1. Bridging The Gap Between Strengthspan And Lifespan by Faigenbaum et al. (2024). Improving muscular strength and function can reduce some of the health declines that are related to aging. While strength training improves health across all ages, there is a particular benefit in keeping active at an older age, so older adults can remain functional and independent.
  2. Cognitive Motor Dissociation in Disorders of Consciousness by Bodien et al. (2024). Researchers tested responsiveness of comatose patients, finding that 25% of patients showed motor activity despite being physically unresponsive, indicating they are able to perceive the auditory command.
  3. AI-Driven Behavior Change Could Transform Health Care by Sam Altman and Arianna Huffington. Bordering on fluff piece (Altman and Huffington are both investors in Thrive AI), but the key points are very valid: There’s a huge potential to help people adopt and maintain healthy behaviours with personalized and insight-driven AI.
  4. Mustafa Suleyman on Defining Intelligence [Video]. Suleyman co-founded and led the application of AI at DeepMind. This is an interesting discussion about the current state of AI, LLMs, and where things are going.
  5. The Effects of Alcohol on Muscle Growth by Menno Henselmans. A new study indicates moderate alcohol consumption doesn’t significantly reduce muscle growth. However, there’s still a negative effect on the testes and testosterone for men, especially in higher doses. While women don’t have these issues, alcohol across the board is linked to liver toxicity which can cause a disruption in hormonal metabolism.
  6. A Reality Check on Superhuman AI by Sabine Hossenfelder at Nautilus. Continuation from last week: Comments by Hossenfelder on Leopold Aschenbrenner’s claims about impending AGI.
  7. Why We Develop Shoulder Pain at Squat University. The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the body and at higher risk of injury than other parts. Understanding how it works is an important step towards shoulder health and injury prevention.
  8. Aerobic, resistance, or combined exercise training and cardiovascular risk profile in overweight or obese adults: theCardioRACE trial by Lee et al. (2024). Participants were split in three groups (cardio, strength training, 50:50) and all saw the same amount of weight loss. (n=406 overweight individuals) While endurance training tends to burn more energy during the workout, this is compensated for partly by greater post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and increased muscle mass from strength training.