limits of lifespan

[Brian Atkins]

The main reason we don't already have drugs for purchase that would
significantly increase max lifespan is primarily due to the FDA. There
have already been demonstrations with worms and mice and individual
cells over the past few years showing the possibility of doubling max
lifespan quite easily. I just read yesterday about a new drug in testing
from Alteon called ALT-711 which has the capability of breaking up and
preventing AGEs (advanced glycosylation endproducts) from forming. AGEs
are what make your arteries and heart get stiff, make your skin lose
elasticity, and possibly plays a role in some neurodegenerative diseases
of old age. All this stuff will get approved during this decade, it's
just annoying it has to take so long though and cost so much.

One ALT-711 URL: http://www.heartinfo.com/news2000/antiage053100.htm

P.S. You can also already increase your max lifespan through caloric
restriction. I think though that new drugs like ALT-711 will make this
unnecessary in the near future. Actually all of this is pretty irrelevant
anyway if you are under 40- Singularity will take care of you by 2030 IMO.
Just don't do anything stupid like getting killed in a car wreck. Shame
to miss out on all this when we are so close.
-- 
Brian Atkins
Director, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
http://www.singinst.org/