If you live till 2050, you may never die, say experts

In the last few decades, medical science has made huge advancements, right from finding a cure to many terminal illnesses, improving the quality of life, changing the way you look, weigh and what not. There is also constant ongoing research on bringing back the dead, by cryofreezing, where the deceased body is kept in the freezer for many years, with the hope that it will eventually come back to life someday, with the use of technology. However, while that remains like a distant dream, (and open to debate on whether we are trying to fix what mother nature has decided), experts now believe that humans can in fact, live forever, or rather, till a really really long time. Let's see how...


Is immortality possible?
Dr. Ian Pearson, a well-known futurologist, says that if you are under 40 today, you might never die from natural causes because of future medical breakthroughs. One key method is renewing or replacing body parts. Scientists are developing technologies like genetic engineering to stop or reverse the aging of cells. They are also working on 3D printing organs, which could replace worn-out parts and keep the body young. This means that instead of aging and breaking down, our bodies could be constantly repaired or rejuvenated.

How to survive till then?
The big challenge is making it to 2050 to benefit from these technologies. Dr. Pearson explains that initially, only the rich might afford these treatments, but by the 2060s, they could become available to most people. So, if you are under 50 now, you have a good chance of living long enough to use these life-extending advances.

What does it entail?
Besides organ replacement, researchers are exploring many ways to extend life. These include gene therapy , stem cell treatments, nanomedicine, and ways to repair or reprogram cells to keep them healthy. For example, some animals like the "immortal jellyfish" can reverse aging, and scientists study them to learn how humans might do the same.

But there is a catch...
Aubrey de Grey , a leading researcher in longevity, emphasizes that the goal is not just to live longer but to live healthier and more productive lives. Extending life without good health would not be desirable. So, scientists aim to prevent diseases and keep people feeling young and active.


What is in the future?

Some futurists, like Ray Kurzweil, predict that by 2045, humans might even become immortal by uploading their minds into computers, leaving behind their biological bodies. This idea is still very futuristic and faces many scientific and ethical questions, but it shows how far the dream of immortality has come.

Regardless of what science believes, it is important to lead a good quality of life to prevent lifestyle ailments, and reducing the risk of dying young in the first place. While you might not live forever, make it worthwhile, healthy, and productive till you are blessed with this life.