A Rolls-Royce lasts far longer than a Volkswagen bug, but its cost per mile is far higher than that of the bug, too. To engineer self-repair capabilities and to use long-lived components is generally more expensive than to use shorter-lived, disposable units. This is why deep space probes such as Viking, Pioneer, and Voyager are […]
There are many virtues to growing old. [long pause] I am just trying to think what they are. —Somerset Maugham at the age of eighty As much as we may wish otherwise, old age is an unpleasant and unattractive affliction. Some people, it is true, have been active and productive into very old age—among them […]
Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now. —Alan Lakein, How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life No one can make you do anything about the quality or quantity of your life span—except you. Your actions can be as simple as avoiding the […]
Scientists, as-well as the lay public, have differing views of the problems of aging. Most scientists specializing in gerontology study old people and their behavior. Only about 10 percent of American gerontologists funded by the government are engaged in research on biological aging processes. This proportion represents a fundamental division in this science. Funds used […]
“I mean,” she [Alice] said, “that one can’t help growing older.” “One can’t, perhaps,” said Humpty Dumpty, “but two can. With proper assistance, you might have left off at seven.” —Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Although conceptions of aging differ among lay persons and even among scientists, we all know that aging accelerates as time […]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve drugs specifically for life extension, and the approval of a new drug for conventional anti-disease purposes takes eight to twelve years, on the average. The scientific information upon which the drugs have been based will generally be known many years before any practical applications may be […]
There are several aging mechanisms that attack different functions of the body at different rates, leading to impaired health and a decreased probability of surviving as the years progress. The activities of the general population are not good indications of when and how you can extend your life and at what cost. An increased risk […]
The FDA considers aging to be a natural development (which it is), not a disease. The FDA does not approve drugs for life extension, and it may take decades to change their approach. In addition, many of the anti-aging drugs and nutrient supplements can be purchased now in drugstores and health-food shops. If you want […]
Probably the most significant roadblock to overcome is that of identifying the many misconceptions you have—conscious or unconscious—that cause you to doubt the validity of life extension and your ability to prolong your own life. These false beliefs may undermine your resolve and prevent you from acting. Below is a list of prevalent misconceptions about […]
The easiest thing in the world to do is to figure out an excuse not to do something. —Dr. Jack Wheeler, The Adventurer’s Guide The firm determination to submit to experiment is not enough; there are still dangerous hypotheses; first, and above all, those which are tacit and unconscious. Since we make them without knowing […]