Maximum human lifespan.

[Sammy-San]

Out of the tiny percent of people who live to as long as 100, not that many of them live too much longer.

While living to 90 is technically above average, in the 21st century, it isn't uncommon and super-rare, especially in comparison to people living to 100.

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/aug/04/live-to-100-likely

http://www.businessinsider.com/social-security-life-table-charts-2014-3

For example, there is a conspiracy theory that Hitler didn't die when and how most people thought he did, and that he hoaxed his death and lived on in hiding many years later. Regardless if that is true or not, we can be certain beyond a reasonable doubt he isn't still alive today, because there have only been very few cases of people living that long, that suggesting it is beyond absurd, based on our knowledge of human lifespan. I'm just using that as an example-I'm not trying to get into discussion on conspiracy theories in the science forum.

The mathematical probability of even centenarians living to that age is very low. The oldest recorded case is 122, and even that is super rare among centenarians. It's interesting to note that out of the people who reach that very old age of 100,only a very tiny percentage live to become supercentarians, and only a few of them live many more years. But do you think there is a "cap" on the human lifespan-like an age that not even the oldest ceneterians can pass, or an age that there is only a 1 in millions chance?

My theory, based on what I've read about centenarians, is that without future intervention of science (and even then there may be limits), there is a maximum human lifespan that nobody can cross, and the vast majority of the human population, within certain limits, will have a lifespan that is much shorter than it. At the same time, I do believe there is a minimum lifespan. It is almost unheard of, probably 1 in many millions, for people who are young to just die from natural causes.

 

[Gene2memE]

My theory, based on what I've read about centenarians, is that without future intervention of science (and even then there may be limits), there is a maximum human lifespan that nobody can cross, and the vast majority of the human population, within certain limits, will have a lifespan that is much shorter than it.

There are a number of natural clocks that provide natural limits to mortality, but 'science' has been intervening in every single aspect of your life in keeping you healthy and living longer from before when you were born. Everything from toothpaste to sunscreen to vaccinations has increased average lifespans.

Transhumanists think that death is just an engineering problem that we've yet to solve. Maybe they're right. There's certainly lots of progress being made in attempts to use gene manipulation to halt and even roll-back ageing.

At the moment though, we have limited resources available to us and vast inequality both within and between societies. Given this situation, I feel like indefinitely extending human lifespans is more than a little selfish. Why should some people live to 300, 500, 1000 or beyond, when others struggle to make it to 50?

I could get behind human functional immortality it in a post-scarcity society though, where each has not only according to his need but his wants as well.

There's lots of SF and fantasy that plays around with ideas of immortality (part of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest known story, deals with a search for immortality) and equality in human societies. Peter F. Hamilton, Ian Banks, Greg Egan and Richard K. Morgan all make for some interesting reading.

 

[whois]

the limits (if any) of human lifespan would almost certainly be related to genetics.
sequoia trees can live to be 3000 years old or older.

i would imagine that modern science is hard at work comparing the 2.

the real question is, what happens if science discovers the keys to immortality during this process?
even 3000 year lifespans would completely change society as we know it.

 

[Sammy-San]

the limits (if any) of human lifespan would almost certainly be related to genetics.
sequoia trees can live to be 3000 years old or older.

i would imagine that modern science is hard at work comparing the 2.

the real question is, what happens if science discovers the keys to immortality during this process?
even 3000 year lifespans would completely change society as we know it.

Genetics of what-an ethnic group, family tree?

 

[whois]

Genetics of what-an ethnic group, family tree?

in my opinion, the long lifespans of sequoias is evidence that genes are involved somehow.

personally i always thought that death is a nutritional ailment.
we (humans) are probably born with enough of this "vitamin" to last until we could find a source, but the source has long went extinct.
maybe that is what the appendix is for, to store this substance in very minute amounts, like the thyroid does with iodine.
after a certain length of time, this substance switches on certain base pairs.

BTW, genetics is way out of my league, just a heads up.

 

[Loudmouth]

the limits (if any) of human lifespan would almost certainly be related to genetics.
sequoia trees can live to be 3000 years old or older.

i would imagine that modern science is hard at work comparing the 2.

the real question is, what happens if science discovers the keys to immortality during this process?
even 3000 year lifespans would completely change society as we know it.

The first question we would have to ask is one of population control.

 

[Dave-W]

For example, there is a conspiracy theory that Hitler didn't die when and how most people thought he did, and that he hoaxed his death and lived on in hiding many years later.

I remember seeing a very grainy "photograph" supposedly taken on some Caribbean island circa 1970 that showed the Kennedy brothers (John and Bobby) on a beach pushing a guy in a wheel chair - supposed to be Abe Lincoln. IOW they all survived and were moved there. And Old Honest Abe was STILL around more than a century after being shot.

It was on a tabloid front page. So its gotta be true ..........

 

[Sammy-San]

I remember seeing a very grainy "photograph" supposedly taken on some Caribbean island circa 1970 that showed the Kennedy brothers (John and Bobby) on a beach pushing a guy in a wheel chair - supposed to be Abe Lincoln. IOW they all survived and were moved there. And Old Honest Abe was STILL around more than a century after being shot.

It was on a tabloid front page. So its gotta be true ..........

Where did I say a conspiracy theory was true just because a tabloid mentioned it?

