Brian Kennedy

At a glance

• Brian Kennedy is an American biogerontologist. Since 2017 he has been Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Physiology at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS).
• There he directs the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme and the Asian Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality.
• From 2010 to 2016 he was CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in California.
• His research began with ageing in yeast and later focused on nutrient-sensing pathways such as mTOR, which also influence lifespan in mammals.
• He was involved in mouse studies with alpha-ketoglutarate, a metabolite, which extended healthy lifespan (Cell Metabolism, 2020). In Singapore his team tests such interventions in humans and measures biological age.
• For longevity, his work matters because he bridges laboratory research and clinical trials in ageing people.
• Takeaway: wait for results from human studies before taking supplements, and meanwhile focus on exercise, diet and sleep.