The End of Aging?

[Captain Cardio]

The End of Aging? New Hunt for Cure to Growing Old - Sirtris - Glenn Reynolds - Popular Mechanics

Old age has always been like the weather: Everybody talks about aging, but nobody does anything about it. Oh, they’ve tried. For millennia, charlatans have been offering remedies for aging that didn’t work any better than baldness cures and virility restorers. Now, however, with baldness cures and virility restorers that do work found as close as the nearest drugstore, researchers have started looking into ways to slow, stop or perhaps even reverse the changes that accompany aging. If these scientists succeed, their breakthroughs may lead to major changes in human society.

Interesting to imagine how human society would adjust if people starting living 20, 50, 100 years longer, or forever (barring non-age related causes of death, such as a gun shot or getting hit by a bus)

[Dunfunkin']

Quote by: Captain Cardio Interesting to imagine how human society would adjust if people starting living 20, 50, 100 years longer, or forever (barring non-age related causes of death, such as a gun shot or getting hit by a bus)

Would it really be that much of a leap? After all, only a century ago, the maximum that most of us could expect to strut their funky stuff was around 50 years, whereas 75-80 seems currently to be the norm.

[Winter wind]

Well, it would be cool, but there would be many repercussions. Population, evil guys stay around longer, etc.

Not that we shouldn't do it, but we should be aware of what could happen.

Other then that, I wanna stay 17 and maybe even go back to being 15. (I've wanted to stay younger since I was 14)

[Aerika]

I agree with Winter wind, longer life = higher populations = more strains on society which leads to more wars, disease, and evilness. While humans are the most intelligent animal on earth we are also the most violent. Unless we settle another planet to ease the population density human suffering will very likely rise as the gap between the wealthy and poor will widen with strained resources.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Aerika I agree with Winter wind, longer life = higher populations = more strains on society which leads to more wars, disease, and evilness. While humans are the most intelligent animal on earth we are also the most violent.

It takes less than a few minutes' research to see this risk. Obviously, we should address bigotry, antisocial behavior and environmental impact before we make another "advance."

Grandpa h.

[rmnunez]

Somewhere I read it was anticipated by 2035 they'd be able to extend human life indefinitely, something to do with the DNA mapping projects.

[grandpa]

Quote by: rmnunez Somewhere I read it was anticipated by 2035 they'd be able to extend human life indefinitely, something to do with the DNA mapping projects.

I've heard similar things.
However, tiny genetic differences have huge consequences, so we should be a little concerned over these "mapping projects."

Grandpa h.

[thebuescherman]

If people lived forever, that would be horrible. What would be the point?

The environment is bad enough as it is. Make people live any longer and we're all in trouble.

[Domino]

Clearly, the next step would be to build colony ships and spread through the cosmos.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Domino Clearly, the next step would be to build colony ships and spread through the cosmos.

They would have to find a habitable place first, and I doubt we have enough time for that. Our spacefaring capacities are currently rather limited, though arguably still impressive.

Grandpa h.

[Muckraker]

Quote by: thebuescherman If people lived forever, that would be horrible. What would be the point? The environment is bad enough as it is. Make people live any longer and we're all in trouble.

Playstation 17. Need I say more?

[Muckraker]

Quote by: Dunfunkin' Would it really be that much of a leap? After all, only a century ago, the maximum that most of us could expect to strut their funky stuff was around 50 years, whereas 75-80 seems currently to be the norm.

Life expectancy stats are skewed horribly by infant mortality rate.

If a baby dies along with a 90 year old then the average life expectancy is 45 years. If one baby dies per ten 90 year olds then the average is 81 years.

To get an accurate estimate of how long an adult will live it would be better to dump the child mortality off the chart.

[Domino]

When everyone's immortal, there's no need to find a habitable place first. Take your time. Do it the hard way.

There are some aspects of long-term spacefaring that we haven't got nailed down, but I think most of them wouldn't take much time, if a determined effort were made.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Domino When everyone's immortal, there's no need to find a habitable place first. Take your time.

We're not talking about immortality per se, just expanding the average lifespane indefinitely.
Obviously, if the super volcano in Yellowstone erupted you'd still most certainly die.

The same is true if you are traveling in space looking for planets. You would need to make sure the envirnment sustains your life functions for the "indefinite" duration. It's a complicated enough matter from the outside, let alone if it actually happened. It may take more time than we actually have, if it's even possible.

(If you can't tell, I've been watching National geographic a lot lately).

Grandpa h.

[Milton Bradley]

The scary part is that even under current conditions, with the current life spans, there are already people squeezing out so many puppies we can't feed, and care for them all now.


Just imagine the complications if we make another great leap where people are living longer.


I suspect these technologies will be so expensive that only the super rich will be able to benefit from the advances of this research.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Captain Cardio The End of Aging? The End of Aging? New Hunt for Cure to Growing Old - Sirtris - Glenn Reynolds - Popular Mechanics Interesting to imagine how human society would adjust if people starting living 20, 50, 100 years longer, or forever (barring non-age related causes of death, such as a gun shot or getting hit by a bus)

Since Medicine is the most progressive discipline, we have a chance to extend our presence within a particluar frame of life.
Do we have means to feed all the people up, around the globe ?
We are trying to break a corn's DNA. No positive results, so far.

[sevendogs]

We should work on birth control first. Aging is normal and it is good for us.

[Winter wind]

Quote by: seven Aging is normal and it is good for us.

If you mean aging is healthy...well you don't mean aging is health

the end of aging would see a population problem, however people still would die. I do agree that birth control would need to become a standard and we would need another planet to disappear to.

[xyzer]

sevendogs has a point!

We should work on birth control first. .

What with the advent of cloning it appears body parts can be cloned and will eventually be used as replacements for those in need.

By then society will be seeking only the best minds and perfect physiques, and will control who and what is to be replaced and perpetuated?

[Sandy]

Please let this be by choice. When the body hits 75 it hurts! Sure I had a face lift and have been dieting so that I do look 10 years younger but my joints have been replaced and the only place I can exercise is in the pool. I live in a senior development here in Arizona and unless we gals continue to take estrogen, our skin puckers and wrinkles. Those who do take estrogen are smilling and fat.

I don't want to live any longer even if I could. My personal life is smooth but the world is full of crap. My own government is so corrupt that I can hardly bring myself to vote. My children are more than I imagined possible and I can die with a smile.

I sleep well, but have to run to get to the potty. That's not nice. Before you decide to live longer, take a look at living better. Do all the things you want to do now!

I read nonstop and go from one book to another going from a biography to a murder mystery and then a political thriller. My problem is that when I do have a dinner date, my mind often slips back into the book I'm reading and I want to go home. That's old age!!!