True enough.
But not with the mutation. Laron Syndrome.
https://news.usc.edu/115469/people-with-growth-stunting-gene-have-a-sharper-memory/
When we say "aging" it implies gaining years of course, but it can also be interpreted as "deteriorating" over time. Overall, the idea is to grow older with minimal aging, to slow down the deterioration, so that getting the years just happens secondarily.
Here's a link to his website, if anybody wants to poke around a biit more:
https://valterlongo.com
Sounds like utopia to me. I have no doubt that scientists are looking for ways to enhance and stretch lifes but to be honest I find studies investigating the WHY more important because it helps to accept facts rather then dwell in wishful thinking.
There is of course a reason for dying...a necessity in fact and I dont speak from a religious angle but rather a biological one. Tho the world seems to be so vast and endless its in truth a very limited habitat surrounded by a deadly environment. Its resources are finite and it relies on a complex chain of loops and mechanics that regenerate and refresh whatever we see as "granted" in this world. Humanities efforts to beat death has already resulted in a dramatic increase of humans on the planet within a rather short time and the planet struggles to adapt. Already we can observe global effects/problems caused by humans and while it seems terrible to us and there is this talk about "killing earth" fact is that what we see is a long-established "loop" in nature that suddenly counts for us too.
In an eco-system with predators and prey-animals only the species survives that is successful at what it does, be it hunting or avoiding harm. If for any reason any one species disturbs the balance nature will automatically adjust accordingly until balance is re-established. Usually the observed area of effect is rather small but already demonstrates the consequences. Predators too successful will find less and less food to nourish their families and eventually population will dwindle until the remaining prey population can sustain the predators again. If prey animals become faster or find new sources of food their population will increase while allowing predator population to increase also due to an increased available pool of food. Prey animal food tho is limited so while you can observe a period of overall growth this system will inevitably push into limits at which point everything simply falls apart. Food becomes scarce, prey animals starve, less available prey results in starvation among the predators. The increased competition for survival very likely enhances adaptions (mutations) to keep individual genetic strains alive. In the end the survivors will begin a new cycle, most probably changed and X generations down the line split into completely different life forms depending on the environment.
Its evolution in a nutshell and not really new. Know what always has been a constant throughout all the millions of years in earths history?
The planet.
Earth doesnt care and I personally dont believe that humanity can "destroy" it in any form. Earth has suffered tectonic hic-ups, meteor impacts and mega volcano activities that were more powerful then all our nuclear arsenal combined and has started it all over again. It will change...certainly but it will not die. The thing humans in general seem not to understand when talking about "killing the planet" is that we kill ourselves. And we also kill a lot of other species in the process, most likely species that are integrated in the food-chain we rely on. Our current life periods usually prevents us from understanding it all or better....care about it because most people probably think "why should I restrict myself so that future generations might have it better? I want to live the good life NOW and to hell with whoever comes after me".
Individuality, a praised concept is in this instance our biggest curse. It prevents us from working together, from caring about the future or each other and of course...it all is simply evolution again. Nothing new here.
History shows that small communities living in an enclosed area where resources are even more sparse manage to establish a balance with their environment. And of course that only counts for the SUCCESSFUL ones because the tribes who dont manage usually die out in a short time.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT is the key word here. Its critical and all too neglected in todays societies. A few countries start to show awareness and take responsibility but most other countries still behave like resources are endless.
I usually admire hive systems due to their efficiency and cannot help but dream about what humanity could accomplish if all the billions of humans would work towards a common goal instead of splintering and thinking short-term for their own selfish demands. Ex-solar colonization probably already a done deal. The scientific progress would simply DWARF our own which we are so proud of. But of course....hive systems establish a strict system that everybody has to follow, not by free will but because the hive will enforce it. Ants or bees for example feature specific roles and responsibilities and the individual animals/insects are usually optimized for their designated task. This is an automatic process not controlled by any "hive mind" because even the queens, arguably the leaders of any given hive system are simply slaves to the hive themselves.
