Maybe you will be able to live past 122

Globally, life expectancy hovers around 73. But what if we could make that number much, much higher? Well, it’s a good time to ask that question. The longevity scene is having a moment, and a few key areas of research suggest that we might be able to push human life spans further and potentially reverse at least some signs of aging. In this edition of What’s Next in Tech, learn about some of the technologies and scientific advances propelling the longevity industry forward.

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A combination of scientific advances, public interest, and an unprecedented level of investment are pushing the longevity industry to help us live longer in better health.

A few key areas of research suggest that we might be able to push human life spans further, and potentially reverse at least some signs of aging.

Take, for example, the concept of cellular reprogramming. Nobel Prize–winning research has shown it is possible to return adult cells to a “younger” state more like that of a stem cell. Billions of dollars have been poured into trying to transform this discovery into a therapy that could wind back the age of a person’s cells and tissues, potentially restoring some elements of youth.

Many other avenues are being explored, including a diabetes drug that could have broad health benefits; drugs based on a potential anti-aging compound discovered in the soil of Rapa Nui; attempts to rejuvenate the immune system; gene therapies designed to boost muscle or extend the number of times our cells can divide; and many, many more. Other researchers are pursuing ways to clear out the aged, worn-out cells in our bodies. These senescent cells appear to pump out chemicals that harm the surrounding tissues. Around eight years ago, scientists found that mice cleared of senescent cells lived 25% longer than untreated ones. They also had healthier hearts and took much longer to develop age-related diseases like cancer and cataracts. They even looked younger.

Unfortunately, human trials of senolytics—drugs that target senescent cells—haven’t been quite as successful.

That doesn’t mean we won’t one day figure out how to treat age-related diseases, or even aging itself, by targeting senescent cells. But it does illustrate how complicated the biology of aging is. Researchers can’t even agree on what the exact mechanisms of aging are and which they should be targeting. Debates continue to rage over how long it’s possible for humans to live—and whether there is a limit at all. Read the story.

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Get ahead with these related stories:

1. Aging hits us in our 40s and 60s. But well-being doesn’t have to fall off a cliff. — Lifestyle changes could counter some of the deterioration.
2. The quest to legitimize longevity medicine — Longevity clinics offer a mix of services that largely cater to the wealthy. Now there’s a push to establish their work as a credible medical field.
3. Longevity enthusiasts want to create their own independent state. They’re eyeing Rhode Island. — Zuzalu, a pop-up city in Montenegro provided a temporary home for people who plan to set up a new jurisdiction to encourage biohacking and fast-track drugs that slow or reverse aging.

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Image: Sarah Rogers / MITTR | Photos Getty