Longevity has been an increasingly popular topic in the health community.

In the last few years, more scientific studies have come out that are starting to give us a glimpse of how to actually live a long and healthy life - something that has eluded scientists since the beginning.

With this increased interest has come a number of influencers experimenting with longevity focused protocols and functional fitness, all with the goal of helping you live the best (and longest) life possible.

Here are the best longevity influencers to follow.

(Links are to their Linktree or primary website)

1. Bryan Johnson

Coming in hot at #1 is Bryan Johnson.

Bryan grew up in Utah in a Mormon family and went on a Mormon mission to Ecuador at 19 years of age. Soon after returning, Bryan started several ventures and eventually founded Braintree which bought Venmo and then sold as a combined entity to PayPal for $800M in 2013.

Bryan says he was stuck in a state of deep depression for over 10 years and felt both mentally and physically out of balance. He eventually left the Mormon church, and went through a process of rediscovering himself, including discovering his passion for health and longevity.

Bryan's journey for longevity began in earnest in October 2021 with Project Blueprint. Project Blueprint is Bryan's effort to discover the best supplements, nutritional programs, workout regimens, therapies, and sleep habits to slow and reverse aging.

Bryan's process involves rigorous experimentation and focusing on the data to know what is actually working and what is not.

Bryan has experimented with many therapies and lifestyle changes that are at the cutting edge of longevity research, including:

• Vagus nerve stimulators
• Gene therapy
• Blood transfusions from his son
• Stem cells
• Over 100 supplements
• And much, much more

Most of his data and the latest protocol he is running can be found here.

2. Ben Patrick: KneesOverToesGuy and ATG

Ben is the main figurehead of the "Knees Over Toes" (KOT) movement.

The KOT philosophy revolves around strengthening the knees and being able to move ways that were previously seen as "bad". Specifically, the notion that knees should not go past your toes when doing squats or other leg training workouts.

Ben has shown that strengthening the knees allows you to do workouts that bring your knees over your toes and thus prevents injuries elsewhere (such as your lower back or hips).

"What does his page have to do with longevity?" you might ask.

Functional fitness is a core part of living a long and happy life. Knees, hips, and lower backs, in particular, are the cause of a lot of pain and dysfunction in elderly people. By strengthening these areas, you can live a longer, better life. (Here is our full article on the importance of muscle mass for longevity.)

Ben's social media includes many collaborations with other health and fitness influencers, and he teaches you his techniques for knee strengthening. Athletic Truth Group (ATG) is Ben's training program where you can get even deeper guidance and training.

3. Peter Attia M.D.

Peter is a Stanford trained medical doctor with a keen focus on how to live a longer life. He takes a holistic approach to longevity including exercise, nutrition, sleep, mental health, supplements, and other habits.

He hosts The Drive Podcast to talk about these subjects with other experts around the world. I have really enjoyed the podcast and you should definitely check that out, but be prepared for a lot of technical jargon and Googling on the side.

Peter has also written a book called "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity" (paid link). Though I have not yet read it myself, it has 4.7 stars on Amazon and I've heard good things about it.

Lastly, subscribe to his newsletter! He has a weekly email on the latest methods to increase your lifespan that I've really enjoyed and I think you will too.

4. Andrew Huberman, Ph.D.

Andrew is a neuroscientist and professor at Stanford School of Medicine. His primary areas of focus are brain development, brain function, neural plasticity, vision, and psychiatry. However, he covers a wide range of subjects which are almost all applicable to longevity.

You may have seen short videos of Andrew talking about the use of saunas, cold plunges, and light therapy amongst other things. The videos he produces come in very nice, easy to digest pieces, but can lack some important context and details.

For the most in-depth and informative health content he produces, you'll want to listen to the Huberman Lab Podcast. He interviews other doctors and specialists across the world on a wide range of interesting health-related topics. He also does solo episodes that I've really enjoyed as well.

Note, though, that some of his podcast episodes require a premium subscription to access.

Lastly, he has a newsletter as well that you should consider subscribing to.

5. David Sinclair, Ph.D.

David is a tenured Professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. His work primarily revolves around the effects of genetics on longevity and understanding epigenetic age.

He and his team continue to research the effects certain genes have on not only slowing aging but reversing it. They have found several genes, in particular, that once expressed in older mice helped reverse their age.

His team also did some formative work on understanding the effects of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) on the aging process: something we will talk more about in future articles.

If you follow him on social media, be prepared for a lot of technical jargon. He is a researcher and he often forgets to simplify his language for your average Joe. But if you've made it this far in the article, you're probably not your average Joe anyway!

What you might be most interested in is his book "Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To" (paid link). It talks about "virality genes" and ways in which we can use genes to reverse aging in humans. Interesting stuff!

6. Dr. Aaron Horschig: Squat University

Squat University produces some AMAZING content on muscle instability, muscle imbalances, and proper form for a variety of workouts. It isn't just about squatting as the name might imply!

The videos are packed with really valuable and actionable information. He shows a number of his patients who were experiencing pain or muscle imbalances that were affecting their performance. He then shows how he identified the trouble areas and the workouts he prescribed to them to help them get back on track.

This focus on functional fitness and proper motion helps people live longer, more functional lives.

Aaron's videos have inspired me to spend one day a week focusing on stability and supporting muscles to help reduce the risk of injury and increase my performance.

But, of course, if you're experiencing pain while working out, 1) stop working out and 2) go see a physical therapist who can tailor a solution to your needs. Videos alone will not do it for you!

Conclusion

Though there are many more people that could have been listed here, this is a great start!

The list ranges from medical doctors to millionaires, researchers to physical therapists. All of them can provide a helpful perspective in your longevity journey.

Before implementing any of their protocols or suggestions, please remember to consult with your own doctor about your situation and do your own research.

If you feel we left out some important longevity influencers, leave a comment below! We'd love to hear from you.

Also, check out our list of the best longevity-focused podcasts as well!