Nir Barzlai, M.D., founded the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine over twenty years ago. His most fascinating study features a patient population of 600 centenarians-individuals who maintain active lives well into their 90s and 100s-and, more importantly, reached that milestone never having experienced the so-called big four: cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and cognitive decline.

Dr. Barzlai identified three clusters of genetic mutations-connected to levels of cholesterol, growth hormones and peptides produced in their cells’ mitochondria-that correlate to centenarians’ enviable lifespan and healthspan. In Age Later, he translates those findings to news readers can use-including taking melatonin and using intermittent fasting-to mimic some of the effects of the super agers’ genetic code.