Global push to defeat ageing faces scientific reality check

Once associated with fringe experimentation by wealthy individuals, longevity research has evolved into a major economic sector. The Anadolu Agency article notes that the industry attracted $8.49 billion in investment in 2024, with projections suggesting it could reach $8 trillion by 2030. Increasingly, companies are moving beyond supplements and wellness products toward more advanced concepts such as “bio-insurance,” including the preservation of biological material for potential future therapies.

However, experts cited in the original report warn that much of the public narrative around longevity exceeds what current science can support. Matt Kaeberlein, a leading researcher and CEO of Optispan, argues that while significant progress has been made in understanding ageing, many commercial claims amount to “pseudoscience.” He stresses that no medical intervention has yet been proven to slow biological ageing beyond established lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep and social connection.

Kaeberlein highlights a widening gap between scientific evidence and consumer-facing products, particularly in the supplement market and so-called “biological age” tests, which he says lack scientific validity. He is also critical of high-profile self-experimenters such as Bryan Johnson, whose costly anti-ageing regimens have attracted public attention but remain unproven.

A broader concern raised in the report is the distinction between lifespan and healthspan. Valter D. Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, argues that modern approaches often focus too heavily on extending life without addressing the quality of health. He points to Italy as an example, where life expectancy has increased but years lived in good health have declined.

This imbalance has significant economic implications. With ageing populations expanding rapidly—those over 60 expected to nearly double globally by 2050, according to the World Health Organization—healthcare systems are under increasing strain. In the United States, nearly 18% of GDP is already spent on healthcare, much of it on managing chronic illness rather than prevention. Longo warns that such a model is unsustainable.

The report also explores the cultural and psychological drivers behind the longevity boom. Sheldon Solomon links the industry to humanity’s longstanding desire to avoid death, suggesting that technological promises of extended life offer a sense of control over mortality. He argues that the sector is closely tied to economic inequality, with wealth enabling access to experimental treatments and reinforcing the perception that longevity can be purchased.

Despite the hype, the article notes that credible scientific advances are underway. Drugs such as GLP-1 agonists, originally developed for metabolic conditions, are being studied for their potential effects on ageing-related processes. Meanwhile, research into partial epigenetic reprogramming—supported by companies such as Altos Labs and Life Biosciences—aims to reverse aspects of cellular ageing. A recent clinical trial involving the experimental therapy ER-100 marks an early step toward testing such approaches in humans.

Looking ahead, Kaeberlein suggests that the most immediate gains may come from artificial intelligence. AI-driven tools could analyse individual health data to guide preventive care and extend healthy years of life at a lower cost.

Overall, as reflected in the Anadolu Agency report, longevity science sits at a critical juncture. While technological advances offer genuine promise, experts caution that expectations must be grounded in evidence, with the focus shifting from simply living longer to living healthier.

By Tamilla Hasanova