Fight Aging!

Here I'll point out an article of mixed quality - there's plenty to complain about, regardless of your views - but let me direct your attention to the core point being made, rather than the wrapping of that point, which is that working to end aging and greatly extend life is the most rational response to the situation we all find ourselves in. Radical life extension is the name given to the goal of postponing the degeneration, medical conditions, and death due to aging for decades or more, living far longer in good health. This outcome will require rejuvenation therapies that can repair the known forms of cell and tissue damage that cause aging. The first of these therapies are presently in development, the rest at various early stages in the laboratory. This should be a cause for celebration, massive funding, and accelerated development, but sadly not everyone considers it obvious that we should be heading down this road. The response from the average person in the street is usually that of course he or she doesn't want to live any longer than his or her parents, that of course this person wants to age and die on schedule. Yet that very same person will take full advantage of medical science now and in their old age. That striving to put an end to the suffering and death of aging is widely considered fringe or outlandish, that we have to advance arguments and advocacy to make progress towards this goal, is another sign that we humans are just not particularly rational.

Peter Thiel has plenty of crazy ideas, but his commitment to radical life extension isn't one of them. He has invested millions in the Methuselah Foundation and SENS Research Foundation, research organizations dedicated to extending the human lifespan by advancing tissue engineering, genomics, and regenerative medicine. Now, while much of the mainstream media will try to discredit the tech mogul on this seemingly outlandish issue, I'm not one of them. On this point, the man is right on target. Death is awful, and we need to get rid of it sooner rather than later. We also need to lose this idea that not wanting to die is somehow crazy or deviant. Not wanting to die is actually one of the most rational beliefs a person can have.

Thiel is not alone in his desire to stave off death. Inspired by advances in genetics, regenerative medicine, cellular biology, and cybernetics, an increasing number of people are calling for an end to aging and mortality. Aging, these self-proclaimed immortalists claim, is a disease that can and should be stopped. They argue that it's not an inexorable process, and that the human body, like any other machine, can be modified and restored to a former glory. And indeed, the science is starting to bear this out. There are things we can do to dramatically slow down aging, from the use of advanced "senolytic drugs" and the destruction of worn-out cells, through to mitochondrial and blood rejuvenation therapies. And by studying supercentenarians, we're learning about the genetic prerequisites for a long and healthy life.

Armed with these and other tools, doctors of the future will matter-of-factly prescribe these therapies to extend the lifespans of their patients. To do otherwise would be a violation of that famous oath they all take upon graduation. Organs worn out? Perhaps it's time to grow some new ones. Cells not reproducing properly? Let's replenish them with younger versions. Brain cells failing? Get yourself some synthetic replacements. Indeed, this tired idea that we'll eventually come up with some sort of magical longevity pill is nonsense; radical life extension will come in the form of multiple interventions and procedures, and few will question it.

Link: http://gizmodo.com/peter-thiel-is-right-about-one-thing-1785104345