(Im)mortality: Researchers Find That Human Lifespan Has A Max Limit

[etienne_marais]

(Im)mortality: Researchers Find That Human Lifespan Has A Max Limit

In Brief

New research concludes that human lifespan has already reached its peak of 125 years.
The research does not take into account synthetic biology and advancements in biotech that could extend lifespans further.

Maximum Lifespan Defined

Scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine assert that they have discovered the maximum lifespan of human beings, and it’s a range we may no longer be able to exceed. Dr. Jan Vijg, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Einstein, lead the research, which was published online today in the journal Nature.

Using data from Human Mortality Database, population data from more than 40 countries, and maximum-reported-age-at-death data from the International Database on Longevity, the researchers identified the maximum human lifespan at an average of 115 years, with an absolute limit of 125 years.

Vijg was clear to outline that we have already achieved the best we can through biology: “Data strongly suggest that it [maximum longevity] has already been attained and that this happened in the 1990s.”

https://futurism.com/immortality-researchers-find-that-human-lifespan-has-a-max-limit/

 

[Thor]

Science will prove them wrong

 

[C4Cat]

Science will prove them wrong

What do you mean? They are scientists doing science.

 

[Thor]

What do you mean? They are scientists doing science.

*Other science will prove them wrong.

 

[Lupus]

When everyone starts pegging off at 125, then we can talk. But currently it would seem the range is closer to 80

 

[Ancalagon]

Hmmm not a convincing argument.

If I understand their argument, this is what they are saying:
No human has ever lived to beyond 125, therefore, 125 is the maximum age for human beings.

It may be the CURRENT maximum for human beings, but that doesn't mean it is the true maximum.

 

[C4Cat]

Hmmm not a convincing argument.

If I understand their argument, this is what they are saying:
No human has ever lived to beyond 125, therefore, 125 is the maximum age for human beings.

It may be the CURRENT maximum for human beings, but that doesn't mean it is the true maximum.

How would the 'true' maximum differ from the 'current' maximum? No human has ever lived beyond 125, therefore, 125 is the maximum age for human beings, seems pretty obvious and also accurate. I find it convincing.
What could change that maximum age do you think?

 

[saor]

*Other science will prove them wrong.

From the article:

So, is that it? We can live up to 125 years tops? “Further progress against infectious and chronic diseases may continue boosting average life expectancy, but not maximum lifespan,” Vijg believes.

This is where, perhaps, advances in bionics and advances in synthetic biology can takeover.

So the author is still open to the idea that further research can get us over the 125-year limit. And in the article they're only talking about 'further progress against infectious and chronic diseases' which again doesn't close us off to other biological interventions involving say the mitochondria or cells etc.

 

[Slootvreter]

Hmmm not a convincing argument.

If I understand their argument, this is what they are saying:
No human has ever lived to beyond 125, therefore, 125 is the maximum age for human beings.

It may be the CURRENT maximum for human beings, but that doesn't mean it is the true maximum.

Yeah, if that's what they went by to get to 125, it's hardly research.

 

[skimread]

The Bible proves them wrong. Some guys lived 900 odd years according to the Old Testament

 

[Slootvreter]

The Bible proves them wrong. Some guys lived 900 odd years according to the Old Testament

:crylaugh: hahaha

Science 0 - Bible 1

 

[Ancalagon]

How would the 'true' maximum differ from the 'current' maximum? No human has ever lived beyond 125, therefore, 125 is the maximum age for human beings, seems pretty obvious and also accurate. I find it convincing.
What could change that maximum age do you think?

The true maximum will be reached when nothing science can do can extend our lifespan. At the moment, it is reasonable to believe that science will able to extend our lifespans beyond 125.

It is a local maximum vs global maximum - hopefully you understand the difference.

In 50 years time, science could have advanced to the point that the maximum lifespan is 150 years. Who knows? Then, 125 is not the maximum anymore - 125 would have been the maximum as at 2017 - the local maximum at that point.

 

[Lupus]

The Bible proves them wrong. Some guys lived 900 odd years according to the Old Testament

I'm spitballing here, but it is possible, maybe just a small chance, that it's not true?

 

[C4Cat]

The true maximum will be reached when nothing science can do can extend our lifespan. At the moment, it is reasonable to believe that science will able to extend our lifespans beyond 125.

It is a local maximum vs global maximum - hopefully you understand the difference.

In 50 years time, science could have advanced to the point that the maximum lifespan is 150 years. Who knows? Then, 125 is not the maximum anymore - 125 would have been the maximum as at 2017 - the local maximum at that point.

Sure, but the article specifically says "The research does not take into account synthetic biology and advancements in biotech that could extend lifespans further." - it's looking at the maximum natural lifespan of people, not a lifespan enhanced by biomedical advancements.

 

[Ancalagon]

Sure, but the article specifically says "The research does not take into account synthetic biology and advancements in biotech that could extend lifespans further." - it's looking at the maximum natural lifespan of people, not a lifespan enhanced by biomedical advancements.

If the article contained the word "natural" then you would be correct. But the article unfortunately does not clarify whether they were examining the natural lifespan of human beings or simply the lifespan of human beings.

 

[Nick333]

If the article contained the word "natural" then you would be correct. But the article unfortunately does not clarify whether they were examining the natural lifespan of human beings or simply the lifespan of human beings.

Ag, it's just some journo trying to be sensationalist. The studies not saying that we won't extend the human life span or achieve virtual immortality. In fact the article acknowledges that.

So, the natural human age limit is 125. We already pretty much new that since the oldest person alive at any given time is generally in the news on their birthday.

 

[Techne]

The Bible proves them wrong. Some guys lived 900 odd years according to the Old Testament

Then the Bible says it is limited to 120.

 

[Moosedrool]

Hah. Not here: https://businesstech.co.za/news/gen...-has-the-lowest-life-expectancy-in-the-world/

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Albert Einstein College of Medicine really? They name a medical school after a physicist?

 

[WhoWhat]

Hmmm not a convincing argument.

If I understand their argument, this is what they are saying:
No human has ever lived to beyond 125, therefore, 125 is the maximum age for human beings.

It may be the CURRENT maximum for human beings, but that doesn't mean it is the true maximum.

Precisely. A few hundred years ago max lifespan was about 40, with most dying by 30. So yeah I'm with you. At the PRESENT time it seems as if ...