The Big O | March 2026 Newsletter

Sharper Minds, Longer Lives

At Optispan, we don’t think small; we aim for exponential impact. The Big O notation* represents the growth of complexity in algorithms. At Optispan, we take a similar approach to scaling opportunities for optimal healthspans for everyone. Our mission is to redefine what’s possible in health, creating meaningful change on a global scale.

A Minute with Matt

By Matt Kaeberlein, PHD

Hey everyone,

I've been thinking a lot about birthdays lately. The past month has brought a few big ones in my life. I turned 55 in mid-February on the same day my daughter turned 24. Then a couple of weeks later, my mother celebrated her 80th birthday.

Those numbers are hard for me to fathom, and in the case of mine and my mom's, larger than I'd like, if I'm being honest. Yet I'm filled with gratitude that all three of us continue to enjoy good health, both mental and physical, and that I'm able to spend quality time with the people I love.

That's really the reason for everything we do at Optispan. Our mission is to give as many people as possible as much time as possible doing the things they enjoy with the people they love. That's the promise of Healthspan Medicine. And of course, that includes protecting and preserving the health of our brains - because the years we gain only matter if we're able to fully experience them.

Toward that end, I'm excited to share that we're getting closer to expanding our footprint. I've begun working toward a Series A round that will enable Optispan to scale our programs across the U.S.

Our platform team has exceeded every milestone in building the technology needed to make this expansion possible. Some of you have already had the opportunity to see the new platform in action, and we expect to roll out our client-facing app to all Optispan clients in Q2.

Following that, the latter half of this year will be devoted to launching what I'm calling the Healthspan 80/20 (we may need to hire a marketing team, I know). This is the beating heart of Healthspan Medicine. The Healthspan 80/20 represents two and a half years of experimenting, learning, and distilling the most impactful elements of Optispan care into an affordable package that can be delivered at scale.

I don't expect it to be easy, and I don't pretend we've got it all figured out. The 80/20 will undoubtedly continue to evolve as we learn more and as technologies improve. But we see the path, and we're well on our way.

As I begin my 56th trip around the sun, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do cool stuff with cool people to raise all boats. That vision energizes me and fills me with optimism for the future.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Healthspan Coach Notes

Connection: The Brain Benefits of Being Together

By Will Merrick, NBHWC Certified Health & Wellness Coach

We live in an age of extraordinary connection — and extraordinary disconnection. While we are more reachable than ever (email, cell phones, messaging, social media), rates of loneliness, anxiety, and burnout continue to climb. And all of this has a very real impact on our brains.

Let's explore what the science says, and more importantly, what you can actually do about it.

We Are Wired for Connection

The human brain is, at its core, a social organ. For most of human evolutionary history, belonging to a group was a matter of survival. Our nervous systems evolved to treat social connection as a genuine physiological need — not unlike food, water, or sleep.

When that need goes unmet, the body responds accordingly. Chronic loneliness activates the same stress response pathways as physical threats. It elevates cortisol, promotes inflammation, disrupts sleep, and over time, can alter the very architecture of the brain — reducing volume in areas like the hippocampus (critical for memory) and the prefrontal cortex (essential for decision-making and emotional regulation).

On the flip side, meaningful social connection is one of the most consistent predictors of healthy brain aging. The landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development — one of the longest longitudinal studies ever conducted — found that the quality of our relationships was the single strongest predictor of both happiness and cognitive health in later life. Not wealth. Not IQ. Relationships.

"The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period." — Robert Waldinger, Director, Harvard Study of Adult Development

What Meaningful Connection Actually Does

Not all social interactions are created equally. Scrolling through a social feed or exchanging pleasantries in passing doesn't provide the same neurological benefit as genuine, reciprocal connection. Here's what quality relationships do for your brain:

Reduces Inflammation

Loneliness and social stress are among the most potent drivers of systemic inflammation — a key underlying factor in cognitive decline, depression, and dementia. Strong social bonds help regulate the inflammatory response, acting almost like a biological buffer against chronic stress.

Stimulates Cognitive Reserve

Meaningful conversation, navigating relationships, and engaging with others' perspectives all challenge the brain in complex ways. This kind of social "exercise" builds cognitive reserve — your brain's resilience and capacity to function well even as it ages or faces challenges.

Regulates the Nervous System

When we feel calm, safe, and understood in the presence of another person, our heart rate steadies, cortisol drops, and the prefrontal cortex comes back online. The right relationships literally help calm your nervous system.

Supports Emotional Processing

Feeling genuinely heard and understood by another person activates areas of the brain associated with reward and safety, while reducing activity in the amygdala — your brain's threat-detection center. This is part of why talking through a difficult experience with someone you trust can feel so relieving.

Bringing It to Life: Practical Habits to Try

For Connection

• Schedule one meaningful conversation per week — a real phone call or in-person meetup, not a text chain.

• Practice active listening: put your phone away, make eye contact, and resist the urge to respond before the other person finishes.

• Join a group centered around something you love — a class, club, or volunteer effort. Shared purpose is one of the fastest pathways to genuine connection.

• Reconnect with someone you've lost touch with. Even a brief, warm message can reignite a meaningful relationship.

• If loneliness feels persistent or significant, consider working with a therapist or coach — this is an area where professional support makes a real difference.

Connection isn't something you either have or don't have — it's a practice. Practice does not necessarily make perfect (and we aren't striving for perfection) but it makes permanent (or in this case, makes consistent!) Like any practice, it builds gradually and imperfectly. But the research is clear: the quality of your relationships is among the most powerful predictors of a brain that stays sharp, resilient, and vibrant as you age.

Start small. Be consistent. And remember — reaching out to someone today is a genuine act of brain health.