# Whatever happened to 1980s "life extension" authors Dirk Pierson and Sandy Shaw? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630 "2003-11-22T05:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/1 "2003-11-22T05:32:38Z")
Back in the 1980s, these two writers/researchers/biochemists were major champions of mega-vitamin therapy and other iffy propositions they claimed would radically extend lifespans and general health. I recall a rerun of “Donahue” in which they hailed the magical properties of their Fountian of Youth cocktails, at which point an audience member bellowed, “If this stuff works so darn well, how come you two look so terrible?” I did a quick Google. No answers. Are they dead? ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/2 "2003-11-22T05:35:44Z")
Dear Carnac, You are an idiot. The correct spelling is “Durk.” Thanks, Carnac (carry on, folks) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/3 "2003-11-22T05:37:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Carnac the Magnificent! \* > \*\*Dear Carnac, > > You are an idiot. The correct spelling is “Durk.” > > Thanks, > > Carnac > > (carry on, folks) :rolleyes: \*\* Ditto. The last name is “Pearson.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/4 "2003-11-22T05:40:22Z")
Dear Carnac, You are an idiot. The correct spelling is “Pearson.” It’s just not your night. 😃 They’re still pitching their stuff out there: [http://www.lef.org](http://www.lef.org) ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/5 "2003-11-22T05:42:39Z")
Ah, I see you beat me to it! Well done. There’s an interview they gave back in 1999, in their own house organ, mind you, with a picture: [http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag99/july99-interview.html](http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag99/july99-interview.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mudpoodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Mudpoodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudpoodle)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/6 "2014-04-24T17:59:15Z")
Perhaps Durk lost some credibility when his hair turned gray. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/7 "2014-04-24T19:23:29Z")
> [@Mudpoodle](#): > > Perhaps Durk lost some credibility when his hair turned gray. Obviously he should have dyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/8 "2014-04-24T20:51:36Z")
[Still around](http://www.life-enhancement.com/images/LEM1305DandS300.jpg). They’re both 71 and appear to be aging right on cue. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/9 "2014-04-24T21:20:46Z")
AAAAAArrrrghhh! Pass the eye bleach. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/10 "2014-04-24T21:26:00Z")
I’ve gotta admit, they’re still alive, while many other people have died. That’s proof of something, isn’t it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/11 "2014-04-25T04:08:47Z")
Yup, proof that they are 71. [Life expectancy in the USA is 78.7 years](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm). So, nothing amazing. If I see 101 or something… OK. I had an aunt that had breats cancer that made it to 89. Grandma smoke and is in her 80’s. Soooo… 71 is kinda “what’ev”. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/12 "2014-04-25T14:51:54Z")
> [@electronbee](#): > > Yup, proof that they are 71. [Life expectancy in the USA is 78.7 years](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm). So, nothing amazing. If I see 101 or something… OK. I had an aunt that had breats cancer that made it to 89. Grandma smoke and is in her 80’s. Soooo… 71 is kinda “what’ev”. Didn’t you see his winky face? It was pretty obviously sarcastic. Other than vitamins, what do these nutters promote? Exercise…vegetarianism…what is there deal? ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/13 "2014-04-26T00:28:43Z")
Nope… I did not see the sarcastic smiley… my bad! ---
**Author:** ![yabooo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5e9695/32.png) [@yabooo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabooo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/14 "2024-12-13T00:24:21Z")
Well they are both Dead. Durk died in October 2024 and in the couple of posts you will find on his death, it is noted that Sandy died 3 years ago. Both died at pretty ordinary ages. Sandy somewhere in her 70s and Durk was 81. Unfortunately, it dose not seem that Vitamins and anti-oxidants are the answer as this was what their premise was in their best selling book Life-Extension- a practical Scientific Approach theorized . See [In Memoriam: Durk J. Pearson, August 19, 1943 – October 26, 2024 | WholeFoods Magazine](https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/17239-in-memoriam-durk-j-pearson-august-19-1943-october-26-2024) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/15 "2024-12-13T00:27:26Z")
And… This is why I love this place! Thanks for joining up and posting this. Welcome! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/16 "2024-12-13T00:34:47Z")
The current king of longevity preaching is [Dr. Mark Hyman](https://katiecouric.com/health/how-long-can-humans-live-mark-hyman/), who plans to live to 120 (and maybe 180) with the aid of his recommended diet, staying flexible, using functional medicine and possibly most important, buying his supplements. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/17 "2024-12-13T02:16:41Z")
I’ll note that Jack Lalane, who advocated vigorous exercise and a balanced diet (both of which _do_ have scientific support) lived until he was 96. (And he might have lived longer if he hadn’t refused to see a doctor. He died due to complications from pneumonia) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/18 "2024-12-13T04:03:08Z")
Someone put together a series of videos that reviews health influencers over the last century or so, and the age that they died. Here’s the first, for anyone interested: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dMghM6TxiBk/maxresdefault.jpg "How long do health influencers live? Episode 1 of 3.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMghM6TxiBk) ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/19 "2024-12-13T14:34:12Z")
I’ll note that this memoriam makes some dubious claims about his abilities and accolades. They may be correct…but they do smack of unsubstantiated hype. His wiki article has some holes in the citations of his achievements. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630/20 "2024-12-13T14:41:38Z")
> [@yabooo](#): > > Well they are both Dead. Durk died in October 2024 and in the couple of posts you will find on his death, it is noted that Sandy died 3 years ago. Both died at pretty ordinary ages. Ok, we don’t know that they wouldn’t have died much sooner without their magic formula for longevity. Though barely 70 I’m a walking miracle because I would have died 30 years ago if not for my strict regimen of consuming preservative saturated processed foods. And thanks for posting this update. My comment above was satire. I have to clarify that these days due to the current state of reality. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-1980s-life-extension-authors-dirk-pierson-and-sandy-shaw/214630.md?page=2)