Blood testing obsession — are we actually measuring what matters for longevity?
So I’ve been down the rabbit hole lately with blood testing. Started with basic metabolic panels when I began tirzepatide, then added hormone panels, now I’m doing quarterly advanced lipid panels, inflammatory markers, NAD+ levels, you name it. Spent probably $2k in the last 6 months just on testing through various labs.
But here’s what’s bugging me… are we actually measuring the things that predict longevity? Like yeah, my LDL particle size improved and my HbA1c is great now, but does that actually translate to living longer or just looking better on paper?
I see people in this community tracking 40+ biomarkers and I wonder if we’re just creating anxiety over numbers that fluctuate naturally. My doc is supportive but definitely thinks I’m overdoing it. She basically said “your metabolic health improved dramatically, maybe test twice a year and live your life.”
Anyone else feel like they’ve gotten too deep into the testing rabbit hole? Or am I missing something and should be tracking even more? Curious what markers you all think actually matter vs which ones are just nice to know.
I totally get this. I was testing monthly at one point and my partner staged an intervention lol. What helped me was focusing on just the markers that would actually change my behavior. For me that’s HbA1c, fasting insulin, and liver enzymes since I’m on tirz. Everything else I do annually unless something feels off. The anxiety from seeing normal fluctuations in testosterone or whatever was worse for my health than just not knowing tbh.
I think the issue is we’re still figuring out what predicts longevity in humans taking these newer interventions. Like the studies on metformin and longevity took decades. We’re kind of experimenting on ourselves with GLP-1s, peptides, etc and the biomarkers are our only feedback mechanism right now.
That said, I agree some people go overboard. I focus on inflammatory markers (hsCRP mainly), metabolic health (insulin resistance stuff), and kidney function since that’s what the research suggests matters most. The exotic stuff like NAD+ levels… jury’s still out imo on whether optimizing those numbers actually does anything.
Your doctor is right. You’re probably overdoing it. The basics matter most – blood sugar control, blood pressure, lipids, kidney and liver function. These have decades of data showing they predict outcomes. Testing NAD+ quarterly is burning money unless you’re in a clinical trial.
I’m 48M, been on sema for 18 months, and I test every 6 months. Feels like some people treat biomarker optimization like a video game trying to max out stats, but our bodies don’t work that way.
Interesting perspective from realist_rx but I’d push back a bit. Yes the basics matter, but we have access to way more data now than previous generations. I do think tracking things like apoB, Lp(a), and insulin (not just glucose) gives a more complete picture than the standard panel.
That said, OP I think quarterly for most things is excessive unless something is abnormal. My concierge doc has me on a protocol where we do comprehensive testing every 6 months and it’s been perfect for catching trends without obsessing. The key is having someone help you interpret it all in context.