Humans as a species are programmed to live over 100 years, and are even considered to be capable of living up to 120 years. Advances in medicine in recent centuries, including antibiotics, the spread of vaccines, dental care, and basic hygienic have drastically prolonged life expectancy. At present, the information about the origins of our diseases brought by the study of the human genome is revolutionising the treatment of genetic diseases. Such knowledge leads to the development of new drugs to treat genetic conditions such as rare diseases that would have been impossible to discover before.
The study of the biological causes of longevity and scientific progress will allow humans to increase their life expectancy and reach these ages with relative ease, but that is not the goal. The challenge for the scientific community is for us to live longer, but also better, and to achieve this goal society will be confronted with an imminent change in habits. Combating the global epidemic of obesity, assimilating the requirements of a healthy diet – which includes avoiding ultraprocessed foods, excessive sugars, and overeating –, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol consumption, and completely eliminating tobacco from our lives are fundamental requirements for a long and healthy life. And these are in the hands of the citizens.
Information will also play an essential role in helping people reach old age in good health. Fighting misinformation and thus achieving a well-informed society in terms of medical recommendations, free from hoaxes and unreliable content, will be key to protecting health. In short, the combination between medical advances and a change of habits on the part of the population could make it possible to celebrate our 120th birthday in the near future, and citizens will play a fundamental role.
Information will also play an essential role in helping people reach old age in good health. Fighting misinformation and thus achieving a well-informed society in terms of medical recommendations, free from hoaxes and unreliable content, will be key to protecting health. In short, the combination between medical advances and a change of habits on the part of the population could make it possible to celebrate our 120th birthday in the near future, and citizens will play a fundamental role.
Answered by Manuel Pérez-Alonso, Full Professor of Genetics at the University of Valencia and organiser of the Longevity World Forum, the first European conference on longevity and genomics.
Question sent by Sergio Serrano Fillol.
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