Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#1

Post by TechBro8615 » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:11 PM UTC

Given the state of anti-aging research today, is it clear yet which technologies will be the first to have some success at prolonging life? If we have a general idea of what classes of technology will be available in 20-30 years, then we should be able to guess what it will not be able to do, or what constraints it might have that increase its effectiveness.

What anti-aging technologies will be available in 20-30 years, and what can I do today to prepare to derive maximum benefit from them when they arrive?

I’m looking for answers beyond the obvious exercise and be healthy, although I should probably start with that. :)

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#2

Post by nyhwtt » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:15 PM UTC

You can sign up for cryogenic conservation of your body in case your near death so that you can be woken up when scientists find a way to revive you.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#3

Post by tompark » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:43 PM UTC

Since life extending technologies may or may not yield ways to repair serious body damage, you should make sure to maintain parts that may not be fully repairable, like gums/teeth, knees/joints, neck/posture (vertebrae fusing), etc. Not sure what maintenance you can do about the eyes though (most people need reading glasses by mid/late-40's).

Let's suppose that real results come out of current research into NAD-boosting and other methods for reducing defects when cells split and for reducing senescence of cells. That would extend your potential lifetime but you can still die from accidents/violence, cancer, and diseases incl heart disease, so you need to take preventative measures for those factors.

David Sinclair suggests that you should cut sugar/desserts from your diet (because it encourages cell splitting), and reduce damage to your body, e.g. use sunscreen (because cell defects arise when repairing cell damage).

If humans could grow biblically old, like 600-900 years, one thing to consider is it's possible they might start looking like Ferengi, since cartilage just keeps growing.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#4

Post by jdmoreira » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:44 PM UTC

nyhwtt wrote: post #2

You can sign up for cryogenic conservation of your body in case your near death so that you can be woken up when scientists find a way to revive you.

That's how the bobiverse books kick-off :)

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#5

Post by nootropicat » Wed, May 18, 2022, 6:54 PM UTC

I think hype is way ahead of reality. I'm not aware of any experiments that reliably extended the lifespan of healthy mice (ie. not one intentionally modified to have some specific illness).

I will believe it's actually starting to happen when it becomes possible to pay money to get new hair (not hair transplants, or blocking DHT). Hair is infinitely simpler than repairing complex organs and we can't even do that.

Artificial organs appear much more achievable - as in only requiring investments into engineering problems rather than completely new discoveries.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#6

Post by robot » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:02 PM UTC

The low hanging fruit is to eat less. It is a known fact that people with diabetes live longer due to the stringent diet they are on perpetually. Processing food and burning energy speeds up aging.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#7

Post by acqbu » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:03 PM UTC

robot wrote: post #6

The low hanging fruit is to eat less. It is a known fact that people with diabetes live longer due to the stringent diet they are on perpetually. Processing food and burning energy speeds up aging.

neat advice, thanks

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#8

Post by gregjor » Wed, May 18, 2022, 7:41 PM UTC

Have children. That’s the easy natural way to prolong the life of your genes, the unit evolution and natural selection works with. Kids and grandkids also keep you on your toes and help you feel younger. Technology to extend the life of an individual so far only extends the more grim elderly part, which unfairly imposes costs on the young with no offsetting benefit. Wanting to live forever or get revived somehow in the future seems deeply narcissistic and no different from believing in an afterlife. Better to make the most of every day you have than put your hopes into getting more days.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#9

Post by gingersnap » Wed, May 18, 2022, 8:21 PM UTC

robot wrote: post #6

The low hanging fruit is to eat less. It is a known fact that people with diabetes live longer due to the stringent diet they are on perpetually. Processing food and burning energy speeds up aging.

The question is, do you actually live longer or does it only feel that way?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do today to prepare for anti-aging tech of the future?

#10

Post by t-3 » Wed, May 18, 2022, 8:35 PM UTC

Get rich. The average or even moderately wealthy probably won't have any chance at access to these technologies if they come to fruition. You'll also need a lot of extra wealth to keep yourself from an extra-long dotage in poverty.

For myself, I plan to die before I hit 60. I'm not going to spend decades in pain and misery for no reason, life already sucks without my body falling apart. Kevorkian diet all the way!