How to Extend Human Lifespan
A dream of immortality permeates human culture, from the ancient Greek myths
and alchemist’s notebooks to modern science fiction movies entertainment.asialogue. While scientists have
made tremendous progress in extending average lifespan, we are still very much
short of our maximum human potential.

A few key things can help us live longer. Those things include access to good health
care, vaccinations, nutritious diets, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful habits.
It also helps to have good genetics. For example, people with a certain mutation in a
growth-signaling pathway are resistant to cancer and diabetes. A recent study of
Ecuadorians with Laron syndrome shows that those with this mutation had a life
expectancy of more than 120 years, which is more than double the average human
lifetime.
Getting to the root of aging
The emergence of new medical interventions that prevent, delay or cure late-life
chronic age-related disease is one key driver of global longevity extension. This is
known as geroscience and has been remarkably successful in increasing our insight
into the molecular mechanisms that govern aging, including lifespan.
While geroscience has proven successful in understanding the molecular pathways
controlling lifespan, it has not yet demonstrated that they can be used to
substantially increase the current human maximum lifespan.
Many factors affect our life span, including genetics, diet, exercise, stress, and
environmental exposure. However, most of these can be controlled or mitigated with
some degree of effort.

For example, eating a healthy, balanced diet with a low-fat intake can help extend a
person’s life. Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can also help.
Personality traits, such as a positive attitude towards life and being conscientious
can also lead to longer life. Research has shown that people with a positive attitude
to life are more likely to have healthier diets, be more active and get more sleep.
Another personality trait that can add years to a person’s lifespan is a high level of
energy. People with high levels of energy are also more likely to be more physically
active and have lower risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
Genetics can also play a role in lifespan, with those with certain genes having higher
life expectancies than others. For example, the genes that control a protein that
regulates how cells grow and divide are associated with longer lives in worms and
mice.
A few species are known to have very long lives, including the tortoise, bowhead
whale, Greenland shark and rockfish. These animals have a very high survival rate,
and this suggests that they may have adapted their lifespan by developing
strategies for reducing their mortality.











