Chava
• Almond milk

Morning skincare:
• OneSkin facial cream + Sunscreen
• Deesse PRO LED mask
• Put on Apple Watch to track steps and daily movement
• Begin intermittent fasting window

Health Disclaimer

New Zapiens products and services are not intended to substitute for professional medical guidance. Our content and media offerings do not aim to diagnose, cure, or address any medical issues.

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