Sofiya Milman: Anti-Aging Claims Are Incorrect

Anti-aging internet searches quadrupled compared to 2025, flooding platforms like TikTok and YouTube with wellness claims that longevity experts now want dismissed, Diken reported.

Key Clinical Takeaways:

• Longevity research targets healthy life expectancy—healthspan—rather than merely stretching the total number of years lived.
• No medications or dietary supplements have been proven to extend human lifespan, despite widespread social media claims.

Shifting Focus From Lifespan to Healthspan

The pursuit of longevity has spawned an obsession with anti-aging regimens, but much of the widely circulated information is incorrect or dangerous, according to Sofiya Milman, a longevity expert who spoke with The New York Times. Researchers do not primarily aim to stretch total years. Instead, the central objective is expanding healthspan—the duration of life lived in good health.

If the side effect of extending healthspan is that you live longer, great, said Steven Austad, a biology professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. But that’s not the goal.

Data show that people are not necessarily living healthier lives as they live longer. According to a 2025 study, U.S. life expectancy rose by only six months between 2009 and 2019, while healthy life expectancy declined. Over that same timeframe, the expected healthy life span free of activity-limiting health problems dropped from 58.3 years to 58 years. Consequently, the average person in Turkey spends more than two decades dealing with health complications.

We’re a little bit better at keeping people alive, Austad said. But we’re also lengthening the period of sickness at the end of life.

The Unproven Claims Surrounding Supplements and Weight Loss

Social media influencers frequently promote peptides, resveratrol, NAD+, and growth hormone as life-extending agents. While certain compounds increase the lifespan of worms and mice, human biology operates differently.

Assumptions regarding gender differences in aging also require scrutiny. While women outlive men by an average of five years, they generally spend a larger portion of their final years living with illness and disability. Pankaj Kapahi, a professor studying aging, pointed out that women's health deteriorates in multiple ways following menopause.

Dietary guidance for older adults faces similar reassessment. Although some studies link weight loss to lower mortality risk, other investigations find no such association among adults over 65. A 2023 study led by Shadyab and colleagues found that among women aged 61 to 81, intentional or unintentional weight loss was associated with a lower likelihood of reaching age 90, regardless of initial weight or body mass index. A 2021 meta-analysis encompassing 30 studies similarly indicated that weight loss in individuals aged 65 and older correlates with a 59 percent higher risk of mortality. Shadyab described the literature as contradictory, noting that weight loss in older populations often strips away vital muscle and bone mass rather than fat.

Genetics and Lifestyle Realities at Age 95

Recent research indicates that genetics account for roughly half of an individual’s lifespan, while lifestyle and environmental factors determine the other half. For individuals reaching age 95 and older, genetics play an even larger role, according to Milman. Data demonstrate that these rare individuals do not necessarily lead healthier lives than those who do not reach that milestone. Comparisons reveal no discernible differences in weight, diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, or smoking habits. Their lifestyles are truly indistinguishable, Milman said.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.