Scientist reprogrammed his metabolism and became biologically younger

The DELTA concept is based on the idea that each person has their own “biological baseline,” which is shaped by age, stress, sleep, diet, physical activity, and illnesses, and is constantly shifting. To track these changes, the professor implemented a series of personalized interventions: in particular, he practiced daily fasting for approximately 20 hours, went through 48‑hour fasting periods several times, devoted 90 minutes each morning to strength or cardio exercises, and structured his diet according to the principles of the Mediterranean diet — with an emphasis on leafy greens, seeds, olive oil, and lean sources of protein. Only water, electrolytes, black coffee, and black tea without milk or sugar were allowed as drinks.

The key indicator in the study was the rate of metabolic switching, i.e., the body’s ability to quickly switch from using glucose to burning fat. In people of Professor’s age (47 years), this process takes on average from 36 to 72 hours and becomes less efficient with age. During DELTA, Dean Ho’s switching rate improved: if initially it was more than 24 hours, over time it reduced to 16.5 hours. This indicates an increase in metabolic flexibility — an important marker of healthy aging.

To assess the condition over time, the team developed a special AI assistant that analyzed not just single measurements, but continuous molecular and physiological responses to stress—that is, the body’s real ability to adapt and recover. According to the AI’s calculations, the professor’s biological age was about 32 years, almost 15 years less than his chronological age.

In addition, other indicators improved during the experiment. The resting heart rate decreased from 65 to 46 beats per minute, which may indicate more efficient heart function and better recovery. The sleep structure changed significantly: the time of going to bed shifted from “after midnight” to approximately 9:00 PM, the duration of sleep increased from five to almost eight hours, while the amount of deep sleep increased and the time spent waking up at night decreased. Positive changes in the gut microbiome were also noted: Fusobacterium was not detected in any of the measurements, and during certain periods of fasting, signs of more efficient energy conservation by the body were observed.

The DELTA study is ongoing. It builds on earlier work from 2024 in PNAS Nexus, which examined long‑term metabolic shifts in a professor. In the new study, scientists managed to record metabolic changes even in very short time intervals, literally within a few minutes.

According to Dean Ho, every person is unique not only in comparison with others but also in relation to themselves at different stages of life. The DELTA project aims to help people work meaningfully with their data and make informed decisions about their lifestyle, rather than following universal recommendations. The scientist is also convinced that DELTA reflects a new approach to the science of longevity, as the focus shifts from single indicators to the functional resilience of the body.