Lokahi Longevity Founder David Watumull: “Aging is Individually Modifiable”
In this first of a series of interviews, we sat down with David Watumull, co-founder and chairman of Lokahi Longevity, to discuss his passion for longevity science and the groundbreaking work being done at the clinic.
David shares his unique journey from stockbroker to life science advocate, highlighting the transformative potential of managing “inflammaging” – the chronic, low-grade inflammation that drives age-related decline.
Discover the inspiration behind Lokahi Longevity, the clinic’s comprehensive approach to healthspan extension, and David’s vision for a future where aging is not just slowed but optimized for a healthier, more vibrant life.
What inspired you to pursue a career in life sciences and now, longevity science?
I was working at PaineWebber as a retail stockbroker in the 80’s. PaineWebber at the time was a key player in the IPO market for biotech companies, companies like Amgen, Genentech, and Centocor. I was extremely lucky to one day meet on the tennis court a world class physician researcher named Jeff Nakamura who went to the same high school, Punahou, as I did. (Barack Obama also went to the same high school.) Jeff was keenly interested in these biotech companies as an investor and Jeff became a highly valued client and tennis buddy of mine.
One day after tennis we were chatting about the biotech industry and Jeff said to me, “You seem to be very interested in the science underlying these biotech companies. Would you like to learn more?” I pointed out that I was married, had kids and didn’t have the time to go back to school. He laughed, leaned over, pulled out an immunology textbook from his tennis bag and said, “Test on Tuesday, first three chapters.” And so, Jeff became my scientific mentor and my life science inspiration, leading to my work as a biotech analyst on Wall Street and biotech money manager.
Just before his untimely passing in 1991, Jeff had started to stress the importance of oxidative stress (the dangerous and unhealthy formation of large amounts of oxygen free radicals) on health and longevity. I had never heard of oxidative stress and didn’t understand its key role until I was asked to help find capital for a biotech company that had just moved from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to Hawaii to commercialize a compound called astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin is nature’s most powerful anti-oxidant and neutralizes oxidative stress, positively improving the health, vitality, and longevity of many animal species. Its large-scale use could have a transformative impact on human lifespan and heathspan (the number of years we live healthy).
How has the study of aging evolved over the last decade, and what excites you most about the future?
The study of aging has exploded exponentially over the last decade. The field is now focused on not just life extension but on improving healthspan by addressing the chronic diseases of aging. We now know that the aging process is malleable at the molecular level and is driven in large part by oxidative stress, resulting in chronic, low-grade inflammation called “inflammaging.”
Why did you create Lokahi Longevity?
We formed Lokahi Longevity to bring these new aging insights to our patients. We have imaging and diagnostic tools that can save lives in the short run with longer-term healthspan and lifespan benefits stemming from the reduction of inflammaging.
What should Lokahi patients expect from your clinic?
Our comprehensive, science-based Longevity Protocol includes a powerful combination of imaging modalities, diagnostics, gene sequencing, supplementation, selected drug therapies, and nutritional guidance not typically available from your PCP and is individually designed to optimize healthspan and lifespan. Unlike some other clinics, every Lokahi patient will meet personally with one of our expert longevity physicians. We are the inflammaging experts.
In addition, we offer an exclusive longevity retreat that gives its 25 participants the opportunity to participate in and interact with a unique gathering of some of the world’s most innovative longevity leaders.
Early detection to forestall death-related aging disease seems to be a focus. What are the top diseases you are focused on, and why?
Our imaging modalities can detect potentially life-threatening conditions such as unruptured brain aneurysms, other cardiovascular aneurysms, symptom-less cancers, and vulnerable soft plaques that can cause heart attacks or strokes. In addition, we offer a new cancer detection blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer.
What would you tell your 20-year-old self now that you deeply know about the mechanisms of aging?
What’s the highest return on a longevity plan? What interventions does Lokahi focus on if healthspan is modifiable? Is it exercise, diet, mindset, for example? I would tell my 20-year old self that the most important longevity/healthspan enhancement would be to manage your inflammaging profile. Diet, exercise, nutrition, supplementation, certain drug therapies, and mindset improvements all play a role and we now have the tools to not only monitor but reduce inflammaging as well.
