Live Long
In my last post, The Fountain of Snake Oil, I explored the Fountain of Youth, the Elixir of Life, and the Philosopher’s Stone and their place in our quest for longevity. The latter involves alchemy which was a predecessor of modern chemistry.
Science still plays a role in this search as it has continued. There are many fields of study, many approaches to the question, Can We Prevent Aging? Some researchers study the endocrine system for answers. Some researchers study cellular structure and genes. One such organization of researchers is The Methuselah Foundation which studies various methods of extending lifespan. The foundation offers “the Mprize, a monetary prize given to anyone who efficiently rejuvenates and/or extends the healthy lifespan of mice.” Some of this research has focused on calorie restriction and gene regulation and therapy. Knockout mice are often employed as test subjects. An offshoot of this organization is The Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence Foundation which conducts research programs and public relations work for the acceptance of and interest in scientific rejuvenation research.
In regions of the world where people often live beyond 100, common conditions and practices include “a healthy social and family life, not smoking, eating a plant-based diet, frequent consumption of legumes and nuts, and engaging in regular physical activity. In another well-designed cohort study, the combination of a plant based diet, frequent consumption of nuts, regular physical activity, normal BMI, and not smoking accounted for differences up to 10 years in life expectancy. The Alameda County Study discovered three additional lifestyle characteristics that promote longevity: limiting alcohol consumption, sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night, and not snacking.”(Longevity) Also, Cheery People Die Sooner has some interesting tips on living longer based on a recent study. I’m happy to say that I am not a perky person most of the time.
Beware of Health Scams. Antiaging medicine is a multimillion dollar global industry. A large number of products are currently being sold by entrepreneurs claiming that it is now possible to slow, stop, or reverse aging. The products have no scientifically demonstrated efficacy, they may be harmful, and sellers often misrepresent the science upon which they are based
The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) trains practitioners in the specialized field of anti-aging medicine. However, this field is not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. In addition to this training, the organization seeks to educate the public and is involved in lobbying and public relations. Some of the organization’s recommendations are supported by the scientific community. Yet, the promotion of antiaging medications and hormone treatment (including HGH (human growth hormone)) fall under close scrutiny. Some affiliates have been indicted for internet trafficking in HGH and anabolic steroids. Critics of A4M feel that their actions damage the credibility of “serious” scientific research on aging.
So in researching this topic, I found out that there are basically two sides. One side seems to believe in more potential antiaging treatments than the other. The questioning side has a point that there is no scientific proof that the purported methods are effective. It goes back and forth from there. However, the questing has brought about more rivers of research. Those rivers have tributaries that feed into other research topics such as cancer prevention and treatment, organ transplantation, and Alzheimer’s treatment. One such river is resveratrol. When attacked by bacteria or fungi, several plants produce this natural type of phenol. It has been linked to studies that improved the longevity of fruit flies, nematodes, and short-lived fish. The results are uncertain as the positive results have not been duplicated. However, in rodent experiments, the effects have been beneficial in anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, diabetic, neurobiology, and cardiovascular related experiments. The results have not been replicated in human studies. The cancer tests were conducted on lab animals where the cancer was induced by the scientist and not naturally occurring.
So all of this got me to thinking about knockout mice, plants under attack, and generation starships.
What if knockout mice lived long enough to gain a shared intelligence and take over? World Domination, say hello to your new overlord, Mickey!
Do trees forget? Maybe not on this planet, but what if long-living, sapient trees in some other universe, in the face of a pathogen, intentionally created the perfect drug? Would they have to deal with something like dementia or Alzheimer’s?
What advances in space exploration could be made if the generations that inhabited generation ships were genetically engineered to live longer? What would happen to the terrestrial population and the inhabitants of these ships? Would phases of education last longer? Would we wait to partner romantically later? Would those partnerships be expected to last only a brief period in a lifetime? How would this new medical technology be dispensed? Would long life only come to those that could afford to pay for the treatment? How would resource scarcity be effected?
In the next installment this month, I plan to talk a bit about placebos and the consequences of aging or not aging as the case may be. What are your thoughts about the things presented above? Do these things stir any story ideas for you writers out there? Have you read anything that touches on these topics?
