236 Bamboozled by "Evidence": Go Beyond Guidelines, Read the Studies and Question Dogma with Dr. Joseph Jacko

Are we being  bamboozled  by "evidence"?  In episode 236 of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Joseph Jacko explains how pharmaceutic and other corporate funding skews what we are told, why  absolute risk  matters more than splashy headline statistics, and how a deeper understanding of hormones and our metabolism, the microbiome –brain connection, and regenerative tools can help you  build real health and extend your  healthspan , —not just live with and manage disease.  We pull back the curtain on how corporate interests and publication bias can distort medical "evidence," why relative risk often misleads patients and clinicians, and what it really takes to build health rather than simply manage disease. We cover functional and regenerative approaches, hormone optimization, the gut microbiome, the limits of mega-studies vs "N of 1," and why the basics—eat, move, think, connect are still winning strategies. We also touch on hot-button topics from COVID-era data framing to statins, dementia risk signals, and why dancing may be gold for the brain.  

Dr. Joe Jacko is a physician specializing in internal medicine, sports and regenerative medicine, preventive medicine, and longevity science.  He earned his BA in Biology from Wittenberg University and his MD from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency at Mount Carmel Medical Center and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Hughston Orthopaedic Clinic.

Time Line:  

  00:00 – 04:00 — Why "live younger, longer" matters  
Dr. Jacko's pivot from guideline-driven sick care to pursuing optimal function and prevention.  
Setting the stage: curiosity, critical thinking, and personal responsibility in health.  

04:00 – 12:00 — Systems, incentives, and the evidence we see  
How funding, training, and time pressure shape medical guidelines and clinical habits.  
Practical tip: don't outsource thinking—ask what the recommendation is optimized for.  

12:00 – 20:00 — Risk stats & research reality checks  
Relative vs absolute risk, publication bias, and why splashy headlines often mislead.  
Nutrition mega-studies, recall bias, and learning to read beyond the abstract.  

20:00 – 28:00 — The longevity stack: basics that win  
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