Can Modern Medical Science Allow Me to Live Forever?
Hi folks, it’s Kristen in NYC. This week, a reader wonders when we’ll all be able to live forever. Well, that’s not quite what they asked, but it’s still a chance to learn about the latest developments in longevity …
As I age, I have been wondering how future medical science will increase the potential lifespan of a healthy human being. I wonder just how old could a human being get? -Lisa, Canyonleigh, Australia
As I age, I mostly wonder about when science is going to give us an effective anti-wrinkle cream. But this question is probably a more apt one for this newsletter, so let’s dive into it.
Generally, I think of there being two camps of people in the longevity space. There are the folks buying up cryopreservation plans in hopes that one day they’ll be able to live forever. And there are plenty of tech billionaire types, such as Peter Thiel, who has supported some more esoteric methods of delaying aging. Thiel said on Bloomberg TV he plans to live to 120.
Most research into aging, though, is less focused on immortality and more on the question of how we can live healthier lives, for a longer period.
As Eric Verdin, the head of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, once put it to me many years ago: It’s about healthspan, not lifespan.