Dave Pascoe - what's behind the biohacker?

Dave Pascoe, a former network security architect and engineer, has made a name for himself in the biohacking scene. The 62-year-old takes more than 120 different supplements every day, continues his education with more than 40 audiobooks per year, and tries to show that even a "normal" person can drastically improve their health. According to his own statements, his biological age is just 37.95 years!

In this article, we want to introduce you to Dave Pascoe. Who is he? What drives him? And what distinguishes him z.B from Bryan Johnson.

Who is Dave Pascoe?

Dave Pascoe is a name that is gaining more and more importance in the world of biohacking and longevity research. He is a biohacker, anti-aging enthusiast, and advocate of a healthy lifestyle, who has an impressive number of followers and admirers.Pascoe is intensively engaged in various methods to slow down aging and improve quality of life. Through his dedicated approach, he has not only secured a place among the leading figures in the longevity community but is also among the top 5 in the so-called Rejuvenation Olympics, a competition founded by Bryan Johnson where the people who age the slowest come first.

Pascoe often emphasizes that he views his body as a "high-performance vehicle" and cares for it accordingly. With a daily regimen of strict diet, targeted supplements, and regular physical activity, he claims to have significantly reduced his biological age.He is a whole 23 years younger than his chronological age! Would you be able to tell that Dave Pascoe is 62 years old if you saw him on the street?

What does Dave Pascoe do?

Pascoe is primarily known as a biohacker, someone who uses scientific methods and self-experiments to optimize the biochemical and physical processes of the body. He refers to himself as "Chief Biohacker" and is known for pursuing innovative and sometimes unorthodox approaches to promote health and longevity.

In addition to his work as a biohacker and health enthusiast, Pascoe also has a strong online presence. He regularly shares his insights and experiences on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, where he has thousands of followers.His contributions range from nutrition tips and training plans to the latest scientific findings in the fields of epigenetics and aging research.

Did you know?

While Bryan Johnson, known for his project Blueprint and his popularizing videos from his private life, had his own son's blood(plasma) infused, Dave Pascoe prefers to donate his blood plasma. He donates every 2 to 3 weeks and refers to it as a cost-effective alternative to plasmapheresis.

Dave Pascoe as a biohacker

The term "biohacking" describes a variety of practices that optimize biological processes through technology, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. For Dave Pascoe, this means analyzing and refining every aspect of his life to achieve the best results. He keeps detailed records of his diet, physical activity, and even sleep to make optimizations based on this data.

Pascoe is known for his rigorous application of scientific methods to everyday practices. He regularly tests new supplements, diets, and even medical treatments to assess their effectiveness and find the best strategies for extending his lifespan.

Did you know?

Like other biohackers, Dave Pascoe is very focused on tracking his sleep. He not only uses an Oura Ring for this purpose, but he also has a built-in temperature regulation system for his bed.This allows him to cool down his bed in the summer and warm it up in the winter, thus always achieving the optimal sleeping temperature 

The biological age of Dave Pascoe

Have you ever heard of biological age? This concept was developed by the German-American Steve Horvath, for which he even received the Nobel Prize. Unlike chronological age, which simply measures the number of years lived since birth, biological age refers to the condition and health of the body. Through various tests, including epigenetic measurements such as the Horvath Clock, Pascoe has found that his biological age is significantly younger than his chronological age.

According to current reports, Pascoe claims to have a biological age of 38 years, although he is actually 62 years old. This impressive discrepancy he attributes to his disciplined lifestyle and his constant search for the best anti-aging methods.

Did you know?

Dave Pascoe became famous, among other things, for temporarily surpassing founder Bryan Johnson at the Rejuvenation Olympics. In this competition, several epigenetic markers are measured to determine how "quickly" someone ages. The person with the slowest aging rate is at the top of the list.

Rejuvenation methods: How does Dave Pascoe stay young?

Nutrition and diet

A key component of Pascoe's longevity strategy is his diet.He follows a very specific diet aimed at reducing inflammation, promoting cell health, and slowing down the overall aging processes. He aims to reduce various Hallmarks of Aging, such as Inflammaging.His typical meals can also be found on his website and look something like this:

Breakfast:

• Green smoothies with spinach, kale, avocado, and chia seeds
• Protein-rich sources like eggs or protein shakes

Lunch:

• An avocado
• A green apple
• A pear
• An orange
• Raw baby carrots
• Celery sticks used like chips for dipping in hummus
• Chicken or beef bone broth

Dinner:

• Lean meat or fish
• Lots of leafy green vegetables
• Quinoa or another whole grain source

Pascoe avoids refined sugar, processed foods, and trans fats.He instead relies on organic, whole foods that are rich in antioxidants and nutrients to support the health of his cells and combat the aging process.

Did you know?

Pascoe originally worked as a network security architect and engineer. His background in IT and cybersecurity provided him with a solid foundation for the analytical skills he later applied in his biohacking practice In addition to his technical career, Pascoe also worked as a masseur and lifelong programmer and hacker. This multifaceted professional experience has helped him develop a holistic approach in his work as a biohacker, where he considers both technological and physiological aspects.

