Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the Longevity Summit in Dublin alongside my brand manager, Georgia Smithwick. The event provided us with the opportunity to meet, in person, the brilliant minds we had been researching for the past seven months.
The Longevity Summit Experience
The summit commenced with an opening address by Martin O’Dea, Board Member of the Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) Foundation and the CEO of the Longevity Summit Dublin, underscoring the importance of such gatherings in raising awareness about the field. He highlighted the global impact of aging and expressed astonishment at the limited resources allocated to research aimed at achieving longevity escape velocity. It was surprising to learn that many are still unaware of ongoing studies focused on combating aging.
One statement that particularly resonated was Martin’s observation: “We spend a quarter of a trillion dollars on anti-aging skincare, it’s time we spend this money and time on creating more time for us to live.”
While we often prioritize appearances and strive to counteract the visible effects of aging, the significance of nurturing our inner well-being cannot be overstated. The value of maintaining a youthful exterior diminishes if our bodies are aging internally.
Max Moore highlighted predictions from 1999, which expected the average lifespan to exceed 100 years by 2029. Yet, with each passing decade, life expectancy continues to increase.In a world where people embed microchips in their hands to open doors, make contactless payments, and even rely on AI to compose emails, why is it so unthinkable to consider technology that could extend our lives or potentially eliminate death?
Freezing bodies might be viewed as unnatural and reviving frozen bodies as incomprehensible, but it’s worth noting that just 11 years ago, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine deemed egg freezing no longer an “experimental” treatment. What was once considered unnatural has now become a societal norm.
Challenging the Notion of Aging
I had a thought-provoking conversation with Martin O’Dea about the realization we have as children that we will eventually die. It’s disconcerting that as adults, we’ve been conditioned to accept this fate rather than challenge it, to the point that those who reject this notion are often seen as unconventional. This raises the question of why organizations like the LEV Foundation must rely on investor funding.
Yuri Deigin is focused on developing gene therapies aimed at reversing the epigenetic alterations responsible for aging. We engaged in a discussion about the potential of reversing cellular aging in individuals through partial cellular reprogramming, all within the picturesque setting of Dublin Castle. This strategy involves undoing the changes in gene expression that accumulate with time, leading to the gradual inefficiency and harmful behavior of our cells.
Research indicates that when gene expression within cells is reprogrammed from an older pattern to a younger one, aged cells start behaving similarly to youthful cells once more. The race is now on to adapt this approach for human use, ensuring that it’s safe enough for practical application.
One of the standout sessions of the weekend was led by Bryan Johnson, known as the most measured man in the world. He claimed to undergo MRI scans every two weeks and participated virtually due to his decision to avoid flying across more than two time zones.
When author and biomedical gerontologist Dr. Aubrey De Grey inquired why he places such importance on sleep, Johnson responded, “My goal is to achieve clarity of thought. Nothing impacts this more than sleep.” He believes that our innate human instinct should drive us to do everything possible to avoid death. Thus, he’s embracing extreme measures to live longer and demonstrate the potential to reverse aging.
Before delving into transhumanism and longevity, I, like many, believed aging and death were inevitable and not among the world’s primary concerns. Medical practitioners, doctors, and government officials often view aging as normal rather than a problem. The fight against diseases like cancer receives attention due to their devastating impact on 25% of the population. However, aging is a condition that will affect everyone. Shifting our perspective to consider aging as a disease changes everything. It transforms how we perceive the world, and my newfound passion is to awaken others to this realization.
My time at the Longevity Summit in Dublin illuminated that the past six months were merely the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to explore and countless unanswered questions. This experience has ignited my determination to uncover answers, and I am resolute in being part of the solution. I am excited to take you all behind the scenes as I embark on this journey.
This is just the beginning of discovery. My mission is to actively contribute to meaningful change that could transcend imagination in extending and enhancing lives. I am taking all of you along on this adventure with me.