Live 20 more years and you may never die, futurist claims
April 09 2008 / by futuretalk
Category: Health & Medicine Year: General Rating: 9 Hot
By Dick Pelletier
Much decorated entrepreneur and futurist Ray Kurzweil sums up
how new technologies might play out over the next two decades with
the following futuristic claim: “If you can remain in good health
for 20 more years, you may never die.” 
Kurzweil looks at today’s technology trends to piece together a convincing picture of what science hopes to accomplish in the decades ahead. He believes we will eliminate all disease, pain, and forgetfulness; even most unwanted deaths. “If you live well for the next 20 years,” Kurzweil says, “you may be able to live in perfect health for as long as you want.”
Though accidents, crime, wars, and terrorism could still cause death in this future time, nobody will die from heart disease, cancer, AIDS, malnutrition, or any of today’s illnesses.
This future is not so surprising considering the current speed of medical innovations. Almost daily, we hear researchers make new discoveries, or begin clinical trials for a new therapy; and during the next 20 years, experts say, healthcare breakthroughs will occur at even faster rates.
In Nanomedicine, author Robert Freitas talks of developing tiny nanorobots that roam through our bodies, repairing any cell damage they discover. “The hard part is building the first one,” Freitas says. “Although the road ahead may be difficult, in the end, living in perfect health indefinitely will be possible.” (cont.)
Freitas compares nanomedicine development to the computer industry. “It took 50 years of market-driven research to bring computers to their present state,” he says. “We will see a similar, but more rapid progression with nanomedicine.”
“Nanoscience,” Freitas predicts, “could produce bio-robots by 2010. Next will be hybrid robots built from engineered structural DNA, synthetic proteins, and other non-biological materials. Finally, by mid-2020s, we will develop completely artificial devices: nanorobots capable of protecting every cell in the body from disease and injury.”
“If we define disease as something gone wrong with an otherwise healthy body,” Freitas adds, “then aging; and indeed, ‘natural death’ itself are diseases that occur when the body’s cellular structure cannot repair damages. Nanomedicine will not only allow us to repair these damages, but we can undo damage already inflicted. This means that the young can remain young and the old will become young.”
In just twenty years, today’s seniors and ‘boomers could be looking in the mirror and honestly wondering, “Who is that gorgeous creature?” Their reflection would reveal a perfectly shaped, healthy body, with natural hair color, wrinkle-free skin, and real teeth. In the future, more people will remain healthy longer as they age and everyone will require less need for healthcare. We may even see centenarians begin new careers.
However, improving humans beyond what some consider “natural” may evoke controversy. Religions hold that death is inevitable; that living a good life sends believers to an afterlife paradise, and memories of lost loved ones live on in the hearts of descendents.
But experts say this controversy will not stop efforts to extend human life. Demand from citizens who believe they deserve improved health and longer, happier lives, will drive this “magical future” forward – and it could become reality in time to benefit many alive today.
Comment Thread (4 Responses)
-
I love reading this stuff. Fantastic Voyage had me all dizzy. And i believe in all of it. However, i must say that we must take into account more than just the speed at which science can make these discoveries. Unfortunately, it often takes a long time for a drug or new discovery to reach market. I suffer from a disease that has a strong negative impact on my facial appearance and i can tell you that i monitor very closely any advances that might one day give me back my face. Well, i often end up being horrified to hear that a potential treatment will get stuck in testing and approval for an average of 10 years! Certain rules must be changed to allow these discoveries to reach market faster, even if it means that more of us take on the responsibility to become our own guinea pigs. www.yume.co.uk
Posted by: yumecouk April 09, 2008
Vote for this comment - Recommend -
Much of Kurzweil and Freitas’ enthusiasm for this “magical future” stems from exponential advances expected in future technologies.
This includes factoring in such things as the development of quantum computer and artificial intelligence technologies that will enable simulations to replace traditional clinical trials. This will allow new drugs to be found safe and brought to market in days or weeks, instead of years.
We cannot base how fast the future will unfold by comparing it with how the past has progressed, or how slow our present technologies seem to advance. The future will rush forward at much more aggressive speeds.
I would expect that stem cell and genetic engineering treatments will be available that could provide you with a new “face” sometime between 2015 and 2020. Granted, the solution may be a bit pricey at first, but market demand from older citizens wanting new wrinkle-free and younger-looking faces and bodies will quickly drive this technology into an affordable price range.
Posted by: futuretalk April 09, 2008
Vote for this comment - Recommend -
Great question yume.co.uk. And great answer DP. The idea that this time around things will truly be different, enabling innovations to spread at a faster pace than we’re accustomed to is counter-intuitive, but I agree that new innovations can transform our social will and ability to move more quickly. Check out this related post I wrote up, inspired by these comments.
Posted by: Alvis Brigis April 09, 2008
Vote for this comment - Recommend -
interesting. I think about the Singularity a lot and everything it will bring but i never considered how it would speed up the regulatory and approval process. Let us hope that the FDA will be convinced by these simulations…
Posted by: yumecouk April 10, 2008
Vote for this comment - Recommend