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October 15, 2003
To Live Forever
Elixir Pharmaceuticals has an incredible mission: To slow aging, forestall the disease and disability that accompany aging and extend life's most productive period.
Elixir co-founder Dr. Cynthia Kenyon, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, recently gave an interview to New Scientist, on her research into aging, and why she thinks that we are very close to synthesizing a drug to extend human lifespans.
According to Kenyon, "Not very long ago, most people thought that aging was something that just happened. We just wear out, like cars. Not true!"
Kenyon's early research was able to double the lifespans of nematode worms. This came about not by changes in diet or reproduction, but by something akin to gene therapy.
More recent studies have found similar processes affecting the longevity of flies and mice - in some cases resulting in animals that live six times as long as normal.
More incredibly, those long-lived animals stay active and healthy until the very end.
And would this apply to humans? Kenyon notes, "In genetics everything else that has been found to be true in mice, flies and worms has also been found in humans....On rational scientific grounds the chances are very high." And that's one of the reasons she co-founded Elixir.
So what do you think? What would it be like, what would you do, if you could live - vibrant and healthy - to 100, 200, 500 or more?
Posted by Sam in Health & Medicine
and Society / Politics
Comments
I think the people who are children or young adults have a good chance of seeing that become reality. Those of us in our 50's or more will probably just miss it, which is a very sad thought: to be so close, but not close enough.
As to what I'd do if it comes faster than I think it will, well gee, what WOULDN'T I do? So many things fascinate me, so many career paths I would have liked to explore, so I would - each and every one of them.
More interesting, I think, is to explore the societal changes that would come from this. Is life more precious under such conditions? I think so. Would we have less war, less violence? Perhaps so. Would all children be truly cherished, and nurtured to a full potential, because there would be so much more potential? Would people be less willing to take risks? A hundred other questions..
Posted by: Tony Lawrence at October 15, 2003 7:44 PM
Interesting anecdote: when I was getting my PhD at UNC, in 1999, Gartner's chief technology guy came to speak to an MBA class there. He said, "I know folks out in the Valley who would bet you that if you're healthy and 25 today, you might be around to see the Y10K bug." Pretty cool idea (living that long, not experiencing another tech hissy-fit).
I've always maintained that as long as I'm self-sufficient, mentally and physically, I hope I live forever -- there's just too much to see and do and learn and experience to die.
Posted by: Craig at October 16, 2003 2:50 AM
I'm with Craig. If I can be a vital, functioning member of society at 250 years of age I'm all for it. If I'm a 250 year old burden to someone then no thanks.
The only backlash I see to this is world overcrowding. The third world has a hard enough time as it is and the people there live much shorter, harder lives than we do. Imagine living in squalor until you're 147 or finally getting out of the sweatshop when you turn 235.
Posted by: Mitch at October 16, 2003 8:49 AM
It's amazing that we are on the verge of such a discovery. Achieving long life will mean many changes in our society, the way we act, the way we think. It's fascinating to think how this is going to happen.
Posted by: jms at October 21, 2003 4:03 PM
Without a doubt, as medical technology increases our life spans would also increase. But is there ever going to be a discovery on how humans can live forever?
Posted by: Ryo Takahashi at November 28, 2003 6:45 PM