What if you could live to be 150 years old?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If it proves to be safe, then I don't see why everyone wouldn't do it. It would be very complicated, I think, to have a society with two separate types of people - those who die at age 90 and those who die at age 150.

Well on the plus side - we'd find out in short order who the "elites" are

[thetreble 19]

Really? People don't want to live that long? Why not?

Have you ever heard someone in their 90s beg god to take them? People get tired of living. The general upkeep of one's body is hard enough. If this pill were to reduce someone's actual age (ie. 50 would be the new 30) at some point it would STILL catch up to you. I don't see it being possible for someone who is 90 years old to feel 50. It would become more relative the older you got, I would assume.

After awhile I just think life gets to be a drag instead of truly enjoying it. What age it becomes a drag, I guess that is up to every one individually.

[Sister Fracas 5]

no...if we are all living into our 100s, there will just be too damn many people on the planet.

[SteveLaura 0]

Would the Stones still be touring? If so, my answer is no.

[Sister Fracas 5]

LOL They already look 150...

[GaryC 7]

I watched that show with great interest because they didn't speak in terms of "maybe someday" but rather "in 10 to 15 years" this WILL be a reality. And it wasn't some crackpot tinkering in a basement either. These were large colleges and government research scientists talking. It got me thinking that my expected 25 years of remaining life may be much longer if I choose. Would I do it? As long as Luz does it also. If for some reason she didn't want it then I would let nature take it's course. I would, of course, continue working until I had enough money in the bank to support us forever on the interest alone. Something like this would spell the end of SS as we know it. Sorting out who took the pill and who just naturally lived a long time would be a nightmare.

[joelunchbox 0]

There are so many other ramifications of doubling the average human lifetime. These are just a few I was thinking about while I watched the show.

Work twice as long......

Great.

[GaryC 7]

Work twice as long......

Great.

Not really. Even at my "normal" lifespan I will be able to save a large amount of money. All you really need to do is to save enough to live on the interest. It may take an additional decade but it shouldn't mean you would be working twice as long.

[HAL 9000 96]

Any chance this purported drug would cap chromosomal telomeres?

In cancer, this is one mechanism tumors use to keep their cells 'immortalized' so I suppose that if you could control cellular death via a genetic protection mechanism then in theory you could keep those cells alive loner. I wonder what that would do to cellular metabolism though. If you slow it down, that is.

Interesting program. Wish I had seen it.

[MrsCat 6]

I've already screwed up my life enough in 27 years, give me another 123 years to play with and I'm going to me one miserable SOB. I find comfort in dying at 70-80ish.

Seriously though, why would anyone want to drag out the end years of life so long. So many of things that people take meaning from will be gone. I am sure a lot of people will not wish to take this miracle drug. You'd be alone. Finding friends you could relate to would be difficult. You'd be living at an age (for longer mind you) where one's mobidity has really come into play. You'd be in pain a lot of the time, your reflexes/senses/aptitudes would be significantly diminished for a longer period of time. In truth, that is what the Golden Years are about. Aging and dying. Why on earth would you want to live through that longer.

Nope. Not for me.

Only benefit I can see, is having more time to pay off the mortgage.

[Jenn! 918]

The drug wouldn't only lengthen your old age, but also your youth.

[MrsCat 6]

The drug wouldn't only lengthen your old age, but also your youth.

While that may be true - 110 years old acting as a 70 year old (at least in my family) isn't pretty either. My genes are rooted in serious arthritis, dementia, mobility problems. Even at the chronological age of 110 being real age of 70 wouldn't work for me. It would still be all downhill.