Misinformation is a public health crisis - here's how to fix it

What It Covers

Sergei Jakimov, founding partner of Longevicy VC, argues that health misinformation on social media constitutes a public health crisis, driven by bounded rationality and credibility gaps. He outlines how scientific institutions can reclaim audience trust by adopting the same accessible communication formats used by wellness influencers.

Key Questions Answered

• •Misinformation mechanism: Health misinformation spreads because it exploits bounded rationality — humans default to authority-seeming figures rather than scrutinizing credentials. The fix is not canceling bad actors but replicating their short-form, engaging delivery format with credible, data-backed content from institutions like MD Anderson, which carry automatic credibility advantages.
• •Nutraceutical Wild West: Supplements and nutraceuticals operate under a single regulatory principle — if not acutely toxic, any claim is permissible on packaging. Research by André Meyer found nearly no supplement manufacturers met the purity levels stated on their labels, yet the category remains a multi-billion-dollar revenue engine with minimal accountability.
• •Longevity investing discipline: Longevicy reviewed 2,800 companies for Fund One and invested in 20 — under 1% conversion. The filter: disease-specific therapeutics targeting age-related conditions with measurable health span outcomes, not lifespan claims. Avoiding catch-all aging language and requiring FDA-viable disease indications separates investable companies from capital-wasting hype plays.
• •AI drug discovery momentum: Portfolio company advances in macrocycle design have generated deals worth $1.5B with Organon and $1.7B with Novartis, including $100M upfront. AI for drug discovery is most valuable for previously undruggable targets and rare diseases, functioning as a complement to big pharma's distribution and manufacturing infrastructure rather than a replacement.
• •Personal misinformation defense: Cross-reference any health advice encountered online with a treating physician or GP before acting, particularly for chronic conditions. Start with committing to regular checkups at certified medical institutions to generate personal baseline data. This two-step habit — verified data plus professional cross-referencing — reduces vulnerability to harmful unproven interventions.