Ep.3 - Can astronauts teach us how to age better? With longevity physician Filippo Ongaro

After six months in space, the human body changes as much as it would after ten years on Earth. Without gravity setting the pace, muscle mass and bone density drop, circadian rhythms are disrupted, we rest and eat differently too… And that is also what happens as we age.

So what can we learn from space medicine to age better here on Earth? And could the rigorous training astronauts use to protect their bodies hold a promise for staying strong and healthy on our own timeline? Greg and Charlie set to find out in this episode of The Method.

Today, they sit down with Dr. Filippo Ongaro, a former space medicine physician at the European Space Agency. Filippo began his career in sports medicine before working with space agencies, where he studied how microgravity accelerates physical deconditioning. Today, he applies those insights through preventative medicine; his mission is to help people build long-term strength and resilience as they age.

Together, we dive into what space physiology reveals about long-term health and fitness. We discuss where comparisons between spaceflight and aging on Earth are genuinely useful, and where they can be misleading. The conversation centres on one key idea: muscle and bone health are among the strongest predictors of quality of life as we get older.

From there, we move into the practice segment. Drawing inspiration from astronaut training Filippo shares accessible, realistic ways to prioritise strength and consistency in everyday life, including:

• Where and how to get started to avoid frailty (21:18)
• When high intensity interval training can be valuable (27:48)
• Tips to adopt sustainable fitness habits (32:54)
• How to find the right “environment” to train (35:10)

Filippo will show us that our muscles are one of the most powerful tools we have to age well. Whether you’re busy, starting later in life, or feeling intimidated by exercise, there is no bad time to begin, so tune in today to get started.

Links:

• Filippo Ongaro - Website
• Filippo Ongaro - YouTube 
• Greg Potter - Website
• Thriva - Website
  
  

If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co

About Thriva:

Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body – and what to do about it -- before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. 

To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/.