Stanford Engineering
28 June 2024
Jonathan Long is a biochemist who studies the chemicals produced during exercise. In Long’s world, “you always start with molecules,” which offer “clean handles” to understanding complex processes. His lab has identified a chemical produced in the digestive tract during exercise that can make a person stop eating. Long now studies this “gut-brain axis” for ways to treat obesity, diabetes, and, perhaps, even age-related conditions like dementia, as he tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast. Episode Reference Links: Stanford Profile: Jonathan Z. LongJonathan’s Lab: LongLab@StanfordStudy on Endocannabinoids and Exercise Motivation: The Endocannabinoid System and Physical ExerciseConnect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Host Russ Altman introduces guest Jonathan Long, a professor of pathology at Stanford University (00:02:30) Effective Weight Loss Drugs The increase of effective weight loss drugs, and the history and development of these GLP-1 receptor agonists. (00:04:03) Understanding Metabolism and Exercise Outline of metabolic chemicals released during physical activity and their potential to combat obesity and diabetes. (00:05:38) Animal Models in Exercise Studies The use of animal models in exercise studies and the discovery of Lac-Phe. (00:07:15) Psychological Preparation for Exercise The psychological aspects of exercise and the involvement of endocannabinoids in exercise motivation. (00:09:28) Lac-Phe's Role and Mechanism The role of Lac-Phe and its production in the gut. (00:12:21) Differences in Exercise Response Differences in exercise response between trained athletes and untrained individuals. (00:13:25) Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases The relationship between diabetes, exercise, and metabolic diseases. (00:15:29) Lac-Phe as a Potential Therapeutic The potential of Lac-Phe as a weight loss drug, and parallels to GLP-1 drug development. (00:16:48) Importance of How Weight is Lost Whether the method of weight-loss matters, and the importance of preserving lean muscle mass. (00:19:40) Exercise as Medicine The concept of exercise as medicine, and defining physical activity at the same resolution as modern medicines. (00:22:39) Metformin and Exercise Pathways The unexpected connection between metformin and the Lac-Phe pathway. (00:24:08) Prospects of an Exercise Pill The future of an exercise pill, and the scientific challenges associated with its development. (00:27:33) Conclusion Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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