MOSCOW, April 4, Zakhar Andreev. In the near future, people will be able to live longer than 120 years, scientists say. How to achieve this and whether modern man has a chance to catch up with the antediluvian patriarchs — in the material.
«Sins» shorten life
According to the Old Testament, the direct descendants of Adam in the male line before the Flood they lived for several hundred years (the highest figure is 969). Then everything changed. Perhaps because people's health was affected by «the rate of destruction of nature», as well as «original and personal sin», suggestedCorresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the N.I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Kudryavtsev at the conference «God — Man — World».
Later, in an interview, he clarified that the longevity of the antediluvian patriarchs cannot be considered a scientific fact. It's just that the terminology and illustrative material of his report were chosen specifically for the church audience. Arguing about this, the scientist, according to him, had in mind, first of all, that some «sins», for example, drunkenness, negatively affect genetics — and this is already a scientific fact.
We began to live four times longer
According to estimates, in the Stone Age, the average life expectancy did not exceed 20 years, in Ancient Rome — 30, in medieval Europe — 40.
However, these results were strongly influenced by high infant mortality. So, according to calculations of researchers, if a person in the Paleolithic did not die in childhood (up to 15 years), then his life expectancy (LE) was 54 years.
“Life expectancy has increased the most over the past two centuries thanks to progress in medicine, hygiene, nutrition and education,” says gerontologist, scientific director of the Clinic for Restorative Neurology Rinat Gimranov. “For example, in France, from 45 years in 1900 to 82 in 2016 -m. A similar pattern in other developed countries. 0.783333333333333″ data-crop-width=»600″ data-crop-height=»470″ data-source-sid=»» class=»lazyload» lazy=»1″ />
However, there are significant differences between regions, countries, ethnic groups, genders and socioeconomic classes. Thus, in 2019, life expectancy at birth was 83 years in Japan, but only 53 years in the Central African Republic. epidemics, wars, environmental pollution, unfavorable social conditions,» adds Gimranov.
According to Rosstat, life expectancy in Russia decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2022 it grew and reached 72.8 years.
Not over 200 years
WHO considers those over 90 to be centenarians. However, the maximum possible age of a person is unknown. «Scientists now understand that the body is not able to function for more than 200 years, but between 90 and 200 is a rather large corridor,» says Irina Kolesnikova, geneticist, expert at the Hemotest laboratory.
To the title There are several people claiming the longest-lived world record holder. Frenchwoman Jean Louise Calment passed away in 1997 at the age of 122, but her date of birth is disputed.
According to scientists, the record could be broken in the coming decades. In an article published March 29, experts from the University of Georgia calculated that the death rate among people born between 1900 and 1950 has dropped significantly compared to their predecessors. And around 2060, someone from the first half of the 20th century will set a new age bar.
In 2021, scientists from the Buck Institute for Aging Research (California, USA) presentedmathematical model, according to which the maximum term of human life was calculated: 150 years. After that, the body completely loses the ability to resist diseases and injuries.
How to extend the term
Japan has adopted the «Society 5.0» program, which is valid until 2050. One of the goals is to raise the average life expectancy to 120 years, says Alexander Chulok, director of the Center for Scientific and Technological Forecasting of the Institute for Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
The so-called four P medicine contributes to longevity: personalization (individual approach), prediction (identification of predispositions), prevention (prevention) and participation (active participation of the patient). «This improves the quality of life in society: preventing a disease is always easier and cheaper than treating it,» Kolesnikova emphasizes.
The possibilities of predictive medicine are expanding due to modern technologies. In particular, digital models that process a large amount of data and artificial intelligence are used to identify dangerous diseases. There are such developments in Russia, Chulok clarifies. vidy-1855747714.html» data-title='»We're harder than we thought»: Russia has developed a «cure for racism»'>
Another important area is neural interfaces that directly connect the brain with a computer. They are used in rehabilitation and to combat neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. Beating these ailments is especially important as life expectancy rises.
«A very important point is that you can't get very far with a single development. We need technology packages that include distribution, commercialization, and research, and interdisciplinary collaboration,” Chulok lists.
The example of China is illustrative. «They set out to build a» green civilization «to the same by 2050. The program involves not only increasing life expectancy, but also creating a climate-neutral, environmentally friendly economy. And, as you know, China plans — China will do,» the economist points out. .
The world is reconsidering attitudes towards aging. Now this is not an inevitability, but rather a kind of disease that can be prevented and even treated, the expert adds. One of the «medicines» is proper nutrition.
«If so, there is a completely different demand for the food industry, for the agro-industrial complex,» Chulok says. «According to the most conservative estimates, the market for functional products that support both neuroactivity and physical condition, by 2025 it will reach 325 billion dollars».
According to him, Russia, with its backlog in the agro-industrial complex and rich agro-climatic map, can make a significant contribution to the global fight against aging.