Chapter 1: The Vision of Extended Lifespans

Once a luxurious retreat, San Diego's Town and Country resort is now more notorious for its quirky marquee along Interstate 8, showcasing humorous phrases like "There's no way that everyone was kung fu fighting." During my visit in September 2018, the venue felt caught in a nostalgic limbo, with significant portions closed for extensive renovations. The remaining areas featured an eclectic mix of decor, including a large Ron Burgundy poster near the front desk and a cluster of plastic lawn flamingos on artificial turf.

For around 1,000 attendees who paid between $395 and $1,995 for the third annual Revolution Against Aging and Death Festival (RAADfest), this venue symbolized their journey toward a seemingly limitless future. "We’re on a mission," declared James Strole, the event's charismatic host, during the opening ceremony. "We are creating a new world—one devoid of pain, illness, and death."

Strole's words were not mere exaggerations. He predicted that within the coming decades, living for hundreds of years in optimal health would be commonplace. "We’re not discussing life in a frail state; we’re envisioning a future where life continually improves," he assured the audience, many of whom were already enjoying their retirement years. "Everyone here has that potential, regardless of your current condition. Your body is extraordinary and can be rejuvenated."

Following Strole, a diverse group of speakers including stem cell advocates, transhumanists, and robotics enthusiasts took the stage. Among the highlights were biogerontologist Aubrey de Grey, famous for his claim that the first human to live to 1,000 is already among us; Bill Faloon, a former funeral director who leads the Church of Perpetual Life, a group centered around longevity; and inventor Ray Kurzweil, who forecasts the imminent introduction of millions of nanobots into our bodies for health enhancement.

RAADfest's unique character extended beyond its eclectic speakers. Each day featured three to four hours dedicated to an "anti-aging and age-reversal expo" known as RAADcity. Vendors promoted a variety of treatments, such as $370 vitamin IV infusions and "youngening" stem cell therapies, alongside more unconventional offerings like "sex magic" workshops and the Theraphi Plasma System, claimed to reverse aging and alleviate various ailments. One doctor from Tampa even marketed a package of "young plasma" treatments for $27,000. Despite the carnival-like atmosphere, with performances and an unconventional keynote by actress Suzanne Somers, there were meaningful discussions surrounding legitimate research being conducted globally.

Faloon passionately discussed the life-extending benefits of NAD+, a coenzyme central to new research led by MIT professor Leonard Guarente. Kurzweil shared that he consumes over 100 pills and supplements daily, highlighting metformin as a promising treatment for age-related diseases. The festival also featured discussions on senolytics, a new drug class aimed at combating cellular senescence, a term that describes the deterioration of our bodies as we age.

This juxtaposition of fringe theories and mainstream science reflects the evolving landscape of aging research and raises significant questions about how this field will reshape human aging in the future. At RAADfest, attendees assumed that ongoing research from established laboratories will eventually enable humanity to achieve a form of immortality. However, the scientists conducting this research remain skeptical, often viewing the prospect of infinite lifespans as unrealistic, while acknowledging the potential of their studies to extend healthy years.

De Grey stands out as a figure straddling this divide. A British expatriate living near San Francisco, he is a well-known personality in anti-aging discussions, often likened to Rasputin due to his tall stature and distinctive appearance. His journey into aging research began during his early career as an AI researcher, but he shifted his focus after realizing that aging could be treated as a medical issue. In the 2000s, he co-founded two nonprofits aimed at combating aging: the Methuselah Foundation and the SENS Research Foundation.

Despite facing skepticism from the scientific community—especially after his bold prediction in 2004 that effective rejuvenation therapies would emerge within 25 years—de Grey has witnessed a growing acceptance of "radical life extension" in both scientific and cultural spheres. He argues that many mainstream researchers are supportive of his vision but fear alienating traditional funding sources. He refers to this phenomenon as the "pro-aging trance," emphasizing that many people still view aging as a natural and desirable process.

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, located north of San Francisco, represents a leading force in the fight against aging. Established in 1999, it was the first biomedical institution solely dedicated to aging research and has since become a premier facility in the field. During a daylong symposium in December 2018 titled "Live Better Longer," I learned that aging research has evolved significantly since the publication of a pivotal paper in 1988, which linked a specific genetic mutation to longer lifespans in a roundworm species.

For much of history, aging research was dismissed as fringe science. However, breakthroughs in molecular biology have started to reveal the mechanisms regulating lifespan. Researchers are now convinced that extending lifespan will require a multifaceted approach, targeting multiple age-related diseases rather than relying on a single "miracle cure."

Buffenstein's work focuses on the naked mole rat, a unique creature that has garnered attention for its longevity and resistance to aging. She explained that these animals do not adhere to the Gompertz law of mortality, suggesting they may hold secrets to extending human life. Buffenstein's research may one day help unlock the mysteries of human aging.

As we consider the future of human lifespans, the notion of living significantly longer raises intriguing questions. While the idea of achieving immortality has captivated humanity for centuries, current data suggests that living to 115 or beyond is exceedingly rare. If scientists can unravel the biological processes behind aging, there may be potential to increase the number of supercentenarians in the future.

However, challenges persist. Researchers continue to grapple with understanding the fundamental nature of aging and its relationship with age-related diseases. Insights from experts like Judith Campisi emphasize the complexity of the aging process and the uncertainty surrounding potential breakthroughs.

Ultimately, while the notion of living well into old age is gaining traction, the scientific community remains cautious in making predictions about the future of human longevity. Insights from both fringe perspectives and established research will shape our understanding of aging and the possibilities it holds for humanity.

The first video, "Life in 2069" by Futurist Keynote Speaker Matthew Griffin, explores the potential advancements in human longevity and quality of life in the future.

The second video, "From Today To 2069: The Predictions On The Moon Colonization," discusses how advancements in technology might influence human life expectancy and our existence beyond Earth.