Books, movies, and media are full of stories about the quest for the fountain of youth, bargains with the devil, or fringe technologies that promise to preserve us for a few more years. It’s an easy sell. Who doesn’t want to live a longer life?
Aging is one of life’s inevitabilities and biggest changes. And, as a reminder, retail shelves are full of products promising to help us look and feel younger—to pretend we’re living longer. That’s when we start wishing we could stretch things out a few more years. But does it work?
Current longevity philosophy focuses on achieving quality of life, the “health span versus lifespan” perspective for what experts refer to as “successful aging.” When buzzback asked consumers for opinions on healthy aging, they found 50% or more to be open-minded and proactive, seeking information and solutions to achieve and maintain healthy aging and a longer life.
In fact, when asked if taking a magic pill to extend life 10 years were available, only 55% said yes, they would take it. However, if that same pill were natural, 85% said they would take it.
The ever-growing numbers of the aging population are even more motivation to capitalize on this desire to slow the clock and perhaps give us a little more control. By year 2050, consumers over 60 will represent 22% of the global population. Scientists, startups, billionaires, and VCs have taken note.
Fast Company recently reported on potential breakthroughs to “help people live to 200 years old including genetic engineering, regenerative medicine, wearables, and AI combine to form a powerful antidote to aging.” According to Pharmaceutical Technology billionaires Jeff Bezos and Yuri Milner have invested in Altos Labs, a startup that aims to postpone death by rejuvenating the entire human body on a cellular level. Scientific American reports on research studying the true pace of aging in a realistic environment and they set “the maximum life span for humans at somewhere between 120 and 150 years.” Sounds like a book or a movie, doesn’t it?
Even though billions are pouring into research and new technologies, the potions, products, and services that promise anti-aging will still be with us for some time. But make no mistake, innovators are definitely changing the anti-aging game.
