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I agree that these results need to be confirmed and replicated in larger mammals. But if it is possible to slow down metabolism to 8-10% of normal, one would expect at least that much slowing of aging processes. Maybe a lot more slowing, since the correspondence need not be strictly linear.
Persons who are dying of a disease which is likely to be curable within a decade might choose to hibernate for a decade, just in case. I can easily see persons in early stage Alzheimer's choosing to hibernate in hopes of a cure.
Or if the attenuation of aging processes is non-linear, if one year of hibernation equals one hour or one day of aging, healthy older persons might choose to sit out several decades in hopes of further advances in rejuvenation science.
The hibernation infrastructure would probably not be paid for by National Health Services or Medicare, since the financial burden on taxpayers is potentially infinite. The wealthy will probably pioneer this process along with venture capitalists.
[Posted by: Sloeform at April 23, 2005 9:46 AM]
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