Can Humans Live Forever? Study Puts a Cap on Life Span at 194 Years

A new study may help broaden understanding of the aspects of aging that may ultimately prove impossible to reverse. Maki Nakamura/DigitalVision/Getty Images A new study probes the upper boundaries of human life span, suggesting that even under the most favorable conditions, DNA mutations may still limit life to 146–194 years. The findings support growing evidence that aging is driven by multiple interacting biological processes rather than a single mechanism. The strongest evidence for living longer and healthier comes from established lifestyle measures, including regular exercise, quality sleep, and a healthy diet. Is there a biological limit on human life span? Longevity researchers continue to debate that question and whether current or future therapies could continue extending life indefinitely. New research suggests that inevitable biological processes may place a ceiling on human life. Published in npj Aging, the study used a mathematical model to estimate how long humans might live if nearly every reversible hallmark of aging were eliminated, leaving only somatic mutations — DNA changes that accumulate naturally throughout life. Under those idealized conditions, the invest…