CNN is running a series of articles on visions for the future from noted luminaries and thinkers. From biogerontologist Aubrey de Grey: "It is 2020. Life expectancy is still in the 80s and the world record life span is still 122. But humanity's attitudes to aging are unrecognizable from a decade ago, because of techniques that greatly extend the healthy life span of normal mice -- with therapies only begun at middle age." I can't say as I agree with all of Aubrey de Grey's thoughts on the immediate social changes this will bring - but his Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) and Mprize projects are worthy of far greater attention and funding than it has recieved to date.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/05/12/visionary.degrey/index.html