 

[Loudmouth]

in my opinion, the long lifespans of sequoias is evidence that genes are involved somehow.

personally i always thought that death is a nutritional ailment.
we (humans) are probably born with enough of this "vitamin" to last until we could find a source, but the source has long went extinct.
maybe that is what the appendix is for, to store this substance in very minute amounts, like the thyroid does with iodine.
after a certain length of time, this substance switches on certain base pairs.

BTW, genetics is way out of my league, just a heads up.

The scientific term for the study of biological aging is senescence, in case you are googling or on pub med.

You mention the age difference between humans and sequoias, but humans and trees don't have much in common. Humans and other mammals do have a lot in common, and would probably be a better comparison. Also, the answer could be found by looking at the problem from the other direction. Why do dogs only live 15 years on the far end of the bell curve? Even if we feed them well, exercise, them, and give them top of the line medical care, they still die before they hit 20.

It may be an interplay between genetics and just plain old mechanical wear. Perhaps humans have maxed out the lifespan of a mammal our size. Perhaps not. Time will tell.

 

[TrannasapiensRex]

Voluntary Human Extinction Movement
May We Live Long And Die Out

May
is a wish, not a command.......Freedom of choice.
We
includes all of us, not just them........Unity. No enemies.
Live
is what we have a right to do until we die.......Peace and justice.
Long
is for as long as we can, which isn't very ...Good health & social security.
And
makes the connection between...longevity & human extinction.
Die
is what we do. Living well includes dying well...Dignity in dying.
Out
describes our place in Nature......Respect for all life.

Spread the word and we will save the planet from US.

 

[whois]

The scientific term for the study of biological aging is senescence, in case you are googling or on pub med.

You mention the age difference between humans and sequoias, but humans and trees don't have much in common. Humans and other mammals do have a lot in common, and would probably be a better comparison. Also, the answer could be found by looking at the problem from the other direction. Why do dogs only live 15 years on the far end of the bell curve? Even if we feed them well, exercise, them, and give them top of the line medical care, they still die before they hit 20.

It may be an interplay between genetics and just plain old mechanical wear. Perhaps humans have maxed out the lifespan of a mammal our size. Perhaps not. Time will tell.

learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/chromosomes/telomeres/

 

[Nithavela]

My theory, based on what I've read about centenarians, is that without future intervention of science (and even then there may be limits), there is a maximum human lifespan that nobody can cross, and the vast majority of the human population, within certain limits, will have a lifespan that is much shorter than it. At the same time, I do believe there is a minimum lifespan. It is almost unheard of, probably 1 in many millions, for people who are young to just die from natural causes.

Define natural cause. Is cancer a natural cause?

 

[juvenissun]

Out of the tiny percent of people who live to as long as 100, not that many of them live too much longer.

While living to 90 is technically above average, in the 21st century, it isn't uncommon and super-rare, especially in comparison to people living to 100.

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/aug/04/live-to-100-likely

http://www.businessinsider.com/social-security-life-table-charts-2014-3

For example, there is a conspiracy theory that Hitler didn't die when and how most people thought he did, and that he hoaxed his death and lived on in hiding many years later. Regardless if that is true or not, we can be certain beyond a reasonable doubt he isn't still alive today, because there have only been very few cases of people living that long, that suggesting it is beyond absurd, based on our knowledge of human lifespan. I'm just using that as an example-I'm not trying to get into discussion on conspiracy theories in the science forum.

The mathematical probability of even centenarians living to that age is very low. The oldest recorded case is 122, and even that is super rare among centenarians. It's interesting to note that out of the people who reach that very old age of 100,only a very tiny percentage live to become supercentarians, and only a few of them live many more years. But do you think there is a "cap" on the human lifespan-like an age that not even the oldest ceneterians can pass, or an age that there is only a 1 in millions chance?

My theory, based on what I've read about centenarians, is that without future intervention of science (and even then there may be limits), there is a maximum human lifespan that nobody can cross, and the vast majority of the human population, within certain limits, will have a lifespan that is much shorter than it. At the same time, I do believe there is a minimum lifespan. It is almost unheard of, probably 1 in many millions, for people who are young to just die from natural causes.

The Bible says 120 years. I think it is right on the money.

Hmm.... Wonder how did Moses get this age?

 

[mmksparbud]

(Gen 3:22) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Even Adam and Eve required the Tree of Life in order to have eternal life---and we get to eat of that tree again

Rev_2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev_22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev_22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.


What ever that tree produces to sustain life--isn't available on this planet----

 

[AV1611VET]

I remember seeing a very grainy "photograph" supposedly taken on some Caribbean island circa 1970 that showed the Kennedy brothers (John and Bobby) on a beach pushing a guy in a wheel chair - supposed to be Abe Lincoln. IOW they all survived and were moved there. And Old Honest Abe was STILL around more than a century after being shot.

It was on a tabloid front page. So its gotta be true ..........

Are you sure it wasn't this?

 

[dogs4thewin]

I heard somewhere it is about 116. The reason is because your cells it seems can only split so many times.

 

[AV1611VET]

I heard somewhere it is about 116. The reason is because your cells it seems can only split so many times.

It's the yogurt they eat (or don't eat).

 

[dogs4thewin]

It's the yogurt they eat (or don't eat).

lol

 

[Sammy-San]

Define natural cause. Is cancer a natural cause?

Natural causes means old age.

 

[Nithavela]

Well, that's not the real definition, natural causes include, for example, a heart attack.