The possibility of living 150 or even 200 years is within humanitys grasp and advances in diagnostics, treatments and organ regeneration and replacement are moving this prospect ever nearer. Early death from diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes will no longer be inevitable for millions of people.
These are among the tantalising and radical ideas Sergey Young presents in his book The Science and Technology of Growing Young (published by BenBella Books).
Slowing, reversing or even ending ageing will become a universally accepted ambition in the healthcare community, he says. Technology is converging to make this a certainty. Developments in the understanding and manipulation of our genes and cells, in the development of small-scale health diagnostics and in the leveraging of data for everything from drug discovery to precision treatment of disease are radically changing how we think about healthcare and ageing, he says.
With a background in fund management and investing, Youngs own epiphany came when doctors told him that he would need to take statins for the rest of his life to control his high cholesterol. This has led him into researching the science of ageing and the frontiers of medicine and technology. His $100 million Longevity Vision Fund invests in companies at the edge of breakthroughs in life-extension technology and he is a board member of the American Federation of Aging Research.
Young insists that he is not in the business of trying to cheat death personally. Even if I die at the age of 80, which would be typical for my cohort, I want to have done so sharing the best ideas about longevity. If that benefits my children and grandchildren and society in general thats a good legacy.
With a regular regime of intensive health checks, body sensors and a rigorous diet and exercise regime, Young practises what he has learned on his journey around the bleeding edge of medical research and clearly intends maximising his own lifespan.
Though he is not a doctor, Youngs extensive research among the medical and life science community synthesised much of the best thinking on arresting ageing. His book provides a fascinating look at whats possible within both near and longer-term horizons, ranging over subjects such as gene editing, stem cell therapy, organ replacement and bionic augmentation.
If we want to life a long life, the best thing we can do right now, he says, is to be proactive about our health so we can stick around for the medical and technological advances that are coming down the tracks in next decade or so that could prevent or cure what he calls the monster diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.
That seems like an audacious claim. But take cancer, for example. Eighty years ago, there was no drug to treat it but now there are at least seven pharmaceutical approaches to cancer treatment and more than 100 chemotherapy drugs in use. Five-year survival rates from cancer have been improving by close to 2 per cent a year for the past 50 years. That rate of progress is set to explode in the years ahead, he says.
Cancer medicine right now is largely reactive, and treatment often starts too late. Young envisages a future with low-cost ubiquitous connected devices that will constantly monitor your health. Some will be external while others will be embedded under your skin. Some could be swallowed with your breakfast or remain swimming through your bloodstream at all times, monitoring your heart rate, respiration, skin secretions and free-floating DNA in your body that may indicate cancer or other diseases.
Early detection of diseases will be complemented by vastly improved drugs and treatments aided by artificial intelligence. Consider how quickly and effectively vaccines have been developed and deployed in the Covid-19 pandemic, he notes.
Then consider the issue of organ and limb replacement and regeneration. Advances in areas such as 3D printing and life science mean that a whole host of damaged or diseased body parts can be replaced. We can have new organs, grown in many cases by our own cells, mitigating the prospect that our bodies will reject them.
Add all this science and technology progress together and the prospect of breaching the current limit of human life of about 120 years, is not only feasible, but inevitable, he believes. Not alone would we live longer but we would enjoy the benefits of living healthier lives for longer too.
For many, this utopian vision raises disturbing questions. There are a whole host of moral and ethical issues here. Would the benefits of defying ageing be spread evenly across social classes and geographies? Do people really want to live a lot longer? Could the planet contain the increase the population? Would a new divide emerge between the body enhanced older population and traditionalists resistant to this form of progress?
Young responds by saying that doing nothing would be truly immoral. Existing healthcare costs are enormous, he points out. Technology offers a pathway to cheaper ubiquitous healthcare solutions that are within the grasp of everyone. Fertility rates are declining in many parts of the globe and advances in technology will result in greater sustainability in energy and food production.
A longevity revolution is on the way but it is disruptive innovators rather than Big Pharma who will lead the way, he believes. The medical establishment will ultimately embrace it as doctors are swamped with patients and outmoded treatments. Access to the best information, drugs and technology will empower doctors to provide better, more affordable and empathetic care to their patients and expensive hospital admissions could plummet.
In as little as 10 years we will look back at the treatment of ageing and disease as quite naive, Young concludes.
No smoking and restrict alcohol: Smoking is the biggest no-no for longevity for obvious reasons. High and regular use of alcohol damages your liver and pancreas, causes high blood pressure, increases your risk of stroke, brings on immune system disorders, leads to early onset Alzheimers disease and contributes to at least 200 more health conditions.
Slash sugar consumption: Excess sugar is poison, he says. It wears out the pancreas among other problems. Eliminate it wherever possible. Cut out all processed foods and limit fructose. Restrict carbs as they ultimately break down into glucose.