Since my research domain is molecular biology of the brain specifically in connection with dementia, I’m well acquainted with the snake oil peddled by the Methuselah Foundation and its cousins, including the imaginary benefits of resveratrol. I have also given a lot of thought to longevity as linked to long starship voyages.
Here are links to two essays that amplify the valid concerns and important points you raised in your post:
Eldorado Desperadoes: Of Mice and Men
http://www.starshipnivan.com/blog/?p=578
The Quantum Choice: You Can Have Either Sex or Immortality
http://www.starshipnivan.com/blog/?p=4389
“Knockout” means that a particular gene has been inactivated. There is no way that such mice would live long enough to become hive minds, even if the structure of their brains permitted it.
Sessile sentience is an interesting concept that has been visited in SF (including Tiptres’ Momentary Taste of Being and Le Guin’s Vaster Than Empires and More Slow).
The most common ecological, social and ethical argument against individual quasi-eternal life is that the resulting overcrowding will mean certain and unpleasant death by other means unless we are able to access extra-terrestrial resources. Also, those who visualize infinite lifespan invariably think of it in connection with themselves and those whom they like – choosing to ignore that others will also be around forever, from genocidal maniacs to cult followers, to say nothing of annoying in-laws or predatory bosses.
At the same time, long lifespan will almost certainly be a requirement for long-term crewed space expeditions, although such longevity will have to be augmented by sophisticated molecular repair of somatic and germ mutations caused by cosmic radiation. So if we want eternal life, we had better first have the Elysian fields and chariots of the gods that go with it.
Embarrassing typo — Tiptree’s, not Tiptre’s!
fascinating response, Athena! I look forward to reading the post on “sessile sentience.”
And how many of these people living to be 300 years old will be complaining about overpopulation?
I was just reading this article http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110704/lf_nm_life/us_ageing_cure when I came upon yours. I’ve always been skeptical of anti-aging potions, but definitely adhere to the healthy diet approach, at least to staying healthy as we age.
But in reading your article here and the other, it made me think more about the effects of longevity–yes, in all the questions you raise here. What are the ramifications? What would it do to society? If our planet can’t sustain that number of people (provided we continue to have children at the same rate), will natural disasters and wars be our form of population control? Isn’t it harder to lose a person you love in a war or a disaster, probably at too young an age, than to lose someone who has lived a full life and is naturally dying?
Yep, the issues raise a lot of questions. Sure, I’d like to have the looks and energy of youth, but we all have our time and at some point we turn our time over. Or will we be like the trees you mention? Live an entirely different sort of existence? Heh, interesting!
I think science is the answer, but it may be to a question we will regret asking. For humanity, I can see such technology readily becoming a source of conflict as the “have nots” struggle against the “haves”.
I haven’t seen any evidence that longer lifespans in the modern world have made our societies less prone to warfare or violence in general. Empathy certainly doesn’t seem to improve. I suspect longer lives with intact mental faculties will just make us more adept at finding ways to kill each other.
I can see in some future era, assuming these technologies play out along with others (cybernetics, biological enhancements, etc.), a world where new “gods” fight to control access to those technologies and facilities that will allow them to continue to exist. I can also see “mortals” striving against the “gods” in an attempt to achieve an elevated station for themselves. Ragnarok anyone?
Great post, MG! It would be great if we didn’t have to age–if we could all just die in perfect health. I’d rather have a shorter life span but retain all my faculties and physical capabilities than live a long time and gradually decline.
Your story ideas are fascinating, too.
Current trends suggest that there is a direct correlation between life expectancy and both the length of education and romance ages. Or have you forgotten that in the middle ages the average peasant got married by 14 and could expect to live to 40? And they weren’t even dying of old age (not that anyone does), most died from pillagers or plague.
Fortunately birth rate seems to show an inverse correlation with life expectancy, though we’ll probably still need resources beyond Low Earth Orbit to sustain a long-lived population.
I never knew about the Mprize! That’s pretty cool, and kinda funny. I like how you are drawing all these threads together in each article and yet each article builds upon the one before it.
I don’t know what the answer is with antiaging, but I do agree that scientific exploration in this fields yields other benefits which can be used to make all our lives better.