Living Forever
A look at the science and motivations behind the race against aging
TL;DR
- Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) is the concept that annual medical advances extend life expectancy by more than a year, making aging an engineering problem.
- Epigenetic cellular reprogramming aims to restore youthful cell function, but carries risks of cell identity loss and cancer.
- Senolytics target and remove senescent ('zombie') cells that contribute to aging and inflammation.
- Gene editing, such as CRISPR, can modify DNA to reduce disease risk and enhance repair, but aging is complex and not tied to a single gene.
- Organ replacement through transplantation is established but faces scarcity issues; lab-grown organs are still theoretical.
- While immortality is speculative, the massive investment in longevity research will likely benefit individuals with chronic diseases and medical needs.