Scientists bet on longevity to unlock a longer lifespan for humans

Scientists are betting on future biotechnologies to help extend lives beyond 120 and 130 years, which happens to be the longest humans have ever lived.

Life expectancy today has increased to 80 years, up from less than 40 years noted back in the 19th century, according to a report by Longevity expert Siim Land. Yet, the maximum number of years humans can live has remained relatively flat.

The average life expectancy reached approximately 73.3 years in 2024, rebounding after a decline to 70.9 years in 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some countries, like Japan and Hong Kong, have a high life expectancy of 85 years.

Scientists count on longevity breakthroughs to extend human lifespan

A 2018 study predicts an additional 4.4 years of increase in global life expectancy by 2040. Siim said the proportion of the world’s population aged over 60 years will double from 12% to 22% by then. However, there are slim chances that “humans are going to live hundreds of years or even decades longer than 120 within this century.”

Different model predictions put the maximum human lifespan in the range of 120 to 130 years. Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment is the oldest documented person to have lived on earth. She passed away at 122 years and 164 days. 

Predictions informed by the Longevity Escape Velocity are that breakthroughs in healthcare and longevity science will eventually unlock a longer maximum lifespan for humans, beyond 120 and 130 years. 

“The main premise of The Longevity Escape Velocity is that if you’re alive long enough, you catch the wave of future technologies that will, over time, extend lifespan beyond 120 and 130,” Siim said. 

The technology and medicine currently do not exist today. However, there has been decent progress in the last couple of years.

Recent breakthroughs in longevity

Earlier this month, Cryptopolitan reported that Life Biosciences, founded by leading researcher Dr. David Sinclair, is preparing to begin testing partial reprogramming in people, the first clinical trial of such therapy, which could reset the biological age of cells. 

The animal studies have already proven successful, and now the researchers want to use the same therapy to treat 12 people with glaucoma and another 6 with NAION, which is a known cause of sudden optic nerve-related vision loss in people over age 50.

In March, another longevity firm Rubedo Life Sciences announced positive early results from its first human clinical trial of anti-aging treatment, RLS-1496. The drug was tested on people with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and sun-damaged skin in a 4-week trial, with the firm saying it worked “even better than should be expected.”

Longevity research has picked up noticeably this year, with more companies teaming up to advance research. Last month, LEV Foundation by Aubrey de Grey, a leading longevity researcher, partnered with Human Longevity, Inc. to understand why people age differently by studying those aged between 100+ and 110+.LEVF believes the answer would assist in the development of interventions that can slow down aging, Cryptopolitan reported.

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