The Science of Aging Is Quite Impressive
If Carl Jung were to write about aging, there’s no doubt what he’d say: aging is a fundamental archetype of the human psyche. It’s one of those unconscious realities of life that is passed down from one generation to the next. We’re all going to die, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
But hold on one second. Is that true? Is there really nothing that we can do about the aging process? No way to prevent the degradation of our cells, the misfolding of our proteins, and damage to our DNA?
Scientists Can Control Aging In The Pill
What most people don’t know is that scientists are already able to control the aging process in the lab. Cut calories enough for mice, rats, monkeys, and fruit flies, and all live longer. Lifespans can double in some cases. Clearly, aging isn’t something that’s fixed.
What’s more, there’s evidence from the natural world that some species don’t age. The naked mole rat lives about ten times as long as regular rats and doesn’t get cancer, even when bombarded with radiation. Greenland sharks can live for up to 400 years if a recent report is to be believed. And there are species of crustaceans, like lobsters that don’t seem to age at all.
Very Long-Lived Species In Nature
The only rational conclusion, therefore, is that not aging isn’t outside of the realm of physical reality. We already have examples of quasi-immortal organisms living free on planet earth who don’t experience the same aging processes as people. As scientists learn more, does this mean that hearing loss, diabetes, and cancer could be a thing of the past?
Very few mainstream scientists believe that aging can be controlled in humans. The question remains, are their beliefs colored by personal bias and disbelief? Radical ideas are often dismissed as ridiculous when they first arise.
But as with all scientific progress, solutions to seemingly intractable problems appear trivial in hindsight. Controlling electricity was once seen as impossible: now it’s routine.
An Anti-Aging Pill For People
Harvard researchers are already investigating the possibility of a pill to prevent aging. David Sinclair and others have found a molecule which they believe can mimic the effects of reducing calories. The medicine works by supercharging genes in cells that help with DNA repair and maintenance. These genes are up-regulated during periods of fasting and calorie restriction. The molecule can mimic the effect of dieting and exercise at a cellular level. People, he says, will be able to get the benefits of reducing calories without having to experience hunger.
It’s an interesting idea, to say the least – the ability to slow aging. Whether it will work in people remains to be seen: trials are ongoing. But it’s still not a silver bullet. Even with Sinclair’s new wonder drug, people will still die.
Combating aging is a controversial idea, but there’s a growing sense that it’s achievable. It’s by no means mainstream, but it could happen in our lifetime. It won’t be a single pill but a combination of therapies.
