Open Longevity hosted a pivotal debate at the Foresight Institute where two leading researchers contrasted rejuvenation therapies with aging-halting strategies. The panel favored Dr. Peter Fedichev’s model of targeting stochastic and thermodynamic limitations to halt aging, suggesting this pragmatic approach may offer more reliable lifespan extension.
Key points
- Peter Fedichev applies stochastic and thermodynamic aging models to argue that halting damage could yield 10–15 additional healthy years.
- Aubrey de Grey’s SENS framework outlines seven categories of cellular and molecular damage for periodic repair to potentially enable radical life extension.
- An expert jury at the Foresight Institute awarded Fedichev a narrow 42–38 victory, signaling community preference for aging-halting strategies over rejuvenation.
Why it matters: Prioritizing aging halting over rejuvenation marks a paradigm shift toward feasible, targeted interventions that could reliably extend healthy human lifespan.
Q&A
- What is the SENS approach?
- How does stochastic aging differ from programmed aging?
- What does ‘thermodynamically irreversible damage’ mean?
