A new study published in npj Aging suggests that humans may have the potential to live up to 156 years if scientists can address the buildup of somatic mutations—DNA damage that accumulates over time. The research, led by Russian scientists Evgeniy Efimov, Vlad Fedotov, and Leonid Malaev, challenges the long-held belief that the maximum human lifespan is around 122 years, based on the oldest verified person, Jeanne Calment of France.
How Somatic Mutations Limit Lifespan
The study focuses on somatic mutations, which are tiny changes in cells caused by environmental exposure and errors during DNA replication. Over a lifetime, these mutations accumulate and contribute to aging. The researchers propose that if these mutations could be repaired or removed, the human body might be capable of surviving up to 156 years. However, there is currently no treatment to reverse such damage.
Why the Heart and Brain Are the Biggest Challenges
Some organs, like the liver, can regenerate damaged cells, but the brain and heart cannot. Neurons in the brain and cardiomyocytes in the heart do not easily replace themselves, making them vulnerable to age-related diseases like dementia and heart failure. Jordan Weiss, an assistant professor and aging researcher at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, explained: "The conditions that cost people their independent, healthy years, such as dementia and heart failure, fall heavily on precisely the tissues that cannot regenerate. So the gap between how long people live and how long they stay well is not one general breakdown of the body. It is concentrated in the organs that have no way to replace worn-out cells."
Aging Is a Complex Puzzle
The researchers acknowledge that somatic mutations are not the only cause of aging. Other factors include mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic drift, telomere shortening, and loss of proteostasis. Regenerative medicine researcher Egle Pavyde noted: "It proves that DNA damage accumulating in our cells is one of the reasons we cannot live indefinitely but also shows that our bodies are complex systems and that it is only one piece of a much larger puzzle."
Protecting the Brain and Heart Is Key
The study may encourage research into treatments that repair or prevent DNA damage in non-regenerative organs. Weiss emphasized: "If renewable organs already tolerate decades of DNA damage without much trouble, there is little to gain from protecting them further. The harder and more valuable problem is preserving the DNA of brain and heart cells."
Healthy Habits Still Matter
While a 156-year lifespan remains theoretical, health experts point to proven ways to extend life. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, sleeping well, getting vaccines, attending cancer screenings, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol can increase life expectancy by up to 10 years. Luigi Ferrucci, scientific director of the NIH's National Institute on Aging, said: "People have demonstrated that if you do these things, which are all feasible, you can increase your life expectancy by 10 years. We don't need a magic pill. The magic pill is already here."
