Say what? Scientist believes humans can live for 1,000 years
A Portuguese scientist and microbiologist named João Pedro de Magalhães believes that humans will be able to live up to 1,000 years or more one day. Magalhães, who teaches molecular biogerontology at the University of Birmingham's Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, in the United Kingdom, says that cells responsible for aging can be reprogrammed in the future.
We are fast approaching the process of senescence, he says
Magalhães backs his idea by saying that this can be achieved in the future by simply manipulating the genes that are affected by the loss of a cell's power to multiply and grow. The process of doing so is called senescence. In this, cells reach their maximum and permanent growth without dying or coming to a halt due to aging.
We may be able to cheat death one day: Magalhães
As a kid, the scientist had contracted pneumonia, the same disease that claimed the life of his great-grandfather a century ago. However, a simple dose of penicillin cured Magalhães. With that, he shared with the South China Morning Post, "Why can't we do the same for aging? Although we cannot yet cheat death, we may be able to one day."
He believes that aging is a disease
Speaking to the South China Morning Post, the scientist shared that everyone in the world will eventually degenerate and die. However, his life goal is to find a "cure." Yes, he uses the word "cure" as he views aging as a disease. "Just as we are searching for cures for cancer and dementia, we should be doing the same for aging," he said.
The professor highlights rapamycin as a potential cure
Talking about the cure, he highlights rapamycin, also known as sirolimus. According to him, it could very well be a key to quasi-immortality. This idea finds support in several laboratory studies that have effectively extended the lifespans of various animals by 10% to 15% through the use of rapamycin. It is also used to treat cancer patients and prevent organ transplant rejections.
How does rapamycin work in increasing the lifespan?
Rapamycin enhances autophagy, which is a process that removes damaged components from the cells to prevent them from stress. It slows down cell maturity and degeneration, which makes Magalhães believe that it can contribute to longer lifespans of humans in the future. However, it may offer some severe side effects like dizziness, blurred vision, swollen feet, sore mouth, etc.
He also wants to "revive and cure" dead bodies
Magalhães isn't only interested in increasing the lifespan but also in extending the lives of those already dead. He is an ardent believer that if dead bodies can be deep-frozen, the advancement of science in the future can also "revive and cure" them.
Many scientists and futurists are predicting immortality
In a report published by Interesting Engineering in March this year, Ray Kurzweil, who is a famous futurist with a track record of accurate predictions, says that humans can become immortal in the next seven years. According to him, technological advances in genetics, robotics, and nanotechnology can lead to "nanobots running through our veins" that will make us immune to diseases and aging.
