The longest humans could live, even if we beat aging: study

Key Points:

• A new study from Russia's Skolkovo Institute suggests the absolute upper limit of human lifespan, even if aging processes are fully controlled, is between 146 and 194 years due to unavoidable somatic mutations in DNA.
• Somatic mutations accumulate over time, damaging cells and contributing to age-related diseases, and are triggered by factors like cell division errors and environmental stressors such as UV exposure.
• The study's model found that organs with frequent cell renewal, like the liver and skin, could theoretically function for thousands of years, while non-dividing cells in the heart and brain limit lifespan due to permanent mutation damage.
• Researchers emphasize that somatic mutations alone do not explain current human mortality rates, indicating other aging mechanisms like mitochondrial dysfunction and epigenetic changes also significantly impact lifespan.
• Despite advances in longevity research, the oldest verified human lifespan remains 122 years, held by Jeanne Calment, underscoring the gap between theoretical limits and real-world human longevity.