Unlocking Longevity: How Alcohol Consumption Impacts Your Lifespan

Welcome to our latest edition, where we delve into one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving fields in healthcare today: longevity medicine. The quest to extend human lifespan and enhance the quality of our years has never been more in demand from patients and consumers. As providers consider what this new paradigm shift will mean in healthcare, there often is one missing "vital sign" that gets brushed under the rug: alcohol consumption.

This week we are in conversation with Hillary Lin, MD , practicing physician and serial entrepreneur with a background in neuroscience, oncology, and primary care. She completed her BS, MD, and Internal Medicine Residency at Stanford. With over five years as a board member of Stanford Alumni Startups NY (SASNY) and as an advisor to Cornell BioVenture eLab, X=Primary Care (XPC) Community, and the Melinda Gates-backed Headstream Accelerator, Dr. Lin actively contributes to the global healthcare and startup community.

Dr. Lin co-founded Curio , a VC-backed startup that evolved from tech-enabled psychedelic-assisted therapy to an AI-enabled patient navigation platform. Currently, she is developing Livora Health, a new longevity health company. Her mission is to drive medical evidence and transparency to empower people to live fulfilled lives.

How do you define "longevity" and why is this paradigm shift gaining traction right now?

Longevity refers to not only the length of one's life but also the quality of life throughout the aging process (healthspan). We're no longer satisfied with reactionary medicine, or "sick care." Instead, longevity medicine emphasizes the prevention of age-related diseases, maintenance of physical and mental health, and the enhancement of life satisfaction and functionality as we age.

This paradigm shift is gaining traction because people are frustrated! Our healthcare system is incredibly broken and we all seek a new approach to living better, longer. The longevity wave is made possible due to advances in medical research, technology, and a growing awareness of the importance of a holistic approach to health. Because of the rise of legitimate health and medical influencers throughout the pandemic, people are increasingly interested in proactive health management and understanding how lifestyle factors, genetics, and modern medicine can contribute to a longer, healthier life.

How does alcohol consumption affect the risk of developing chronic diseases that influence longevity, such as heart disease, liver disease, and cancer?

Alcohol consumption can significantly impact longevity by increasing the risk of several chronic diseases. Excessive alcohol intake is a major risk factor for liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. It also contributes to cardiovascular diseases by elevating blood pressure, causing cardiomyopathy, and increasing the risk of stroke and heart failure.

Additionally, alcohol is a known carcinogen and is linked to various cancers, including those of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast. Even moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of cancer, which underscores the importance of moderation and mindful drinking habits. Finally, alcohol is a direct neurotoxin! It can worsen age-related brain decay and lead to problems from depression and anxiety to even dementia.

How can longevity clinicians and innovators be thinking about behavioral health, where is the overlap between the two?

Longevity clinicians and innovators should consider behavioral health as a foundational aspect of overall health and longevity. Mental health and physical health are, at their core, one and the same. Did you know running clubs are as effective as SSRIs?for depression treatment? Not to mention the incredible power of metabolic health interventions for improving mood and cognition.

There is significant overlap in the strategies used in both fields, such as stress management, social connectedness, and interventions to promote healthy behaviors. By integrating behavioral health into their practices, clinicians can actually provide better whole body longevity care.

How can addiction medicine/behavioral health clinicians be included in the conversation?

Addiction medicine and behavioral health clinicians bring valuable expertise to the longevity conversation by addressing the psychological and behavioral aspects of health. Their insights can help identify and treat underlying issues that may impede healthy aging, such as substance abuse, food addiction, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.

Cross-specialty collaboration can enhance the effectiveness of longevity interventions by providing a more holistic approach to patient care. Involving addiction and behavioral health clinicians in multidisciplinary teams can ensure that strategies for promoting longevity also address the critical components of mental health and addiction, ultimately leading to more sustainable health outcomes.

Thank you so much Hillary Lin, MD for sharing insights!

Be sure to follow + subscribe to Ethos newsletter for weekly drops, where we interview top experts in the addiction care and behavioral health space. Know someone who would be a good voice? Message us!

Ethos is a tech-enabled platform that helps individuals and their care teams monitor and manage alcohol misuse across its spectrum of risk. We aim to meet people there they are, regardless of their stage in recovery.