The “life extension” dialogue that recently took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which made headlines in the world press, has reignited debates on whether the human lifespan can truly reach up to 150 years.
Molecular Biology and Genetics Expert Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu stated that the achievement of a 150-year human lifespan would occur first not in the West but in Asian countries, saying: “Regulations are very strict in the West, but more flexible in Asian countries. The first genetically modified humans were also born in China. For this reason, the 150-year lifespan target could first be implemented in countries like China. There, scientific risks are tested more freely.”
Noting that reaching a lifespan of 150 years would not be possible by 2030 but could be achievable within the next 50 years, Prof. Yılancıoğlu said: “The year 2030 is a bit early. We may perhaps reach average lifespans in the 90s, but 150 years still requires another 50 years. Children born today will witness these developments. We may see that they can live up to 150 years.”
The “life extension” dialogue that recently took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which made headlines in the world press, has reignited debates on whether the human lifespan can truly reach up to 150 years.
Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu, Head of the Department of Biosafety at Üsküdar University’s Institute for Addiction and Forensic Sciences, and an expert in Molecular Biology and Genetics, evaluated the role of genetic science, biotechnology, and organ regeneration in extending lifespan.
Human lifespan has already increased over the last 70 years
Prof. Yılancıoğlu emphasized that human lifespan has already extended significantly over the past 70 years: “Since the 1950s, human lifespan has lengthened. Average life expectancy has risen from the 50s and 60s to 83–85 years. Scientific studies, combined with organ durability and biotechnological advances, show that human lifespan could reach 150 years. Rockefeller lived almost 100 years, supported by multiple organ transplants throughout his life. Thanks to organs such as the liver and kidneys, he was able to endure to that age. This demonstrates that surviving for a long period is possible with organ transplantation.”
It is not about living long, but living healthy
Research on lifespan extension now focuses not merely on aging but on healthy aging. Prof. Yılancıoğlu stated: “Longevity, or long but quality life, is very much in demand today. As human lifespan extends, maintaining neurological, cardiac, and cellular health becomes increasingly critical. The discussion now is not just about living long but living healthily. There are pioneers worldwide. Brian Johnson, for example, performs more than 2,000 daily tests to constantly monitor his body and adjusts his lifestyle accordingly. He has positioned himself almost as a scientific test subject. We will observe the limits of healthy aging through such cases.”
Genetics, not transplants, will hold the key
Prof. Yılancıoğlu stressed that organ transplants offer only a temporary solution: “When you receive another person’s organ, you must undergo long-term immunosuppressive treatment to prevent rejection. This makes you vulnerable to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Therefore, it is not possible to live centuries through transplants alone. The solution lies in genetic engineering and cellular regeneration. Research is rapidly advancing on senolytics, which are molecules that delay aging. In Japan, drug trials have begun to regenerate teeth. Similarly, there are ongoing studies on molecules that can slow or even reverse aging.”
Producing our own organs is on the horizon
He also noted that in the future, it will be possible to produce organs from one’s own stem cells: “Tissue regeneration techniques are advancing. Thanks to IPS technologies, it will become possible to produce organs from a person’s own cells. Thus, instead of receiving someone else’s organ, we will be able to regenerate our own.”
Prof. Yılancıoğlu also pointed to progress in xenotransplantation: “Proteins in pig that the human immune system recognizes and attacks have been genetically deleted. These organs are becoming transplantable to humans. So, animal-sourced organ transplants are very close to clinical stages.”
150 years first possible in Asia
Prof. Yılancıoğlu stated: “Reaching 150 years of lifespan may not first happen in the West, but in Asian countries. Regulations are stricter in the West, but more flexible in Asia. The first genetically modified humans were also born in China. Therefore, the 150-year goal could first be realized in countries like China, where scientific risks are tested more freely.”
Calling the Putin–Xi dialogue “not just a conversation but also a message,” Prof. Yılancıoğlu added: “Biotechnology will advance rapidly in these countries first. Because scientific ethics and legal limitations are stricter in the West, these developments will be seen there later.”
Children born today may live to 150
Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu stated that reaching a human lifespan of 150 years may not be possible by 2030 but could become achievable within the next 50 years and said: “2030 is a bit early. We may perhaps reach average lifespans in the 90s, but 150 years still requires another 50 years. Children born today will witness these developments. We may see that they can live up to 150 years. For our generation, the limit is still around 100 years.”
Gene editing advances quickly, but medicine moves slowly
Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu pointed out that gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR and PA (Prime Editing) will create a revolution in extending human lifespan, stating: “We can remove defective genetic material and replace it with healthy genes. It is now possible to change even a single mutation. However, legislation in healthcare is very slow. It takes 5 to 15 years for a drug to enter clinical practice. Therefore, we can only see laboratory discoveries in the clinic 15–20 years later.”
Emphasizing that, unlike the rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the same speed is not possible in healthcare, Yılancıoğlu concluded his remarks by saying: “There are no safety regulations in artificial intelligence, so it advances very quickly. However, in healthcare, there are ethical principles, approval processes, and regulations. This naturally slows progress.”