In terms of performance we cannot even BEGIN to compete with such systems but then, in typical human manner we want what we admire without accepting its restrictions or limitations. Where is the "me-time" in a hive? When will MY OWN goals be satisfied? Those are answers that we dont like because individuality is a praised and cherished concept among humans even tho the benefits for the species are questionable at best.
Various hollywood movies showed fictional societies where everybody is enslaved, stripped of power and personal rights. Reduced to a cog within the machine. Usually these movies show "unfair" distribution of power where a small group or an individual enslaves everybody else through violence and eventually breaking free of these chains. Usually these movies try to transport the message "there is enough for everybody, we all could benefit if we shared and cared about each other" which is of course utopia. Constant happiness implies constant growth (forming a family of your own, living the good life which usually is based on somebodies else efforts) and while this might work out short-term available resources STILL are finite and when these limits are reached suffering and competition will start.
While it would be possible to achieve scientific break-throughs that would stretch the "happy duration" humans individuality usually results in selfish behavior and splintering preventing the species as a whole from succeeding. And make no mistake...even if we would manage to come together and sacrifice personal happiness "for the greater good" we would eventually push into boundaries....be it available space, regenerating capabilities of our habitat or resources again.
Most theories about immortality are wishful thinking or simply "chasing the dream" because humans usually want the whole cake and eat it too....striving after the positives and disregarding or ignoring the negatives.
Our world has forms of immortality already. We know about them or better, a few people do because most folks dont think about such stuff being busy with the social hamster wheel designed to keep em busy and occupied. Almost all immortal or near-immortal life forms known are plants but there are a select few animals known also. Key to longevity is usually hibernation or cloning both systems having consequences that almost nobody acknowledges when dreaming about "living forever". Mostly because it disturbs the idea of individuality. Animals usually manage on a bare minimum of resources or better "scraping the bottom" which also doesnt suit the idea of "living a good life" most people have when thinking about living forever.
The dream works if you only have one or a select few immortals while everbody else remains the same but as soon as you try to apply immortality to a whole species it either dies out or changes drastically to accomodate the new conditions.
In the end it all comes down to acceptance. Its that simple. Most humans learn about this concept later in life, usually at a point which past generations didnt even reach so never had to bother with (in the distant past reaching an age of 40 was a rare accomplishment) in the first place. Older folks lack physical prowess but usually offer knowledge, experience and wisdom instead. Its a trade-off we all face and while some never grow up enough to accept their limits and nobody (probably) likes the idea of dying accepting simple truths like this enable us to live a satisfying life.
Education today doesnt mirror these ways of living that would benefit us all long-term. I m not even sure if it would be possible because younger folks are simply "unable" to comprehend these things. They can read about them and then "know" them for sure but "understanding" is a different thing. Usually schools teach us about all the things we dont have, probably wont ever achieve and instills a hunger for more that is based on other peoples work. Trying to instill understanding is futile (think "history" or "social ettiquette") at this age and while I wouldnt have the power to enforce a "better" system in the first place I admit that I have no idea how such a system would look like. Better is usually in the eye of the beholder anyway.
So Immortality equals greed to me. There you have it.
Its a dream concept which is equal to magic or wishful thinking. In nature immortality is a failed model due to environmental change or competition. The most successful life forms on this planet are bacteria and viruses. Their success is based on a few simple truths. Extremely short life spans. No individuality but instinct or chemically driven. No self-awareness. On the plus side adaptive capabilities are through the roof. Strains we thought we made go extinct suddenly return, other strains prove to be so aggressive and active that all we do usually is catching up or limit the spread at best. The generational mutations sometimes are so extreme that a bacteria can evolve into a whole new kind within a few generations. While on the other hand human evolution includes something like 50.000 years until something becomes "ingrained" and adds to our genetic knowledge.
People usually are busy painting a super duper picture of immortality while there are already examples or explanations for it that they simply dont like so they ignore or disregard them instead wasting time on a dream rather then accept certainties and move on.
I m sorry for bombing this thread but the topic is very interesting and I just wanted to share my own view on it in detail
