Human Lifespan Limit: Research Suggests 120-150 Years Due to Loss of Resilience

Research published in *Nature Communications* in 2021 suggests that the maximum human lifespan may be limited to between 120 and 150 years. This limit isn't due to specific diseases, but rather to the body's decreasing ability to recover from stresses, injuries, or physical wear as we age. The study, which used artificial intelligence to analyze medical data from over half a million people, measured "biological age" and assessed the body's resilience over time. Researchers found that as individuals age, cellular repair systems, including tissue regeneration and DNA repair, become less effective. This decline in resilience—the body's capacity to bounce back from adverse events—eventually leads to a point where the body can no longer recover, limiting lifespan. The study looked at blood samples and daily step counts, finding that recovery time from stressors increased with age. A healthy 40-year-old might recover in two weeks, while an 80-year-old could take six weeks. Extrapolating this trend, the researchers predict a complete loss of resilience between 120 and 150 years. It's important to note that this age range represents a *potential* biological limit, not an average life expectancy. The figures are based on the study of a large population, and the oldest person on record, Jeanne Calment, lived to 122 years and 164 days. While this research suggests a natural limit to human lifespan, experts believe that extending life, and more importantly healthspan, might be possible by targeting the causes of aging, such as cellular damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. Future advancements in medicine, including gene therapies and AI-driven disease prevention, may play a role in pushing these boundaries.