I found this article from the Boston University School of Public Health on the genetic foundations of extreme longevity interesting:
The search for the genetic determinants of extreme longevity has been challenging, with the prevalence of centenarians (people older than 100) just one per 5,000 population in developed nations.
But a recently published study led by a School of Public Health researcher, which combines four studies of extreme longevity, has identified new rare variants in chromosomes 4 and 7 associated with extreme survival and with reduced risks for cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease.
I don’t expect to live to be 100. I didn’t expect to live to be 60—I’m already the longest-lived male of my direct line in nearly a century. I appear to take after the Schneiders (maternal grandmother). My mom’s Uncle Ed lived to 96. Basically, antibiotics have been very good to the Schneiders.
I continue to think that those who believe that ordinary human lifespans are likely to be extended past 100 or even past 115 are whistling in the dark. Today people who make it to 115 are anomalies. They were anomalies a century ago.
One hundred years ago if you survived childhood your odds of living past 70 were actually pretty good. That was also true 200 years ago, 1,000 years ago, and, in all likelihood, 10,000 years ago. That’s what antibiotics, sanitation, and other public health measures have done for us. None of those things have done much for raising the odds that, if you made it to 70, you’d live to 115 much.
Here’s a story you’ll find interesting on another scientific topic:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-04/uocf-siw042517.php
My first thought is that if this is legit, UCF should make this guy a full professor immediately.
It’s certainly interesting. The main issue in developments of this sort, alluded to in the linked article, is cost. His approach sounds like it could be adapted into paint which would really be a breakthrough.
If we ever understand genetics well enough to make a real dent in cancer deaths, I think 90-100 could become the norm some day. We are pretty far away from that. If someone ever figures out how to induce stem cells to work well and in a targeted manner for older people, over 100 would be possible, but unless we can really make it work reliably of the brain, who would want to live that long?
Steve
Mostly I find it interesting that there is some research into that area, but it appears to be on the fringe. If TPTB really thought all these carbon emissions were a problem, one would expect some sort of major research initiative into this kind of palliative initiative. Instead we seem to get some piece-meal efforts, as pols and billionaires continue to buy-up beach-front real estate. Oh well, who cares? You and I are likely to be long dead before that’s a problem!