Laura Comfort, a 60-year-old woman, states that she has a biological age of 40, as confirmed by an epigenetic aging test. This assessment, which measures DNA methylation to gauge cellular damage, was conducted two years prior to her 60th birthday. Comfort, who gave birth to twins at age 53, attributes her youthful appearance and energy to what she calls 'biohacking'—a practice she has employed for years before it became a mainstream concept.
Comfort describes biohacking as the use of science, technology, and lifestyle strategies to optimize one's biology and performance. She contrasts her approach with that of figures like Bryan Johnson, known for expensive and data-driven routines, emphasizing that biohacking can involve more accessible modifications. Her daily practices include consuming coffee with grass-fed butter, prioritizing fiber intake before fats and proteins in meals to manage glucose levels, and utilizing magnesium supplements, red light therapy, and weight training.
Her journey toward this lifestyle began in her early twenties when she was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which she believes was exacerbated by a high-stress, low-body-fat lifestyle. This diagnosis raised concerns about fertility. After building successful careers in finance and music, and experiencing an irregular menstrual cycle linked to her demanding lifestyle, she began to focus on her health. This involved shifting to healthy fats and organic ingredients, reducing intense workouts in favor of yoga and acupuncture, and experimenting with supplements.
These changes, coupled with fertility treatments, allowed her to have three children in her thirties and early forties. Following a divorce at 46, she met her current husband, who is 15 years her junior. At 46, she decided to pursue having children with her new partner, using a determined approach to fertility. Despite facing rejections from fertility clinics due to her age and undergoing multiple procedures, she and her husband eventually used their last two frozen embryos. Comfort successfully conceived twins, who were born via Cesarean section in November 2019 when she was 53.
She notes that her pregnancy presented challenges, including placenta previa and a blood clotting disorder, but her consistent healthy habits provided her with significant energy. She continued her supplement regimen, mindfulness practices, gentle exercise, and a protein-rich diet. Comfort stated that her recovery after giving birth was swift, and she returned to a size two, feeling healthier and more energetic than before.
Comfort advocates for the idea that midlife can be a period of reinvention and new beginnings, not just a decline. She has written a book on her experiences, focusing on what she terms 'FUN-span,' emphasizing the quality of life lived. She believes that age is simply a number and that women can still pursue significant life goals, such as motherhood, in their later years.