I’m reading Outlive by Dr Peter Attia. The thesis of the book is that our approach to medicine needs to move to Medicine 3.0.
Medicine 1.0 was ancient medicine – where physicians prescribed cures based on observation. Medicine 2.0 is the medicine of the modern age. Powered by the scientific method, we’ve become proficient at interventions – like surgeries and vaccines – to stop “fast deaths” due to accidents or diseases that act quickly. The COVID-19 vaccine is a great example of how we’ve shown ourselves capable of moving very quickly when needed.
However, medicine 2.0 does a poor job at dealing with “slow deaths” caused by what he calls the “Four Horsemen” diseases – heart disease, cancer, alzheimer’s, and “foundational diseases” like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. That’s because Medicine 2.0 operates on short horizons while these diseases take effect over decades. As a result, we’ve become accustomed to a pattern of old age where elders often suffer a decade or more of degeneration at the hands of these diseases.
Hence “Outlive” – which is both about living longer and delaying these diseases but, more importantly, living better in the years we’re alive. This thesis resonated with me – I’ve seen far too many elders go through that degenerative cycle. There should be a better way.
I saw a review on Amazon titled “The owner’s manual we should have received at birth.” I’m now a third of the way in and, so far, I agree. It is shaping up to be a must-read.