Fasting: Calorie reduction reduces the chances of developing health problems such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and cognitive decline and preserves immune system function. Young recommends an intermittent fasting regime where you eat all of your meals within an eight-hour period early in the day and then refrain from eating until the next morning. Clinical data shows that intermittent fasting can improve weight loss, insulin stability, cholesterol levels.
Food as medicine: Stick to an organic, mainly plant-based diet, eliminating processed foods. Choose grass-fed free-range meat and wild caught fish. Include health fats such as extra virgin olive oil which has high anti-oxidant anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties that can help preserve cell condition and protect from a range of diseases. He also recommends the use of supplements to provide the nutrients we cant get from our foods.
Consume more water: Regular consumption of water improves resting calorie burn by up to 30 per cent and encourages you to consume less sugary and caffeine drinks. It also suppresses hunger so you will eat less.
Sleep more: Sleep deprivation significantly increases your chances of a heart attack. The link between poor sleep and cancer is so strong that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified night-shift work as a probable carcinogen. Young says we should use every trick in the book to aid sleep including transitions rituals such as hot baths, cool bedrooms, black-out curtains, meditation and ditching digital devices at night.
Exercise: Even moderate exercise can add up to seven years to our lives, can cut cancer rates by up to 23 per cent and maintain cardio health among other benefits. Walking is a great start. Try to do 10,000 steps a day.
See the original post:
- Signal of Benefit for Stem Cell Therapy in Progressive MS - Medscape - March 7th, 2024
- The Controversies Surrounding Stem Cell Therapy for Autism - The Portugal News - February 24th, 2024
- Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy - News Channel 5 Nashville - February 7th, 2024
- What is Stem Cell Therapy & How It Helps Others - Publicist Paper - January 31st, 2024
- A guide to stem cell therapy in Thailand - Thaiger - January 4th, 2024
- Half of pediatric patients with aHUS benefit from Soliris after... - AHUS News - December 21st, 2023
- Real world analysis on the determinants of survival in primary ... - Nature.com - December 5th, 2023
- The Best Beauty Gifts According To People Who Really Know Skin Care - HuffPost - December 5th, 2023
- The Eyepopping Factory Construction Boom in the US - WOLF STREET - December 3rd, 2023
- Benefit of Neoadjuvant Therapy Illustrated During ESMO Congress ... - Targeted Oncology - December 1st, 2023
- Benefits Outweigh Risks as FDA Inspects CAR-T Cell Therapy ... - Curetoday.com - December 1st, 2023
- Review What Real Cavityn Customers Say About Benefits and Side ... - Seattle Weekly - December 1st, 2023
- 'There is a Scientific Fraud Epidemic' - Slashdot - Slashdot - December 1st, 2023
- 15 Best Hydrating Serums to Soothe Any Skin Type 2023 - Town & Country - December 1st, 2023
- Innovations in Cosmetic Dermatology: A Glimpse into the Future - APN News - December 1st, 2023
- FDA Probes New Cases of Cancer That May Stem From Cancer Cell ... - MedCity News - November 29th, 2023
- Use of plant stem cells in topical formulations on the rise - CosmeticsDesign.com USA - November 29th, 2023
- Stem cell-based treatment controls blood sugar in people with Type ... - EurekAlert - November 29th, 2023
- Biologics Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% by 2034: Visiongain - Yahoo Finance - November 29th, 2023
- Scientists devise new technique that can pinpoint the causes and ... - EurekAlert - November 29th, 2023
- Global Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products Market is on the brink ... - PharmiWeb.com - November 29th, 2023
- Introducing Orgavalue - The 2023 EIT InnoStars Awards winner - EU-Startups - November 29th, 2023
- Episode 160: Euan Ashley discusses precision medicine and the ... - IHMC - November 29th, 2023
- Is Phenq Right For You? Review The Facts Before Making a ... - Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - November 27th, 2023
- Cavityn Reviews - Does It Work? Cheap Scam or Effective ... - The Daily World - November 25th, 2023
- Trend Hunting With Beautystreams At Cosmoprof Asia 2023 - BeautyMatter - November 25th, 2023
- FDA Considers First CRISPR Gene Editing Treatment That May ... - Slashdot - November 25th, 2023
- How Do Plants Determine Where the Light Is Coming From? - Lab Manager Magazine - November 25th, 2023
- Deaths From Coal Pollution Have Dropped, But Emissions May be ... - Slashdot - November 25th, 2023
- Stem cell-based therapies for stroke in newborns - Cochrane - November 23rd, 2023
- Dr Leslie on Outpatient CAR T-Cell Therapy Programs for ... - OncLive - November 23rd, 2023
- Human Milk-Based Therapy May Be Beneficial in Blood Cancers - Curetoday.com - November 23rd, 2023
- Oncological Horizons: The Synergy of Medical and Surgical ... - Cureus - November 23rd, 2023
- Human and environmental safety of carbon nanotubes across their ... - Nature.com - November 23rd, 2023
