Biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey believes that extraordinarily long lifespans for humans may be right around the corner. He believes that gene therapy, stem cell therapy, immune stimulation, and other advanced techniques would be able to keep aging at bay with great success. According to De Grey, aging is a result of a lifelong accumulation of molecular and cellular damage that could be routinely treated before problems from aging arose. He says that the world’s first 150 year old has already been born and that people in the future could routinely live to be 1,000 years old.
This is the 21st century version of the fountain of youth. While various institutions of higher learning have accused him of “voodoo” science, they were unable to prove that de Grey was unworthy of academic debate. I feel that this may be a very optimistic approach to a very complex problem that could bring other problems, such as overpopulation and not enough resources to care for the population. However, if De Grey is even partially correct in his predictions, it could be the greatest achievement by human beings to date.
1.http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/07/how-to-live-forever/?pid=4427&pageid=72647&viewall=true
2.http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/07/06/living-forever-may-be-possible-soon/
3.http://www.botox4thebrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/aubrey-de-grey.jpg (image)
I find it amazing that with research and technology, we are able to do such thing as expanding lifespan. Although, with the current lifespan, we already have overpopulation and it's getting worse by the minute. Therefore, maybe this isn't such a good idea.
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