EDITOR’S NOTE: See the gadgets and therapeutics that are on display at a sold-out longevity summit in Florida. Upgrade to watch the full report.
Who doesn’t want to live longer?
With much of my life behind me, I certainly do. And if I can believe the claims, all I have to do is pop a few revolutionary pills, bathe my body in cell-rejuvenating treatments and replace all my body’s plasma.
Once I’ve plunked down thousands of dollars for those longevity promises — and according to social media oh, so much more — I’m golden!
Right. My mama didn’t raise no fool — I need to test that mattress before I buy it. So, I talked my boss into sending me to one of the many longevity summits popping up around the country. I then arranged to walk around the conference with two experts who could help discern what’s real and what’s flimflam.
Gotta try it all, yes? Here I am in a zip-up sauna. Sandee LaMotte/CNN
Dr. Edward Greaney is an internist at New York City’s Atria Health and Research Institute, which provides preventive care to the worried rich. Practitioners there focus on maximizing health span — living as long as you can, as healthy as you can — and aren’t averse to cutting-edge treatments.
Gary LeBlanc is president and chief operating officer of EverMe, an app that analyzes and reports on scientific studies about supplements, antiaging techniques and other promises of longevity. His goal is to use science to sift for gold among all the promises.
Come along and see what we found.
Three days of hope
It’s November and as hot as Hades when I arrive at the Eudēmonia Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida. Only in its second year, this longevity and wellness conference has become one of the largest such gatherings in the world.
Access to Eudēmonia costs about $400 for one day and $1,200 for three days. You can also buy an “enhanced” three-day experience with guaranteed seats at events for $1,700. For those who can afford it, there’s a $5,000 three-day ticket with access to personalized treatments and exclusive parties with keynote speakers. All three days are sold out.
I expect to see folks age 50 and older grasping for ways to turn back the clock. Yet nearly everyone at the conference appears to be in their 30s or younger. Someone next to me says, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’m at a conference for plastic surgeons.”
CNN reporter Randi Kaye (left) and I jointly covered the conference. Here, she and EverMe’s Gary LeBlanc try out a treatment. Upgrade to see the full report. CNN
Much of the crowd is there to see their favorite podcasters — in person — reciting the typical advice they give on their weekly shows. These shows are often sponsored by sleep, weight loss, hydration and supplement companies.
Eudēmonia’s schedule is jam-packed with more than 150 speakers. Many are longevity glitterati: neuroscientist Andrew Huberman; functional medicine specialist and family physician Dr. Mark Hyman; author and former computer scientist Dave Asprey, who calls himself the father of biohacking; former volleyball player Gabby Ree
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