Can humans live forever? This question has probably been on humanity's mind since the beginning of its existence. The scientific answer is: No, unsurprisingly. In fact, they live to be 150 years old at the most. This exact statement has now been scientifically proven by a study.
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Based on an iPhone app and a large amount of medical data from volunteers in the UK and the US, scientists believe they have calculated the maximum age a person can reach. This is what the researchers write in a study published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
Recovery from stresses as the most important factor for longevity
Using artificial intelligence, they analysed the subjects' health and fitness data as well as blood samples. They subsequently found that human longevity is most significantly based on two data points: biological age (linked to stress, lifestyle and chronic disease) and 'resilience' (i.e. the ability to recover and return to normal quickly after reacting to stress). And it is precisely this ability that is increasingly lost as you age.
According to the study, this 'resilience' ability is completely lost between the ages of 120 and 150. The body can no longer recover from its various stresses. Professor Andrei Gudkov, who was involved in the study, calls this study a breakthrough in TheNew York Post:
It explains why effective prevention and treatment of age-related problems can only improve the average, but not extend the maximum lifespan.
