1. Biology of aging
Cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, DNA damage, altered nutrient sensing and the twelve hallmarks of aging.
Read the 2023 hallmarks review ↗MKP RESEARCH SERIES · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
The Future of Human Longevity
More healthy years—not merely more years. Can advances in biology help people retain strength, cognition, independence and purpose later in life? Geroscience studies how the mechanisms of aging influence many diseases at once. Research is advancing, but dramatic human rejuvenation remains unproven.
Explore six research areas
2. Cellular rejuvenation
Senolytics and partial epigenetic reprogramming may modify age-associated cellular changes. Benefits for human lifespan and long-term safety are not established.
NIH research context ↗3. Regenerative medicine
Stem-cell treatments, tissue engineering and organ repair range from established therapies for particular conditions to experimental interventions.
Explore registered trials ↗4. Cardiovascular longevity
Blood-pressure control, LDL reduction, exercise, smoking avoidance and evidence-based cardiac care protect healthspan. Supplements claiming plaque reversal need rigorous trials.
American Heart Association: cholesterol ↗5. Brain and cognitive health
Investigating dementia prevention, physical activity, sleep, hearing, vascular risk and the emerging biology of neurodegeneration.
NIH brain health resources ↗6. Society and longer working lives
Healthy longevity raises questions about retirement, lifelong learning, access to care, disability, inequality and meaningful work at older ages.
Social Security retirement ages ↗Research tracker: what is actually known?
Established human health benefits: cardiovascular risk reduction, appropriate exercise, vaccinations and condition-specific medical treatment.
Early human or mixed evidence: senolytics, some metabolic interventions, NAD-related supplements and biological-age biomarkers. A changed biomarker does not prove longer life.
Primarily preclinical or highly experimental: partial epigenetic reprogramming for broad rejuvenation and proposed combinations to reverse systemic aging.
Not established: that nattokinase, rapamycin, metformin or other drugs extend lifespan in otherwise healthy humans. Do not change prescribed medicines based on preliminary longevity claims.
Selected scientific sources
- NIH: Geroscience and chronic disease
- López-Otín et al. (2023), Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe
- NIH geroscience publication bibliography
- NIH Fifth Geroscience Summit, Dec. 2–3, 2026
Watch and learn
For lectures and talks, start with these institutional and researcher searches. Video search results should be evaluated for date, speaker and accuracy; links below are searches, not endorsements of every result.
- NIH geroscience lectures
- James Kirkland on senolytics
- Scientific lectures on epigenetic reprogramming
- NIH VideoCast archive
Join the conversation
Which longevity advance seems most promising, and what evidence would convince you it works? Join MKP's GitHub Discussions ↗ or send a moderated contribution.
Educational research overview; not individualized medical advice. Claims are categorized by evidence strength and will be updated as research develops.