Clarence Bass by Guy Appleman

Artificial Intelligence?

A:  Artificial Intelligence - a branch of computer science that simulates human intelligence - is in the news these days.

It has its pluses and negatives. 

The most obvious positive is that it can analyze large amounts of data and provide insights that can help humans make better decisions, such as in business, health care, or education.

On the downside it can displace human workers and cause unemployment. 

There are many more angles, but that's a good beginning.

*  *  *

Carol found that AI profiled Clarence in the world of fitness:

Clarence Bass is an American writer, fitness expert, and retired lawyer who is best known for his book and DVD series Ripped, which chronicles his fitness journey and achievements, including becoming a Past-40 bodybuilding champion.

He was also a columnist for Muscle & Fitness magazine for 16 years, where he shared his advice and insights on combining weights, aerobics, and sound nutrition to achieve lifetime fitness and leanness.

He has written 10 books and produced three DVDs on various aspects of fitness, health, and motivation. 

He has been named “one of America’s greatest fitness visionaries” by Men’s Health magazine.

He is also a former Olympic-style weightlifter and a New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

He has maintained a low body fat percentage and high level of fitness throughout his life, even into his 80s.

He is a pescatarian and lives in Albuquerque New Mexico with his wife Carol.

No complaints. We are pleased with AI's view of Clarence's achievements in the world of fitness. 

(They got one thing wrong, however. Clarence was inducted into the Albuquerque High School Sports Hall of Fame, but has yet to be inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame, although he has been nominated several times.)

* *  *

While I am clearly no authority on AI, I would be leery of anything which is unsupported or dubious. It would be hard to argue with a computer or machine.

There are bound to be many more issues, but we are newbies and have a lot to learn.

That said, it was interesting to see how AI detailed Clarence's lifetime of achievements in the world of fitness. We are pleased and impressed.

March 1, 2024

Can Aging Be Reversed?

A: The August 2023 issue of the Harvard Health Letter tells us that injecting the blood of an old mouse into that of a young mouse caused the young mouse to age dramatically. On the other hand, injecting the blood of a young mouse into an old mouse caused the old mouse to become biologically younger. In short, the aging process can be accelerated and then reversed.

The Letter was quick to add that the study "did not identify the factors that cause or reverse aging, and that we are still a long way from being able to slow human aging more powerfully than a healthy lifestyle. But this kind of research offers hope that someday we will understand the aging process well enough to slow it."

Further research brought us to a piece by Andrew Zaleski in the January Bloomberg Businessweek about similar testing of "Biological Age."

It's the human version of the mouse study. A multi-millionaire spends a couple of million dollars to make his 45-year-old self function like a man less than half his age. "He has the heart of a 37-year-old, the skin of a 28-year-old, and the lung capacity and fitness of an 18-year-old," Bloomberg tells us.

His regimen consists of supplements, exact control of calories, and other methods including, until recently, swapping plasma with his 17-year-old son.

(As the New York Post put it, "Tech tycoon who spends $2 million per year to retain youth uses teen son as 'blood boy.''')

The end result for the average person, says Zaleski, comes down to four elements: "exercise, nutrition, sleep, and social connectivity."

Targeting those four elements can bring about a major advance on living a long and healthy life.

So, we don't need a "blood boy." We can "slow" the aging process with healthy living.

*  *  *

A long-time friend alerted us to a book by Peter Attia, MD titled OUTLIVE: The Science & Art Of Longevity (2023).

It's an owner's manual on living a long and healthy life.

Carol found it in the library down the street from our home and brought it home for a brief review. We also found positive reviews on Amazon.

We were sold! We bought the book. 

*  *  *

Dr. Attia fills almost 500 pages exploring factors such as cholesterol, exercise, and nutrition--finding that ignoring emotional health "could be the ultimate curse of all."

He concludes that "you can plot a different path for your life, one that lets you outlive your expectations to make each decade better than the one before."

*  *  *

I decided to begin by focusing on Chapter 9: CHASING MEMORY. (As you will recall, my short term memory isn't what it used to be.)

His strategy for preventing Alzheimer's and other forms of mental decline is based on the following principles:

1: What's Good For The Heart Is Good For The Brain.

2: What's Good For the Liver Is Good For The Brain. (Metabolic health is crucial to brain health.)

3: Time Is Key. (Dr. Attia finds that we need to think about prevention early, and the more the deck is stacked against you genetically, the harder you need to work on staying healthy.)

4: Our Most Powerful Tool For Preventing Cognitive Decline Is Exercise. (Dr. Attia says exercise--lots of it--is the foundation for his Alzheimer's prevention program.)

Bob Hoffman convinced me as a teenager that exercise is the cure for just about everything. Turns out that he was more right than wrong.

*  *  *

To learn more, we suggest starting with the detailed reviews on Amazon, and then moving on to Dr. Attia's well written and thoughtful book. I suggest moving around in the book, rather than starting with page one. (If you're like me 500 pages is a bummer.)

Doctors should find the book helpful in explaining to patients that they can lengthen their health span. That they can do more to help themselves than any one can do for them.

*  *  *

Dr. Attia builds much of his book around a 40-year-old lady. The early death of her mother is putting her into a downward spiral.

These photos of me at 60 would help her realize that 60 can be young.

September 1, 2023

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