Dr. Dr. med. Dominik Duscher is a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery and owner of the Longevity Center Munich. In 2020, he landed with the book “Aging becomes curable: Stay young with the power of the three cell competencies“ is a national bestseller. The scientist and entrepreneur has recently joined the MoleQlar family as a scientific advisor. So that you can get to know our newest team member a little better, we met with him and talked about the topic of longevity and his visions for a healthy future.
MoleQlar: Hello Dominik! As a “trained” plastic surgeon, how did you come across the topic of longevity?
Dominik Duscher: After graduating and during my residency, I spent three years at Stanford University doing research in the field of regenerative medicine, wound healing research, stem cell biology and cell signaling pathways. A really important time in my life, because although I was already a trained doctor, I had little practical experience. In fact, I wasn't ready yet at all, at 25 years old. So I had to and was able to learn a lot there very quickly.
This is how I learned how to conduct science at the highest international level; anything else would not have been possible there.
So I was in the lab day and night, whether the sun was shining outside or not. That was quite an experience! At the time, I was the youngest researcher in my plastic surgery department. Stem cell biology was always a particular focus of mine and what was particularly interesting to me was the dysfunction of stem cells. Stem cells don't work as well when they are older; they have problems with their regenerative functionality. I recognized that as a key element in many things that followed on from it.
So if you have a stem cell deficiency, it will negatively affect many other things as well.
The organism is an organized system and it is clear that if the cell, as the smallest building block, causes problems, this must also cause problems in the entire system. In Stanford, the foundation was ultimately laid for everything I do today.
MoleQlar: You are the owner of the Longevity Center Munich – the first center for institutionalized longevity medicine. What can a layperson imagine by this and what services do you specifically offer as a longevity doctor?
Dominik Duscher: It has become clear that everything about genetics is not as set in stone as we have long thought. A lot of predestination ideas were put into genetics. Now, in longevity research and regenerative medicine, it has only recently been discovered that genetics is the hardware, above which lies another level of software that directs the genome: the epigenetics (epi, Greek for on, over). It controls gene expression, whether genes are switched on or not.
Researchers are increasingly recognizing the role of epigenetics in human growth, development, disease, and health. In particular, biological cell age can serve as an epigenetically determined marker of cell health and can also be used to monitor therapies, such as personalized recommendations for nutritional and health products.
This means that therapies can be tailored to individual needs. This approach makes it possible for the first time to track the development of (cellular) health and to improve lifestyle in a targeted manner.
With a sophisticated nutritional supplement regime or prescription medication, we reduce the biological age and thus reduce the risk profile for age-related diseases. I am not a big fan of hormonal intervention. I don't like to interfere with the hormonal control system if it is not absolutely necessary and there is a great deal of suffering.
I have a different system and different concepts, and I try to design an individual, viable path that can also be implemented.
If someone has to go out to eat often in the evening, I can't take away their dinner, for example.
MoleQlar: You are also involved in the University of Tübingen as program director for applied regenerative medicine. What is your research focus there?
Dominik Duscher: In my academic work, I am interested in cell biology in the context of ageing and diabetes, but I also have research projects that focus on breast cancer and especially its recurrence.
MoleQlar: You recently joined the MoleQlar team. What made you decide to join? Why MoleQlar and not another company with a similar focus?
Dominik Duscher: In my opinion, there is something to be said about MoleQlar no alternative in the German-speaking area.
The quality of the products had already convinced me as a longevity physician and long before I joined the MoleQlar team, I always recommended the products to my patients.
Therefore, it was a great pleasure and honor for me to serve as a scientific advisor.
MoleQlar: What are your responsibilities as Scientific Advisor at MoleQlar?
Dominik Duscher: I am primarily responsible for the development of new products. Together with the MoleQlar team, I am working on expanding the product range beyond the food supplements and will help make a personalized form of longevity intervention available via MoleQlar.
MoleQlar: What advice can you give to people who want to do something for their health and longevity? What is the best first step?
Dominik Duscher: The The basis of all longevity is lifestyleThe best products won't help if the right emphasis is not placed on them. A solid fasting regime and an adequate training program are the basic building blocks on which you can then effectively build with individually selected nutritional supplements.
MoleQlar: What is your personal key to a long, healthy life? Do you have a so-called longevity routine that you maintain and care for?
Dominik Duscher: Longevity medicine is ultra-personalized precision medicine for the prevention of age-related diseases, but also for improving performance. I have already mentioned that the basis of all efforts to live a healthy, long life is lifestyle. I certainly have my weaknesses here due to a relatively stressful everyday life, but I stick to a consistent 16:8 fasting regime.
I always skip breakfast and start the day with lunch.
In addition, I naturally strive to achieve the other levels of the longevity pyramid with targeted nutritional supplements. Here I am a fan of NAD boosters but also other substances such as spermidine, quercetin and glucosamineI not only recommend Metformin to my patients, but I am also convinced that it is a good idea to take it myself. At least I was able to reduce my biological age to 25.6 years, which is a good 10 years less than the age stated in my passport.
Thank you for the interview!
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