2026 Longevity Science Forum, San Diego

Biological science does not always sit at the top of the general public’s mind. It usually takes some big event (e.g., COVID outbreak, GLP-1 inhibitors) to get everyone talking. One new term starting to gain traction is longevity. No surprise, people want to live longer.

Some have taken it to the extreme (see: Bryan Johnson – the millionaire whose “wellness regimen” includes regularly transfusing his son’s blood plasma into his own body); speculative fiction regularly portrays a villain with a nefarious scheme involved living forever.

So, what is longevity and is it achievable? Is it breathless hype? Snake oil? Wellness reserved for the billionaire class? I recently attended a conference in San Diego sponsored by Longevity Global, called the Longevity Innovation Forum. (Longevity Global is a non-profit organization that boasts over 1000 members with chapters in 16 countries, focused on bringing together a community of researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs, all interested in the future of longevity science.)

For two days, academics, industry professionals, and investors had the opportunity to take the floor and share their insights into longevity.

• Academics discussed topics ranging from the role of female reproductive organs in aging, to epigenetic clocks, to classic neurodegenerative diseases, with an emphasis on identifying new targets and gene signatures.
• Longevity from an industry perspective brought speakers highlighting business ideas that combine eastern medicine philosophies with high tech innovations, insights into what role the FDA will play as aging therapies continue to be discovered and commercialized, more neurodegenerative diseases, and a pitch competition featuring startups with novel ideas in the longevity space.
• Rounding out the conference was a series of panels from investors, providing a glimpse of where they feel the longevity space currently sits and where they want to invest as it moves forward.

I. Definitions: the language of longevity science

Want to sound like a longevity expert? Here are some terms to start working into your daily lexicon. In the spirit of our Ask A Scientist column, answers have been written for a 9-12 grade biology student.

• Epigenetic Age: Not to be confused with our chronological age (how long a person has existed on Earth, as counted by number of birthdays), epigenetic age is also known as “biological” age. Think about your grandparents – some 80-year-olds can live by themselves and walk 2 miles a day, while others may have health problems that restrict them to a more sedentary lifestyle that require assistance. Chronological age alone does not determine our health; hence, the need for a metric such as epigenetic age. This secondary age can be used to predict the rate of aging (where a person is in their total life span) and monitor the aging process, not the effects of disease.
• Epigenetic Clock: Epigenetic age-determining biomarker (across a wide range of tissues) that measures the DNA methylation patterns (how tightly our DNA or chromatin is coiled) to predict mortality and age-related disease risks. The newest epigenetic clocks account for mortality and morbidity. They are known as PhenoAge (combines calendar age with markers often associated with 10 complete blood count markers to compare against methylation patterns) and GrimAge (combines calendar age, 12 plasma markers, and smoking pack-years against methylation patterns).
• Geroscience: the field of science studying the relationship between the biology of aging and age-related diseases.
• Geroscience Hypothesis: By understanding (and potentially manipulating) aging, we will be able to delay the onset of age-related diseases. Essentially, if we can keep people younger longer, we won’t suffer as many diseases associated with old age.
• Geroprotective Agents / Geroprotectors: Drugs or therapeutics that protect against aging. Strong geroprotectors should be capable of increasing lifespan, slow the progression of age-related changes, and improve overall quality of life.

II. Exciting Science at the conference:

Some of the exciting findings and studies discussed, and why it’s cool. SuperKids’ Ask a Scientist usual disclaimer: the research highlighted here sparked our curiosity. Nothing presented here should be taken as reason to change your lifestyle; instead consider this an invitation to think critically as the science continues to unfold. When relevant, we’ve highlighted (bolded) some key aspects to keep in mind when evaluating the conclusions.

• Study: Gut microbiome directly influences ovarian health and fertility (in mice). - Why this is cool: Earlier menopause is linked to shorter lifespan. Gut microbes can influence ovarian aging (and the start of menopause). Therefore: fecal transplants that alter the gut microbiome could lead to later menopause and better overall women’s health.
• News article: Ozempic’s New Frontier: The War on Aging - Why this made the news: Turns out GLP-1s (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy) may not just help with weight loss. WSJ made news for describing them as potential anti-aging drugs. The study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12338914/ found that Semaglutide decreases epigenetic aging in patients with HIV with a BMI greater than 30. - Why this is cool: These data match effects seen in studies where patients underwent caloric restriction or multimodal lifestyle interventions (see: diet & exercise), indicating a positive side effect of GLP-1s could be to reduce epigenetic age (if you have HIV and a high BMI).
• News article: Multivitamins may slow biological aging in older adults - Why this made the news: Something many people are already doing (taking vitamins) may be doing more than keeping them healthy – it could be making them younger.The study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04239-3 found that over the course of 2 years, patients who took the multivitamin-multimineral supplement Centrum Silver saw their biological age rejuvenated by up to 3 months. Caveat: healthy patients saw no significant effect. - Why this is cool: There could be a benefit for some people to taking multivitamins, especially those with vitamin deficiencies.
• Study: The Effect of Strenuous Exercise on Epigenetic Age using German Football Players - Why this is cool: To determine if exercise can directly impact epigenetic age, scientists took saliva from professional footballers before and after a match (using their coaches and personal trainers as the controls) and found that intense physical activity can temporarily rejuvenate epigenetic clocks. (Midfielders saw the biggest benefits).
• Press Release: Year-long study results show cell therapy improves quality of life for Parkinson’s patients - Why this is cool: Aspen Neuroscience is the first company to show that iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons can be tolerated and improve brain function of patients with Parkinson’s. This is a significant step forward for both the field of neurodegenerative diseases and cell therapies.
• More studies and highlights:
• - Top three therapies that reduce epigenetic aging: ART – antiretrovial therapy for HIV, anti-TNFa, and Metformin (diabetes).
• - A great way to reduce your epigenetic age is to improve your VO2 max (consider taking up endurance bicycling).
• - X-chromosome genes can correctly predict the age of your neurons 85% of the time (in mice).
• - Yamanaka factors (those responsible for making induced pluripotent stem cells – Nobel prize-winning science) can reinvigorate exhausted T cells.
• - Mitochondrial microproteins have the best names, like: SHMOOSE (has a protective effect on neurons and reduces the chance of Alzheimer’s), PUTZ (affects muscle biology and longevity).

By the end of the conference, it was clear that attendees felt that novel research is being done around the world at academic institutions, entrepreneurs are capitalizing on and commercializing the innovations, and investors are getting inspired to open their checkbooks. From stem cell technologies to neurodegenerative diseases, longevity science is incorporating the multi-faceted approach required to tackle a problem so fundamental as reducing the speed at which we age.

Like all research and companies, one should always approach innovation with a healthy dose of skepticism, but after listening to the presentations at this event it was easy to see why there is growing enthusiasm around the science of longevity.