When will we die?

My mother died of a stroke in her sixties but my father whose health was near perfect died at 83 in a car accident. I inherited my mother’s genes but I managed (so far) to reverse heart disease twice. Will science and medicine endow added years for us?

What does science say?

In recent years scientists have forecasted the use of brain chips, computer interfaces with the brain, and other hybrid machine/human combinations. In some cases these added devices might increase life expectancy and the quality of life. But how many of us are willing to embrace or can afford becoming hybrid humans. What about without becoming part machine—can humans just live longer with higher quality of living? Biomedical researchers have made mutations in single genes which extend lifespan in worms, flies, yeast, and mice. But what are the prospects for humans?

Another dogma bites the dust.

A previously held dogma was that humans could not live beyond 125 years. This has been proven wrong. There are three important considerations when considering human lifespan: life expectancy, quality of life, and maximum age. Let’s consider each one of these.

Life expectancy & quality of life.

Life expectancy is expected to rise to at least 85 by 2050 in developed countries. This is due in part to improved diagnosis and treatment of diseases which is also improves the quality of life. Proper nutrition and nutritional education will also play a key role in disease prevention and quality of life. It has been known for decades that a reduced calorie intake can substantially increase life expectancy. Obesity, excessive carbohydrate consumption especially simple sugars, and undesirable fat ingestion (trans fatty acids, saturated fats, and omega-6 fatty acids) play a huge role in reducing quality of life and increasing the probability of acquiring fatal diseases. Diet was a key contributor to my reversing heart disease (along with exercise and meditation).

Maximum life span.

But what about using the knowledge of mice and flies to increase human lifespan? So far simple one gene mutations have not given evidence of significant differences to human aging. However these are early days and numerous leads are being pursued—reservatrol and other antioxidants, genes which prevent cell ageing, other genes mimicking a reduced calorie intake, and energy metabolism genes. But it is unlikely that a single gene will be the fountain of youth since the regulation of human cells is highly complex with many means to circumvent critical pathways.

What do we do now?

In the short term, nutritional changes hold that greatest promise of increasing life expectancy. Close behind are scores of improved diagnostic and treatment modalities for diseases which are the most prevalent killers. Quality of life also will be positively impacted by nutrition and medicine. As to significantly increasing maximum age in humans, I am optimistic that the critical pathways will be deciphered. Armed with such knowledge, I believe that we are only a few decades away from life extension regimes.

Healing the rift.

What about bridging the gap between science and spirituality? Mental state is a key factor in disease and health. Spirituality plays a significant role in health, quality of life, and in fighting cancer, heart disease, and other fatal diseases. However, spirituality adds something that science cannot—higher meaning to our brief time in this life. Do you have thoughts about aging, spirituality, and/or bridging the gap?

Image source: royalty free Getty image.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 at 11:18 am and is filed under Explaining Life, Healing, Science & Spirituality, health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.