Poll: Do you want to live forever?

[wabmester]

I've noticed that a few people here still believe that calorie restriction might increase human lifespan.   Sorry, it probably doesn't work for humans.   But, there is a guy who thinks he can allow us to live forever.

Meet Aubrey de Grey.

His idea is to forget about calorie restriction, forget about antioxidants, forget about trying to prevent aging.   Just fix the aging-related damage as it occurs.   He thinks about the ravages of aging in the same way that people think about home maintenance.   You don't try to keep your roof from getting old, you just repair it when it leaks.

Specifically, he says aging is just the sum of:

• Cell loss (without replacement)
• Oncogenic nuclear mutations and epimutations
• Cell senescence
• Mitochondrial mutations
• Lysosomal aggregates
• Extracellular aggregates
• Random extracellular protein cross-linking
• Immune system decline
• Endocrine changes

And he proposes repair mechanisms for each problem.

If he turns out to be right, would you sign up for his human maintenance program for a shot at eternal life?

More info here.

 

[Nords]

And he proposes repair mechanisms for each problem.
If he turns out to be right, would you sign up for his human maintenance program for a shot at eternal life?

If he's so smart about repairing the human body, why does he appear to have gray hair?

 

[Cut-Throat]

He kinda reminds me of the guys that write books (In jail) that claim that you don't have to pay Federal Income taxes.

I think those were the two certainties of life. - Death and Taxes.

 

[laurence]

I clicked "yes", but I should clarify.  I don't think 80,90,100 years will be enough for all the things I want to do, so I would definitely want to extend life (as long as the quality of life was there)....but if I was the only one in my family who did, and I watched my grandkids pass away, I might reach a point where I would want to let go...  

 

[wabmester]

If he's so smart about repairing the human body, why does he appear to have gray hair?

He needs more funding?

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I think those were the two certainties of life. - Death and Taxes.

The actual quote is "Death and Texas". (If'n you is an engineer, that is.)

 

[Nords]

He needs more funding?

Good point-- I'll sign up today!!

 

[peggy]

I clicked yes. Aside from all the things I want to learn and to do right now, I suspect that over time, lots MORE interesting stuff will happen, and I'd really like to see it...

 

[astromeria]

If he's so smart about repairing the human body, why does he appear to have gray hair?

Give the poor guy a break--he's 137 years old! 8)

 

[Lena]

I would for reasons already stated (too much to do, too much to learn). However, I don't think I can live forever in the society that is evolving right now. I am just sooo tired to deal with a$$ holes.

Lena

 

[Arif]

My grandfather is about to turn 80 and my grandmother is 77. Her mother is 93 and is as sharp as they come. So I think I've got a long life ahead of me. That being said I don't think I would want to live any longer than my 90s. I figure if I don't accomplish what I want in 90 years then it's not going to happen in the next 90 years or however many years after. That's why I'm shooting for the ER lifestyle now.

 

[Eagle43]

On my 100th birthday, I intend to drink a bottle of wine, run around the block once, get laid, and then drop dead. So no, not forever!

 

[Outtahere]

I voted yes but it would only hinge on the rest of my family, close friends and pets being there too.

 

[TromboneAl]

There's no reason why an organism such a humans couldn't live forever.  Some people think there's an aging gene that could be turned off.

However, if that were true, or if it were simple to make someone live a very long time, you'd expect a few people around who have lived for say, 250 or 300 years.  But almost everyone dies before they turn 100, the record is only 122, and all the really old people look like they are already dead, like this:

 

[retire@40]

On my 100th birthday, I intend to drink a bottle of wine, run around the block once, get laid, and then drop dead.  So no, not forever!

I would recommend you do those in reverse order, just in case.

 

[Nords]

However, if that were true, or if it were simple to make someone live a very long time, you'd expect a few people around who have lived for say, 250 or 300 years.  But almost everyone dies before they turn 100, the record is only 122

As far as we know... now let the conspiracy theorists begin!

 

[dumpster56]

I want to live until I am 120. That way I will be the oldest man in america at the TRI centennial, and be on good morning america as the oldest american who remembers the bi centennial back in 1976!!

Then get hit by a bus after the show while still jogging!!

 

[wabmester]

There's no reason why an organism such a humans couldn't live forever.  Some people think there's an aging gene that could be turned off.

Actually, there are several reasons (all given in the orignal post).   Most aren't under genetic control.   For example, your body tries its best to repair DNA damage and get rid of intracellular and extracellular junk, but in the end, it always loses the game.   Probably the biggest limit is telomere shortening.   Telomeres are the DNA equivalent of the plastic tips that protect the ends of your shoelaces.   They shorten with each cell division due to the way DNA is replicated, so eventually the DNA "shoelaces" themselves start to lose genetic material after cell division.

 

[TromboneAl]

Yes, but if there were an evolutionary advantage to living forever (there isn't), solutions to those problems would have adaptive value, and the problems would go away.

Remember that single cell organisms live forever in a very real sense.

I read a great science fiction book about people who lived forever.  They'd live in a town until people started to notice that they weren't aging, then move on.  Very well done.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I'd like to live until at least 9:00 tonight. Cause that's when Blue Collar TV will be over.

 

[wabmester]

Yes, but if there were an evolutionary advantage to living forever (there isn't), solutions to those problems would have adaptive value, and the problems would go away.

Evolution can only act on the reproducing members of a population.   Once an organism lives past the age of reproduction, evolution has nothing more it can do, so it's up to us. 

I read a great science fiction book about people who lived forever.  They'd live in a town until people started to notice that they weren't aging, then move on.  Very well done.

Hmm, another potential book: SENS-world.   Tyrants try to avoid being assassinated.   Companies try to protect their best employees from accidents.   The procreators battle the rejuvinators for scarce resources.    And Dory launches a new board for people thinking about retiring before the age of 500. 

 

[kcowan]

My dad lived to 95. Until his first stroke at age 90 he had a great life. I answered yes but only if I can avoid the detrimental affects of aging and retain some friends.

I would like to go skiing with my great grandchildren.

 

[greg]

As far as we know... now let the conspiracy theorists begin!

There is no conpiracy.

--Dorian Greg

 

[Nords]

There is no conpiracy.

--Dorian Greg

Extremely subtle, and on so many levels!

 

[TromboneAl]

Evolution can only act on the reproducing members of a population. Once an organism lives past the age of reproduction, evolution has nothing more it can do, so it's up to us.

I know what you're saying, but if there were some dramatic advantage to the survivability of the young due to the presence of immortals, the population with the immortals would have an advantage.

But my point was that organisms age and die only because there's no adaptive value in living forever. There's actually a big advantage to having the older members die off after their usefulness is over. But if there could be an adaptive value to immortality, the problems you mentioned would probably be solved.

IOW, we're used to living things dying, but there's no theoretical reason that they must. No theoretical reason why body repair couldn't be better.

If there could be evolutionary pressure to live forever, the problems are minor.

With sprouting etc, redwood trees are pretty much immortal.