Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance
Host: Dave Asprey
Episode: Jet Lag Superdrug, 25% Dementia Drop, Coffee Brain Aging, Kratom Shakeup : 1415
Date: February 13, 2026

Overview:

This episode of The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey delivers a rapid-fire, story-driven roundup of current breakthroughs, studies, and controversies intersecting biohacking, brain health, and performance. In under ten minutes, Dave covers a promising new “jet lag superdrug,” surprising connections between depression and neurodegenerative diseases, long-term cognitive training results, coffee’s impact on brain aging, and the regulatory shakeup around Kratom. Listeners are presented with actionable strategies, forward-looking insights, and the host’s signature philosophy of self-directed, informed enhancement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jet Lag Superdrug: The Promise of MIKE628

• [02:04] Dave dives into a new circadian drugs candidate called MIKE628, which appears to “shift your internal body clock and cut jet lag recovery almost in half,” especially valuable for eastbound travel.
  • Current jet lag hacks: “Light timing, melatonin, caffeine timing, maybe meal timing… but they’re blunt instruments and they depend on perfect timing.”
  • New approach: MIKE628 “goes straight into a core clock control pathway ... It targets the mechanism that governs your circadian rhythm and essentially nudges your internal time forward.”
  • This could be “the beginning of true pharmacologic chronotherapy.”
  • Actionable wisdom for now: “Don’t ignore the basics. Morning sunlight in the new time zone, darkness at night, no hero doses of caffeine at 5pm.”
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Instead of hacking around your clock, you directly move it.” (Dave Asprey, 03:33)

2. Late-Life Depression: A Hidden Warning for Dementia & Parkinson’s

• [04:03] New research: “Depression that first appears later in life may not just be a reaction to aging or life circumstances... in some cases it may be an early warning sign of Parkinson’s disease or certain forms of dementia.”
  • The concept of prodromal symptoms: mood changes as early indicators before motor or cognitive decline.
  • “If someone in their 60s or 70s suddenly becomes depressed with no prior history… think of it as a possible check engine light for the brain.”
  • Broader takeaway: Treat the suffering, but “zoom out” and look for metabolic, sleep, movement, blood pressure, or subtle cognitive issues.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Biohacking is not just about pushing performance, it’s about reading signals early. The earlier you see a pattern, the more leverage you have.” (Dave Asprey, 05:28)

3. Cognitive Training & Dementia: Speed of Processing Wins

• [06:02] The ACTIVE study’s results: After 20 years and various cognitive training types, “only one category showed a meaningful reduction in dementia incidence”—speed of processing training reduced risk by ~25%.
  • What matters: “Training your brain to process information quickly... under time pressure and with divided attention appears to matter more than generic brain games.”
  • “Memory training and reasoning exercises did not show the same long term dementia prevention effect.”
  • If you care about driving safety, reaction speed, or staying sharp, this approach is “the kind of training may improve short term performance and reduce long term risk.”
  • Memorable Quote:

    “This points to a specific, trainable processing speed.” (Dave Asprey, 07:03)

4. Coffee & Brain Aging: Moderation is Brain-Protective

• [07:19] 130,000-person study shows “moderate coffee consumption was associated with lower markers of brain aging and lower dementia risk compared to non-drinkers.”
  • “The sweet spot looked like roughly one to three cups per day, not zero, not six to eight. At higher doses, the benefit flattened or in some analyses reversed.”
  • “If you’re using it early in the day in moderate amounts and not wrecking your sleep, it should absolutely be part of a performance and longevity stack.”
  • Key caution: “Sleep is non-negotiable for brain health. ... Coffee that protects performance but destroys sleep is a net loss.”
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Coffee used intelligently may give you both short term performance and long term upside. Oh, and it doesn’t taste too bad either.” (Dave Asprey, 08:31)

5. Kratom Regulatory Shakeup: Autonomy Meets Responsibility

• [09:02] Kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia with opioid-like effects, is increasingly regulated due to “high potency synthetic kratom derivatives” (e.g., 7-hydroxymitragynine or “7-O”).
  • Trend: “Local governments are moving to ban these products. Lawmakers in other states are pushing for stronger warning labels and tighter controls.”
  • Broader lesson: “Whenever a natural compound has strong noticeable effects,” regulators may target the source, not just the synthetic derivatives.
  • Host’s stance:

    “You should have the freedom to decide what goes into your body, especially with plant-derived compounds. But freedom comes with responsibility.” (Dave Asprey, 09:50)

  • Be informed on dose, mechanism, and legal context; “don’t confuse naturally derived with always harmless.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On biohacking philosophy:

  “Your advantage isn’t trying everything first, it’s building a biology that works even without the newest molecule. … Leverage instead of a crutch. Own your inputs. Think clearly. Build from strength. That’s how you upgrade.” (Dave Asprey, 10:31)

• Foundational protocols:

  “Get morning light. Protect deep sleep, lift heavy things. Train your processing speed. Use coffee as a performance tool, not an accident.” (Dave Asprey, 10:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 02:04 | Jet Lag Superdrug: MIKE628 and Chronotherapy | | 04:03 | Depression as Early Sign of Dementia, Parkinson's | | 06:02 | Only Speed of Processing Training Lowers Dementia Risk| | 07:19 | Coffee & Brain Aging Study Findings | | 09:02 | Kratom Regulation: Risk, Autonomy, Responsibility | | 10:08 | Core Upgrade Principles & Closing Thoughts |

Final Takeaway

Dave Asprey delivers a concise, evidence-driven episode underscoring the importance of responsible self-experimentation, early detection of health signals, and foundational lifestyle upgrades. Key message: True biohacking isn’t about chasing every new tool—it’s about building robust health and resilience so that new advances become leverage, not necessity.