Dietary supplements

Dave Pascoe is known for his extensive supplement routine.He claims to take even more supplements than Bryan Johnson. Currently, it is about 130 different molecules per day, although he is not militant about taking them. Depending on the type of supplement, he takes them in the morning or throughout the day. He ensures that he takes supplements for strengthening the mitochondria, for extending telomeres, for increasing autophagy, and for activating sirtuins, mTOR, and AMPK. Here too, he follows the approach of covering as many Hallmarks of Aging as possible.The complete list can be found here 
We have brought you an excerpt from his daily routine:

These supplements have been selected by Pascoe for their proven properties to support cell health and promote  Longevity.For this, he takes senolytics, such as quercetin and fisetin at irregular intervals.

Physical activity

In addition to his strict diet and supplement routine, Pascoe places great importance on regular physical activity. His preferred exercises include:

• Strength training: Several times a week to promote muscle mass and improve bone density.
• Endurance training: Running, cycling, or swimming to support cardiovascular health.
• Flexibility and balance: Yoga and stretching to maintain mobility and prevent injuries.

Pascoe often emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to fitness that includes both cardiovascular training as well as resistance training and flexibility exercises.

Did you know?

On his website, Dave Pascoe often criticizes that many rejuvenation measures (such as the follistatin gene therapy) are only accessible to wealthy individuals. He also criticizes the high price for the  age testing required to participate in the Rejuvenation Olympics. A test costs a staggering $499, which must be conducted every 3 months, in order to participate in this elite competition.

Dave Pascoe vs. Bryan Johnson: Similarities and Differences

Bryan Johnson is another well-known figure in the biohacking and longevity community.Both Pascoe and Johnson aim to slow down aging and maximize their quality of life. However, their approaches and philosophies have some differences.

Common Goals

Both individuals share the belief that aging can be slowed down and quality of life improved through science and technology. Both Pascoe and Johnson invest significant resources in the research and application of anti-aging methods and are known for their disciplined lifestyles and experimental approaches. While Pascoe reads most studies himself and derives his philosophy from them, Bryan Johnson relies entirely on artificial intelligence. He believes that AI is always superior to humans. 

Different Approaches

Financial Resources: While Bryan Johnson invests considerable financial resources into his anti-aging projects and funds extensive research in this area, Pascoe takes a more personal and pragmatic approach. His methods and experiments are often less costly and more practical to implement. For instance, Bryan Johnson z.B. has undergone a very expensive and rare gene therapy (Folistatin). This is still on Dave Pascoe's wish list.

Public Presence:

Johnson is highly present in the media and shares his progress and research extensively on various platforms. With his project Blueprint, Johnson publicly presents his results, which is why he also refers to himself as the "most studied man in the world."A whole team of employees is available to him for this purpose. Pascoe, on the other hand, is also active but is more known in specific biohacker circles and communities. 

Dave Pascoe and the Hallmarks of Aging 

Dave Pascoe is very aware of the so-called "Hallmarks of Aging," which he considers central areas to slow down aging and maintain health. The Hallmarks of Aging are characteristic features at the cellular and molecular level that play a crucial role in the aging process. These include, among others, genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic changes, and loss of proteostasis. Pascoe pursues targeted strategies to address these aging characteristics.For example, he takes specific supplements like NR and Resveratrol, which have been shown to support telomere length and genomic stability. He also incorporates regular physical activity and a strictly health-oriented diet into his daily routine to prevent the loss of proteostasis and promote overall cell health.

Dave Pascoe's Training: Staying Fit at Age 62

A key component of Dave Pascoe's strategy for maintaining youthfulness is his rigorous training regimen. Pascoe combines various training methods to maintain both his strength and his endurance and flexibility. His preferred exercises include strength training, which he performs several times a week, as well as endurance training like running and cycling.To improve his mobility and balance, he also integrates yoga and stretching into his routine. Pascoe is an advocate of a holistic approach to fitness and emphasizes a balanced training program that covers all aspects of physical health.

Dave Pascoe and the use of sauna and ice baths

Pascoe regularly utilizes sauna and ice bath sessions as part of his recovery and relaxation routine. These practices are known to offer numerous health benefits, including promoting circulation, reducing inflammation, and improving cardiovascular health. Specifically, the contrast shower therapy – the alternating use of hot and cold baths – is a method that Pascoe employs to optimize metabolism and increase his body's resilience to stressors.Other biohackers, like Andreas Breitfeld, also swear by the positive effects of sauna and ice bathing. 

The Kilimanjaro ascent: A symbol of physical and mental strength

Another element of Pascoe's lifestyle is his endeavor to master physical challenges to test both his physical and mental strength. A current project is his goal to climb Kilimanjaro. This undertaking symbolizes both his extraordinary physical condition and his determination to overcome limits. The ascent of the highest mountain in Africa not only represents a significant physical challenge but is also a test of his commitment to his fitness and longevity philosophy. Furthermore, he is collecting donations during the ascent. 

Conclusion: Dave Pascoe – A Model for Longevity?

Dave Pascoe embodies the philosophy of biohacking and preventive health promotion. Through a strict diet, targeted supplementation, and an intense fitness program, he claims to have significantly lowered his biological age. His methods and lifestyle could serve as a model for individuals seeking a longer and healthier life.

Pascoe's work and his personal journey provide valuable insights into the potential of lifestyle interventions for extending lifespan. Despite the lack of significant financial resources, his success demonstrates that substantial progress in personal health optimization can be achieved through knowledge, self-discipline, and a scientific approach.

In summary, Dave Pascoe is an inspiring figure in the biohacking and longevity community. His approaches and insights offer valuable lessons for anyone interested in proactively managing their health and slowing down aging.