Why do we lose muscle as we age, and how much can we rebuild, even in our seventies? For Dr Oskar Wenbar, the interest began after a stroke left his father bedridden. Watching his father’s physical condition deteriorate and his confidence disappear drew him into research on ageing muscle.
In this episode, we look at what changes inside our muscles as we age, why it matters far beyond strength, and how much can be regained.
We then move into more contested territory: testosterone replacement therapy and hormone optimisation, the muscle people may lose on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, peptides, NMN, and whether biological-age tests tell us anything useful. Where is there good evidence to act, and where are we getting ahead of it?
About the guest
Dr Oskar Wenbar is a UK-based pharmacist and researcher whose PhD work at the University of East Anglia focused on skeletal muscle ageing. Born in Poland and raised in Chicago, he studied pharmacy in England and worked as a hospital pharmacist before moving into research. He is a co-founder of Evaro, a digital healthcare company that has served more than two million patients across the UK through online consultations and prescription treatments.
Links and resources
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:45 Oscar’s Journey to Longevity
05:42 Inside Ageing Muscle
08:49 Satellite Cells Explained
11:39 Why Muscle Loss Matters
15:33 Can You Rebuild Muscle
16:30 Training and Protein Uptake
19:47 Fast Twitch Fibres and Falls
20:54 DHT Testosterone and Muscle
23:08 From Mice to Human Evidence
24:43 Testosterone Decline Basics
27:06 Deficiency vs Optimization Debate
29:41 Stigma and Safety Evidence
31:02 UK vs US Testosterone Culture
33:54 Muscle Response and GLP-1 Risks
36:05 Peptides Hype Explained
38:12 NMN and NAD Boosters
39:36 Biological Age and Blood Testing
40:48 Needle-Free Blood Draw Devices
43:34 Longevity Basics and Essential Labs
45:51 Rapid Fire and Final Takeaways
