An Interview with Anti-Aging’s Pioneer

“This field is still considered by most to be something that is not really science, something that is not really possible, and we really have to change that.”

On January 3rd, 2018, Dr. Aubrey de Grey, the chief science officer of the SENS Research Foundation and a leading anti-aging researcher, joined Merion West’s Erich Prince to discuss the state of his current research, his bold prediction that there are likely people living today who will live to be 1,000, and to answer a few common criticisms of the anti-aging movement.

Thank you for being with us today, Dr. de Grey. I’d like to begin by reminding our readers of a bold prediction you shared with the world in your 2005 TED Talk: that there are people alive today whom you believe will live to be 1,000. Is this a view you still hold?

Yes, I do. Of course, I have always made clear that it’s only something that I think will probably happen. I think that it’s very important to emphasize that with any pioneering technology, bad stuff could happen that could make the problem harder than we’d thought. But there is definitely a chance, at least a 10% chance I would say, that it will not happen. However, I still think there is at least a 50% chance that it will happen.

Could you provide our readers with an overview of some of the various groups working towards accomplishing the main objectives of life extension? For example, there is the Buck Institute. We have your organization, SENS. Then there is the 2045 Initiative in Russia. How is your organization similar or dissimilar from these other organizations in the space?

Yes, you’re right. There’s quite a lot going on. There’s still not nearly enough going on; I should emphasize that first of all. This field is still considered by most to be something that is not really science, something that is not really possible, and we really have to change that.