- Immix Biopharma to Host KOL Event to Discuss its BCMA-Targeted ... - BioSpace - November 23rd, 2023
- #HearTheMarsdenKids call on NHS London to reconsider cancer ... - Metro.co.uk - November 23rd, 2023
- Diagnosis and Management of Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with ... - Dove Medical Press - November 23rd, 2023
- BioLineRx Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results and ... - PR Newswire - November 21st, 2023
- Why our Award Winners Beauty Box is the ultimate beauty gift (for ... - Yahoo Singapore News - November 21st, 2023
- SightCare Reviews - Is Official Website for Sight Care Legit to Try or ... - Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - November 21st, 2023
- Legend Biotech Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results and Recent ... - StreetInsider.com - November 21st, 2023
- Lorenzo's Oil: Can It Really Treat ALD? - Verywell Health - November 19th, 2023
- Doctor Says Living To 120 By End Of Decade Is Possible What's the Secret? - Benzinga - November 19th, 2023
- The week in pharma: action, reaction and insight week to ... - The Pharma Letter - November 19th, 2023
- Race Cannot Be Used To Predict Heart Disease, Scientists Say ... - Slashdot - November 19th, 2023
- SpaceX's Starship Reaches Outer Space Before Intentional ... - Slashdot - November 19th, 2023
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market is projected to reach USD 3,319 million by 2030 according to a new research r... - WhaTech Technology and Markets News - November 17th, 2023
- LMRUK: Protecting the next generation through cord blood - Charity Today News - November 17th, 2023
- Anti-aging molecule discovered that extends lifespan - Earth.com - November 17th, 2023
- Montana State researcher envisions living building materials that ... - Montana State University - November 17th, 2023
- OxyHelp Explores the Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for ... - StreetInsider.com - November 15th, 2023
- Health benefits of bone marrow - Pakistan Observer - November 15th, 2023
- Evolving the standard of care: What is next for functional ... - NeuroNews International - November 15th, 2023
- Affimed Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results and ... - BioSpace - November 15th, 2023
- Meet the World's First Whole-Eye Transplant Recipient - TIME - November 15th, 2023
- Calidi Biotherapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2023 Operating and ... - Business Wire - November 15th, 2023
- 10 Asia-Pacific biotech companies leading innovation in the region - Labiotech.eu - November 15th, 2023
- Fitspresso Reviews (November Update) Natural Ingredients That ... - Bainbridge Island Review - November 15th, 2023
- 2seventy bio Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Recent ... - Business Wire - November 15th, 2023
- Japan To Create $6.6 Billion Fund To Develop Outer Space Industry ... - Slashdot - November 15th, 2023
- Be The Match, Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards 2023 - Ad Age - November 13th, 2023
- Medicare coverage saves lives. Enrolling shouldn't be this ... - Kevin MD - November 13th, 2023
- Future Ocean Foods: 36 Global Alt-Seafood Startups Form Association To Tackle Overfishing, Microplastics & More - Green Queen Media - November 13th, 2023
- Orchard Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results ... - StreetInsider.com - November 13th, 2023
- Celebrity doctor reveals Hollywoods hidden trend of stem cell antiaging therapies - Longevity.Technology - November 11th, 2023
- Amazon Expands Healthcare Push With One Medical Benefits For ... - Slashdot - November 11th, 2023
- Bene Meat Technologies becomes the first to receive EU approval ... - Pet Food Processing - November 11th, 2023
- FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation to MAIA Biotechnology for THIO as a Treatment for Glioblastoma - Yahoo Finance - November 11th, 2023
- MaaT Pharma Provides Third Quarter 2023 Business Update and ... - Business Wire - November 11th, 2023
- IN8bio Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Provides ... - GlobeNewswire - November 11th, 2023
- Fast Lean Pro Reviews - Overpriced or Optimal Ingredients That ... - Journal of the San Juan Islands - November 11th, 2023
- Fate Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results and ... - GlobeNewswire - November 11th, 2023
- Worlds first whole-eye and partial face transplant gives Arkansas man new hope - CNN - November 9th, 2023
- Glowing Fingertips And Green Eyes: First-of-Its-Kind Monkey ... - ScienceAlert - November 9th, 2023
- 10 Natural Body Scrubs That Exfoliate And Invigorate My Skin - PINKVILLA - November 9th, 2023
- CRISPR Therapeutics Provides Business Update and Reports Third ... - StreetInsider.com - November 9th, 2023
- Fate Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results and ... - StreetInsider.com - November 9th, 2023
- Sight Care Reviews - Overpriced or Worth the Hype? SightCare Pills ... - Journal of the San Juan Islands - November 9th, 2023
- 6 Amazing Health Benefits Of Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) - WION - November 9th, 2023
- The Global Market for Bispecific Antibody Therapeutics Contract Manufacturing 2023-2030: Driven by Demand for Innovative Therapies and Promising... - November 7th, 2023
Recent Comments